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)
It was incredibly humbling that Ulric was part of this oddity, but so was Tristan, and he was renowned in the gargoyle culture. That definitely softened the blow.
And then Ulric heard, “What in the hell is with all this food?”
Nessa turned back to John, laughing merrily. She leaned around Ulric to say, “Told you so!”
26
Ulric
After a very quick flight that could’ve probably been a bus ride, the large private jet jolted as the wheels hit the runway. A plate of cheeses slid up the table in front of Ulric and nearly ended up in John’s lap, who sat in the aisle, facing him. Aurora, sitting next to Ulric on the window seat, caught the plate and pulled it back into place.
John put his hand on the tray to keep it steady. “Why do I make you uncomfortable?” he asked, looking at her.
She pulled her hand back as though burned. “You don’t. My father is Alpha Barazza, Austin Steele’s brother. Dad shared news of the other packs with us as we went through our training. He used a lot of it as educational. I’m just…”
Her face flamed and Ulric grinned at her. It wasn’t often she got flustered.
Jasper sat next to John, facing Aurora. “Processing?” he said, helpfully.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, is all,” she murmured, looking out the window. “He thought you were a very good alpha.”
John didn’t look away. “Being good often comes at a great cost. At least it did in my case. You were the little girl who got in the way of your uncle fighting your father?”
She swallowed and turned to meet his gaze before dropping it respectfully. “Yes.”
“You’ve joined your uncle’s pack? You’ve forgiven him?”
Her eyes came up slowly, fire burning in their depths. She did not like being questioned about this, and the shifter subservience reserved for a formerly renowned alpha dissolved. “I forgave him the moment he approached Dad, apologized, and asked to be correctly trained,” she said. “He hadn’t been in his right mind. It took longer to forgive him for leaving, but now that I’m older, and having witnessed what it was like for him when he came home, I get it. He didn’t have a lot of options, despite the rumors.”
John held her gaze, something untamed moving behind his eyes. Something that made Ulric uncomfortable, like maybe he should switch seats with Tristan and let the big gargoyle handle things.
Aurora didn’t look away, though. If anything, she leaned in. “Yes, I’ve joined his pack. There’s more opportunity for me here. More of a challenge. More to learn. It’s also the most important place a person can be when the mages strike next. It’s the best way to help our kind.”
They stared at each other for a long beat. Under the table, Ulric noticed Aurora curling her hands into fists, as though struggling to hang in there.
Finally, John dropped his gaze to the cheese. Taking a cube, he popped it into his mouth and looked out the window.
“I used to hate that rumor mill,” he muttered, chewing. “I envied those who had time to sit by and gossip while keeping me in their sights.”
“Then I guess you know how my uncle feels.”
John’s gaze snapped back to her before drifting away again. “I guess I do. What do they say about my sisters?”
“They don’t have the clout and sway you did. They are a chorus rather than the preacher.”
“Is that right?” John mumbled, and the air seemed to pressurize. “And why do you suppose that is, Miss Alpha-in-Training-Wheels?”
Ulric widened his eyes and Jasper grimaced. That seemed like shots fired.
She didn’t rise to the bait. “You know why.”
“You sound like your uncle. Yes, I do. But do you?”
She hadn’t looked back at him. “You left a big shadow over that pack, and you left in a strange way. After you put so much effort into earning your title, you handed it away before your time was through. While you’re in your prime, I mean. Lastly, and what is probably the biggest reason—they are three people handling the territory of one. That has never been done before, not like this. Not after you bled to keep that territory whole and in the family. They are seen as a third of an alpha each, even though their individual power is rumored to be great.”
Ulric couldn’t pinpoint why, because John barely moved, but it seemed like he was impressed with Aurora’s answer.
“They are each powerful in their own right, yes.” John popped another piece of cheese into his mouth as the plane taxied down the runway. “Let me guess who leads the charge of these rumors.” He paused. “Could it be Armendale?”
Aurora barely inclined her head in assent. “Dad said Armendale didn’t hide his glee very well when you vanished. He stepped into the place you vacated and actively snubs your sisters whenever he can. Dad thinks he’s trying to keep them from claiming your former clout. Some of the others follow his example.”