Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
“Hey. How are things going?”
He’d wanted to be in on the “fact finding” chats, as I liked to think of them, sitting in with Sebastian, Nessa, Niamh, and Tristan as they questioned the enemy mages. He’d wanted to know how mages typically operated, and he’d also wanted to hear firsthand about who he was harboring.
“Not well.” He took a slow sip of his wine before placing it on the table beside him. “I threw up.”
“Ah.”
“I notice you didn’t ask me to elaborate.”
“No. I’ve been in on those things. Mine probably went a lot more chaotically.”
He took a deep breath. “The person who sent them applied some sort of spell to keep them from talking. One guy bled out through— Never mind, I’ll spare you the details. Suffice it to say, the spell killed him, and it wasn’t pretty. Sebastian figured out a work around, and the others started babbling pretty quickly when they realized it would keep them from dying.”
That was interesting. Niamh clearly wanted them alive to use them in some way. Or maybe they were ready to swap sides. We needed eyes and ears in the mage world.
“Sebastian filled me in on the sorts of practices the Guild engages in,” Drex said, “and the mages we captured told us stories about the things Tilda’s team had created. What they’ve done.” He shivered. “I had no idea the mages operated like that. It’s not right.”
“And believe me, there are worse stories you haven’t heard.”
He grunted in acknowledgment.
He was quiet for a while, and I went back to listening to the water lap against the side of the pool. A fountain wouldn’t go amiss somewhere out here. I’d remember that when I talked to Mimi about the backyard.
“You were right,” he finally said, his face somber.
“I always am.” I smiled and squinted at the sun. “About what specifically?”
“Many things.” He let that linger for a moment. “I spoke with your mages. They seemed like completely different people than the two I saw outside my house, in their suits and silk and diamonds.”
“That was their mage gear. You really don’t want to be dressed like that in a battle.”
“No. And they did battle. They changed their clothes and their personas, and they met a charge not intended for them. Actually, intended to capture someone they clearly do not like.”
I laughed. “I get what you’re saying, but they are in ten times more danger from the Guild than Tilda. A hundred times.”
He took another sip. “I asked them why they did it. I asked them separately, and neither of them hesitated. They did it because of you and your crew. You’re family to them, and they protect their family at all costs. Their inclination in case of an attack is to slip out the backdoor, or the equivalent, but for you, they marched directly into battle. Apparently, even though it’s always terrifying, they always have.”
An unexpected wave of emotion overcame me, and my eyes glazed over.
A tear slipped out, and I wiped it away. “They have. And they are.”
He watched me steadily now. “It’s refreshing how expressive you are. I know exactly where you stand, and it’s a heartfelt place. An honest place. You’ve earned their trust and, though they don’t think they deserve it, they’ve earned yours. You’ve created the sort of pack I’ve been striving for.”
“It sounds like it’s the sort of pack you’ve achieved.”
He shrugged and looked away again. “Not quite. I feel like I’m flailing. I’m making everything up as I go. Book learning only gets you so far.”
I nodded, because boy didn’t I know it. My early days with Edgar reading magical books wearing a helmet surfaced. Sebastian had changed my learning curve dramatically.
“The next thing you were right about,” he said, “was your frustration with me about mages.” He held up a hand. “I’m not as good as Austin or…Broken Sue? Is that his name?”
“For the moment. I think it’s in the process of changing again.”
He tilted his head in confusion. He needed to spend a little time with Fred.
“I’m not as good as they are when it comes to reading—or hiding—body movements, but I’m decent. Not that I need to be with you. You were frustrated, and I get it now.” He laughed humorlessly. “My force would’ve taken heavy losses from that attack today. That’s if we came out on top at all, and I’m not sure we would’ve. Austin’s people made it look so easy. I was young, but I remember Alpha Barazza’s force vividly.” He shook his head. “Alpha Steele is better. Sharper. Harder in battle. Perfectly synchronized. The timing, the way they sliced through the enemy, the overall direction... It looked like anyone could beat those mages and mercenaries, but I’m not so naive as to think that is true. I’ve tried for a battle unit. He’s created a battle unit. You both have.”