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)
“They also believe me when I say you won’t try to take over their people. You will command when it’s needed, then leave the packs without further disturbing them.”
“I don’t know what that means,” I said.
“He means that we won’t try to recruit their people for our territory,” Austin explained. “We also won’t try to claim alpha status over them and their people.”
“You won’t try to put yourself above us,” Kingsley added. “They saw Austin’s indifference at how Brochan and Tristan postured as a good sign. It also helped that none of my pack went back with you when you left.” He paused. “Except Aurora, but that’s a family matter. That doesn’t count.”
“That wasn’t our fault either,” I reminded him.
A crease formed between his brows. “Yes,” he drew out. “I’d love to have a talk with those mages…”
“That all sounds good, then,” I said quickly. “They’re right—we know our way around a battle, we won’t steal people, and we do care about lives.”
“There is one problem.” Kingsley set down his mug. “You made them nervous the other day.”
“Ah.” I grimaced. “Yeah, sorry about that. I did go a little overboard. But honestly, they needed to see what a mage can do.”
“It’s not just you.” Kingsley braced his ankle on his knee. “Austin has said it himself—he’s wild. He has a lot of control, which they were pleased to see, but he’s still…”
“Vicious,” Austin supplied. “Ruthless. Barely housebroken.”
“Wild really did sum it up just fine.” I waved it away. “Fine, we’re vicious and wild. So, what does that mean for them joining us? They don’t want to because we make them nervous?”
“We spoke yesterday, and all but Margery were still on the fence. That battle was a lot to take in from people who’ve mostly known peace their whole lives.” Kingsley’s gaze beat into me. “I passed on what Austin had mentioned to me in private as a possibility of a way to ease their misgivings. But as he spoke for you at that time, I would like to hear your thoughts on the matter.”
Nervousness ate at me again. There was that danged guilty conscience. “What?”
Kingsley’s frown was subtle. I was probably advertising my (hopefully baseless) guilt. He looked at Austin to continue.
Austin didn’t hesitate. “I told them that after we defeat Momar, tear down the Guild, and unify magical people into a fair governing system, represented by all, Kingsley would be the best person to move forward with the organization. This is his brainchild, and he’s perfectly suited to handle it. We’d step down when our vicious and wild talents become obsolete.”
“Oh. Well, yeah. Wasn’t that always the plan?” I gave Austin a confused expression. “I was just in it to create a sanctuary for people. We can, which means we should, right? You promised that once we did, we could finally have our own peace.”
Kingsley’s eyebrows lifted. He huffed out a laugh and shook his head. “You two are perfectly suited for each other, do you know that? If I believed in fate, I’d think it had a hand in all this.”
“Seriously, though, that was always the plan,” I said. “It was for me, at any rate.”
“That makes things worlds easier, then.” Kingsley finished his coffee and glanced at the time. “Mr. Tom, I think I’ll have one of those bagels, if you have one handy.”
“If you’d just had it in the first place,” Mr. Tom said, “you wouldn’t have been so unbearably grumpy while waiting for the miss to peel herself from her much-needed slumber.”
“Is it really worth it with all the backtalk?” Kingsley murmured to me. “It’s settled, then. You will be the original alphas of the convocation. There will be those who won’t believe you’ll step down, and those who won’t want you to, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“We need to put someone in charge of creating and maintaining a database of the shifter packs.” Austin looked at me. “Is that something Nessa or Fred can handle?”
“Is Fred short for something?” Kingsley asked in dismay.
“No. She chose that name, much like Mr. Tom chose his.” I shrugged. “At some point, you just learn to roll with it.”
“I’ve always wanted to be a Tom,” Mr. Tom murmured as he prepared Kingsley’s bagel.
Kingsley looked like he was sorry he’d asked. He took a deep breath. “Aurora wants to return home with you guys. It’s been made clear to me that she’s an adult, and I have no say in the matter. With the mages back, though, she’s not sure of her living situation. I’ve—”
I held up my hand. “I’m not sure anyone should live in the mages’ house. If they learn Sebastian’s real name, which probably won’t be hard, they’ll track him there. It’s not safe. We’ll figure something else out.”
Kingsley didn’t agree right away, probably nervous for Aurora’s safety. I couldn’t really tell because he wasn’t giving anything away. To me, at any rate. Finally, however, he nodded. “Okay.” He paused. “I get to keep the car, right?”