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)
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Austin stalked into the street and put out his hands. The resident shifters scattered to the sides of the street. Unlike earlier that day, this time they did not plan to stand their ground. They’d let Jessie and Austin handle it.
“Wise,” Nessa said, clearly thinking along the same lines.
Tristan let go of Jessie, and she flew to the ground before shifting into her human form.
“Stop, stop, stop.” She flung out magic to slow the rampaging basajaunak before they reached the local shifters. “We’re not supposed to kill. I felt all the conflicting emotions. What’s going on?”
8
Jessie
It took Austin very little time to relay the details, mostly because there weren’t many. He didn’t seem worried that we were in danger and given the one mage held by the gargoyles had relaxed, and the others hadn’t engaged, I assumed he was right.
“She attacked first?” I looked over at Sebastian as he entered the street.
“Yes,” he replied. “She spied me soon after we got here, watched us for a while, and when I fully looked up at her, she attacked. Then the other guy attacked before Edgar bit him.”
I vibrated with anger. What the hell? Not only did they have mages—surprise, indeed—but those mages attacked us?
We kindly ask that you give Drex a chance to explain, Vessa had said. After what we witnessed this morning, we are assured that our well-being is solely in your hands. We ask that you keep that in mind.
“Power level?” I asked as car tires squealed at the end of the street.
“I can’t be sure, but it appears not enough to do magic without using her hands,” he answered.
Smoke curled up as a red sedan slid around the corner. Everyone turned and braced as it sped toward us. The basajaunak’s hair puffed out and then they stepped forward until I held out my hand to stop them.
“And the guy down the street?” I asked, watching the car while simultaneously readying to cast and dive, if necessary, because I wasn’t nearly powerful enough to explode a car off the street.
“Didn’t seem strong. The two mages that ran out to help didn’t have the poise and arrogance of top tier mages. I’m not sure we need to be worried, but I also know next to nothing about them other than a snap judgment.”
“They didn’t attack and run, though,” I mused. The car started to slow at twenty feet away. Austin put his hand on my shoulder, probably getting ready to hustle me out of the way. “They kept attacking. Their friends came to attack.”
“Yeah,” Sebastian replied. “They aren’t cowards, but then, they might not have known they were outgunned.”
I shook my head in frustration as the driver door flew open and Vessa got out of the vehicle. She visibly slowed as she took in the scene, pausing on the woman being held by the gargoyles and then her people huddling to the sides, having run from the basajaunak.
I didn’t give her a chance to speak. “You thought it was somehow a good idea not to tell us that you had mages in this town?” I walked closer, and Austin kept pace with me. “Drex knew a lot about us, and so I assume he knew we’ve had some run-ins with mages. And yet you thought springing them on us, having them attack us, was the best idea?”
“He wanted to explain why the mages are here,” she replied, stopping in front of us. “He thought he’d be able to do that after the challenge. He hadn’t realized he’d be incapacitated to this degree.” She shook her head, her gaze direct and apologetic. “I don’t know why they attacked. Please, give me a moment to find out what is going on. They’re skittish, these mages. They’ve had run-ins of their own. Drex will explain when he’s able.”
I put out my hand to keep her put. “You need to understand something. Your people are incredibly lucky Austin was here to stop Sebastian from killing that woman and the guy down the street. Austin was acting in good faith with your alpha and had the presence of mind to read the scene. If it had been anyone else, including me, you might have several dead townspeople right now, not just a couple mages. Keeping us in the dark is about the stupidest thing you can possibly do. You have no idea how incredibly dangerous we really are.”
I lowered my hand but kept my stare levelled on hers. I’d love to ring her bell right now, all their bells. I was tired and out of patience and energy. What sort of absolute moron would start a fight with us? Had they not heard about the basajaunak?
I gestured at the gargoyles holding the woman, while simultaneously daring the beta to challenge my authority. “Bring that mage over here. Let’s settle this right now.”