Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Tristan didn’t reply, probably because speaking wasn’t the easiest with a gargoyle jaw, before rocketing them skyward again.
Later that night, she lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. Her room was dark, the shades drawn. The house was quiet. Everyone had come home from the bar after a fun evening. There were still some enforcers in town, and a bunch of alphas, but everyone got along. Everyone seemed relieved that the conclave was winding down early.
No one outwardly mentioned what happened with Armendale. Austin hovered over Jessie like she was a fragile vase, and Jessie touched him constantly, like he might vanish if she didn’t have contact, but that was the only sign that something major had happened.
And something major had.
No one had gone through with challenging Austin in the sanctioned events. No one had properly seen him fight. They’d all felt his power and heard the stories. Given all the other rumors were true, they probably didn’t want to be the guinea pig. Everyone was incredibly thankful Armendale had gotten that honor. Austin’s fighting had widened eyes.
Also, someone had finally taken on Armendale and shown that he was no contest.
The Elder had even come for drinks, wearing the same clothing Phil did. She apologized to Jessie for her failure. She hadn’t lost control in a lifetime—no one was sure whose lifetime or how long that might be—and praised Jessie for her ability to push the Elder over the edge.
“We really know who won that fight, though,” Jessie had grumbled, still sore about losing. Nessa hadn’t been able to stifle her laughter. “I cheated, too. The shifters you allowed me let me know which basajaunak weren’t you. And we had a couple people telling me where you were. And you know, I’m sure you heard Tristan—”
“We are only as great as our family,” the Elder said. “You listened to and trusted your shifters—I wondered if you would. That is why I assigned them to you. You never lost sight of your team in the sky, even though they didn’t have a part in all this. You didn’t discourage the vampire and Warden from helping, and you believed me when I said I would be the only one to attack you.”
Nessa had leaned forward at the name, but she hadn’t been able to ask about it.
“Unfortunately, you also believed me when I said you’d be safe. I committed a grave offense. You would be excused in killing me for such an offense, but I know you won’t. I’ve been watching you closely. I must make this up to you another way. There is no other option if I want to retain my honor. But anyway, we’ll discuss that another time. I am tired and sore and wish to get horribly drunk. Where is the brew? Phil, did you smuggle some in like I asked?”
Tristan had stayed close by in his purple muumuu, occasionally brushing the skin of Nessa’s neck with his fingers for no apparent reason. The effect of his touch had sent shivers racing across her body. He hadn’t spoken to her, though. He hadn’t leaned closer to whisper threats or compliments. He hadn’t poked fun at her or set up ways for her to poke at him.
Now, lying in bed, she drummed her fingers against her stomach.
If she told him her feelings, she’d have to tell him about her past. She’d have to put herself out there and risk his rejecting her for it. Risk his thinking horribly of her and pushing her away.
Tears came to her eyes.
But hadn’t he shown that he could and would do worse than she could imagine? He was a monster, and so was Niamh. And Edgar. And Austin. Jessie, when the situation called for it. Even Sue had relented in his judgments of her, a landmark.
Would Tristan turn her away?
Was it worth the risk if maybe…he didn’t?
She bit her lip. And then something popped. A door, by the sound of it, creaking open.
The secret door leading into the interior hallway that allowed her to spy on him. It was the same beginning as their initial acquaintance, but for entirely different reasons.
Ivy House wanted her to make the first move.
Nessa wasn’t sure if she had the courage.
23
Tristan
He sat in the window seat and overlooked the quiet street in front of Ivy House. The moon shone down, highlighting Niamh on her front porch, rocking. He couldn’t tell what she was looking at, if anything, but she seemed in repose. Thinking, probably. She liked to sit and just think. Her mind must’ve been a busy place.
In another moment, Fred wandered out of Niamh’s front door. Her laptop was open, illuminating her face.
Ah. A late-night work session, equal parts Fred revealing what she’d learned in the cyberworld and Niamh thinking it through. While everyone else had been busy with the conclave and fighting, both mock battles and real, she’d been working on their mage problem. She’d been trying to figure out who was helping from within.