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)
“Wait…” I smiled at her in glee. I’d seen Nina give Sue some hard, long looks when she thought no one was noticing, but I hadn’t realized the attraction was mutual. “Did he say something?”
Mable looked up and down the hall, stepping closer.
“He’s not here,” I told her in hushed tones. All the alpha-betas were meeting with Austin about expanding their strategies to be able to incorporate shifters and basajaunak better. Tristan had devised something for the gargoyles, and now they’d need to do so for the other magical types. Eventually, hopefully, also mages. We just had to find some. So far, the summons I’d sent in Evan’s cairn hadn’t produced any results.
“They got to talking on the phone before she came for the conclave, and they apparently hit it off. He’s been…veering to talk to her.” Mable gave me a knowing look.
“I don’t know what that means.”
“You know…like…he’s not going out of his way or anything, but if she’s on the way, if a little to the side, he’ll veer toward her.”
Semantics. I nodded.
Mable went on, “It seems like having his family in a permanent location has grounded him, somewhat. Maybe released him a little? He mentioned to me that it’s a weight off that Ivy House will look after them in case something happens to him. That their memory will live on after he’s gone. His burden has…not been lifted, we’ll say, but shared. It’s not so heavy anymore. That’s what I think, anyway. And then bam, a beautiful alpha with power and smarts? The legendary Yazanth’s sister? Who finds him attractive and is interested?” She nodded adamantly. “Check all the boxes and give me a yes, please!”
I laughed in delight. “That’s fantastic! She is really smart and good at small talk. He’ll need that, because he doesn’t talk much. And she can read his body language—a plus. And they’re both alphas who’ve led packs, so they have that in common.” My heart swelled. “I hope they at least find joy in each other, if nothing else. A steppingstone for him, maybe. And I know Aljoe wants her to find companionship. She’s never really committed to anyone.”
Mable nodded adamantly again. “So anyway, I foresee her visiting Aljoe a lot.” She crossed her fingers. “And then Sebastian stays a lot—or did, before the doll incident.”
“He’ll be back.” He loved that crystal room. He just needed to get over the trauma of being dragged out by cackling dolls (I didn’t even know they could cackle, and it had freaked me out, too).
“Right. And Nessa stays sometimes, even though now she might find her way over to Tristan, instead.”
My whole body glowed this time. They’d sorted out their differences, and I’d never seen Nessa happier, or Tristan smugger. Any time they were in the same room, touching or not, talking to each other or not, each’s attention was wholly on the other. You could feel it, like a tangible thing. Their games hadn’t stopped, either, or their taunting of each other. It was just that now, they also cuddled into each other and shared lingering kisses.
“And you know, various alphas and cairn leaders will come for meetings,” Mable said. “They’ll need somewhere to stay, not to mention any guests. Mimi is still here—”
“What is this about me?” Mimi strolled up the hallway.
“I was just saying to Jessie that Vera and I should probably stay on to help with all the people that come and go around here.”
“Oh.” I sagged a little. “Uh…”
Mr. Tom would kill me if I said yes. He hated having help, for whatever asinine reason. But the thing was…the two garhettes were so pleasant, and such great cooks—when they weren’t physically wrestled out of the kitchen by Mr. Tom—and always bustling about, taking care of things. Obviously Mr. Tom did those things, too, but Mable was right—with all these extra people and their eating needs and laundry… It was a lot for one person to handle, no matter how diligent. He really could use some extra hands.
Mimi stared at me expectantly, brows slightly raised. That meant she’d cause trouble if I didn’t say yes.
It was only logical. It really was. It was just a little help.
“Maybe just…one of you?” I hazarded.
“Fine.” Mimi nodded at Mable. “You can handle the house. Vera will help me with various things I need now that I do a lot more managerial duties for the businesses.”
“Oh…” I felt like I should argue, but it wasn’t easy when I was pinned by Mimi’s hard gaze. I bowed in defeat. “Okay, but that’s on you. Actually, it’s all on you. You can explain it to Mr. Tom.”
“Of course.” Mimi continued on her way. She was incredibly efficient, that woman.
Mable beamed at me and then hurried down the hall toward the kitchen.
Good thing Mr. Tom was at the store. I’d need to maybe go to a movie or something to be out of here by the time he got back and heard the news. My afternoon was supposed to be free.