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)
Mr. Tom’s annoyed look said that was a silly question.
“And a sparkly mage watch, I think.” Patty patted her chin, assessing me. “We need Sebastian in his mage attire.” She nodded in decision. “I’m going to ask Tristan if that could be arranged. We have Unfixable Sue and Austin as the shifter component, Phil threw a prominent Guardian out of a bar earlier, so they know what the basajaunak are about—“
“He did what?”
“We need the mage component.” She snapped her fingers. “Yes! He needs to see mage culture and see that Gerard is comfortable with that culture. It’ll further show that he doesn’t have his footing in this new world.”
She spun and headed for the door. Patty and Tristan were dancing around gargoyles politics.
I took a deep breath and headed for the bathroom and some makeup.
I hadn’t been at it long when there was a soft knock at the bedroom door.
“In here,” I called, finishing a smokey eye.
Sebastian filled the bathroom doorway. His hair was standing up all over, like he’d been repeatedly running his hands through it, his clothes were wrinkled and an ill-fitting, crooked cape hung off his right shoulder.
I slowly pulled the brush away from my eye. “What’s with the cape?”
He sagged against the doorframe. “You would not believe how many times I have heard that exact phrase. It was Niamh’s idea. The gargoyles are not amused. I’m pretty sure they’re headed home to find brass knuckles and take the cape by force while they pound me. It doesn’t help that Edgar is now showing everyone his cape and smiling as he says, ‘Twinning!’”
I opened my mouth and closed it again, not sure what to say.
He waved. “It doesn’t matter. Niamh says it’ll be fine. Time will tell. Anyway, Patty said I was to join you for dinner tonight. I wanted to check to make sure that was correct? If it is, please let me take off this cape.”
I dissolved into giggles. “Yes, lose the cape. And yes, I guess you should come to dinner. Wear Elliot Graves stuff with a very fancy watch. Also, does Nessa have a watch I can borrow? Mr. Tom only packed that Ivy House pocket watch you guys found in a drawer or whatever.”
He hesitated, scanning my dress. “You look beautiful, by the way, and no, you don’t need Nessa’s. That pocket watch is perfect. I’ll see if Mr. Tom has a sewing kit, and I’ll make it work.”
“No, Sebastian.” I clucked my tongue in frustration. “I’m not going to do this weird mage pocket-watch-Cinderella thing you chose—“
He held up a finger. “Niamh said I needed to wear a cape to help you, and so I wore the cape because she knows about gargoyles, and I do not. We each know our jobs, and we need to trust each other. I know watches. I know which ones will work best when. We can talk about your persona in the mage world, but tonight, you wear that pocket watch.”
I was ready to argue, remembering all the internal arguments I’d had about that mage dinner and him choosing what he thought was right for me. I’d looked ridiculous, and I wanted to choose what I wore instead.
But as I looked at him, I saw the Elliot Graves confidence shimmering in his eyes, along with his assurance that he knew what was best. I felt in my gut that he was right. We needed to trust each other. There were so many moving parts at this point and each one was important. We couldn’t all be an expert on everything. We had to let everyone handle what they were best at.
“Okay.” I deflated. “Just…please don’t make me look as ridiculous as you do in that cape.”
“Salt, meet wound,” he mumbled, and I laughed again. “Give me the dress, please. Mr. Tom has the watch?”
“Yes.” I slipped into a robe and let him take the dress away.
After I’d finished my makeup and hair, I found Sebastian in his full Elliot Graves garb waiting for me on Austin’s and my bed.
“I swear,” Mr. Tom said as he bustled around the room, tiding things that didn’t need to be tidied. “The shambles that these gargoyles call guest rooms would make a lesser butler faint. Hardly anyone can fit in that excuse for a living room out there, and there isn’t even a kitchenette! How do they expect me to prepare snacks and breakfast, with a camping stove? They try to squeeze our betas into the only solitary rooms they provide besides this one suite, force everyone else to share, and somehow question our status and profitability?” He tsked as he straightened up and faced me, his wings rustling angrily. “It’s absurd, all of this. You are the Ivy House heir! They should be begging to join you, not the other way around. Begging!” He made a disgruntled sound and went back to it. “Preposterous.”