Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
In addition to the pack in the corner, nine other groups of people were spaced around the area. Kingsley was directly next to us upon entry, and the corner to our immediate right was vacant. That would be our area to show off.
It wasn’t big enough.
Huge hanging curtains had been gathered in that area, and various seats and chairs were stacked. Tables lay on the ground, and boxes with numbers were somewhat haphazardly placed. Whatever had been in here last hadn’t taken everything away, and it severely diminished the space we had in which to mass.
“Did you tell them how many people we had?” I whispered, barely moving my lips.
“Yes. Minus two. They’re trying to assess how we handle an unforeseen hurdle. Sometimes, the old-timers do this to a newly emerging pack.”
“Joke’s on us. We won’t handle this well at all. Here…” I released him. “You deal with your people. Show off. I’ll…take mine…away.”
Austin split off from me as though this had been the plan all along. He made small movements and almost unseeable gestures. Tristan and Broken Sue understood him perfectly, directing anyone—most of the gargoyles—who didn’t. They folded their lines so that they were in rows, Tristan and Broken Sue still at the front, big and strong and intimidating. Austin took position ahead of them as if they were in a synchronized dance.
The whole situation took no time at all and had been orchestrated to perfection.
I huffed. “That easy, is it?” I grumbled to myself.
This wasn’t going to go smoothly for me, especially because I had no idea where my people were supposed to be.
“Should I just…guess?” I whispered to Austin.
His eyes sparkled, mirth came through the bonds, and he’d clearly lost his mind, because he didn’t offer me any help.
“Aurora?” I called, but she was hidden away in one of the lines.
Ivy House bonds told me my people were uncertain. So was I.
“Have no fear, miss—I am perfectly capable of handling this matter.” Mr. Tom’s wings fluttered, and he was probably just about to prove why he wasn’t in the gargoyle line.
“Pretend it’s battle,” Tristan whispered, and Austin faintly nodded.
Battle?
I glanced around at the other alphas and their people, who were patiently waiting. Their focus was acute. They were clocking all this.
It was Kingsley’s faint nod, though, that gave me the confidence I needed.
I shrugged. They’d gotten themselves into this mess. They’d reap what they sowed.
EIGHTEEN
My magic blasted out, filling the entire space. It was how I always prepared, as it let people know what was going on. Another blast followed, this one still felt by all but isolating a directive to my people. Their connections sparkled in my mind’s eye.
I gave them firm pulses, their directions, like in battle. Brooking no argument.
“Oh, whoa,” Fred said, looking around as she followed the herd. They were simply incapable of a crisp line, practice be damned. “Okay. This is next level. Is that magic?”
“Hush, Jane. We’re supposed to be quiet during these,” Mr. Tom told her.
“I strangely don’t mind that nickname,” Fred murmured. “Better than being called a dick, at any rate.” To Mr. Tom she said, “Did you ever think that maybe the name Rufus would suit you better than Tom?”
“That is a nice name,” Dave commented. Someone huffed out a laugh, but I couldn’t determine who.
I gave them a whipcrack of magic to hopefully quiet the crew while walking forward with them and motioning where they should stand. Magic pumped, working on those connections, organizing them into a loose cluster. It would have to do.
Glancing back at Austin, I shrugged. People were never going to think I was the organized one. As he said, better that they knew up front rather than be surprised.
He took my hand again.
“Do not yank my wing,” Mr. Tom told someone. “I know that was you.”
“Sure, ye’re fluttering it in me face,” Niamh said. “What do ye expect me ta do?”
“Moving back would be a start,” he answered pompously.
The other alphas all began forward toward the table in the center. Except for Kingsley, they wore loose, flowing clothes that would be quick and easy to take off. No one wore shoes, not them nor their people. Not even Kingsley.
Something belatedly occurred to me that I really shouldn’t have forgotten about. I ripped my hand away from Austin and spun. “Wait—Cyra, did you actually blast whatever it was that you thought was a gnome?”
Austin tensed and turned back. That potentially huge problem had escaped him as well.
“Is it going to make you sad again if I say yes?” Cyra asked me, peering out from around Niamh.
“Did you set anything on fire?” I demanded.
“Oh, no, nothing like that.” She smiled. “I just melted a bucket and crisped half a bush and took out a flower bed and kinda blackened the cement a little teeny bit. No one will even notice.”