Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
They were coming. The raid! The raid was happening!
“We’ve got the raid coming,” I yelled to no one, racing down the hall and toward the third-floor stairs. “The raid is coming! Make sure that bracelet is where I put it the other night. Mr. Tom likes to move things when he cleans.”
“How dare you!” I heard from the other end of the hall. “I know my business, thank you very much.”
On the third floor, I ran toward the doorway that would lead to a level area of the roof. Out there, I did a full circle, seeing them coming at the house from all angles.
“Okay, then.”
I sent out a pulse. A massive one. My magic boomed out over my property and then shot out wider, farther. It reached town and kept on going, moving to the next town and beyond.
Come to me. Fight!
It wasn’t a command so much as an invitation.
Danger! Battle! Glory!
I let the pulses keep going, targeting everyone in the territory, shifters included.
My phone rang.
Austin.
“What’ve we got?” he asked, and I could tell he was on the move.
“The raid. Check the skyline.”
His whistle was soft. “They’re certainly giving you plenty of time. What do you need?”
“If Ivy House cooperates, not much, honestly. But it wouldn’t hurt for me to down a few and let them see how the shifters can fight.”
“And if she doesn’t cooperate?”
“I will,” she said sullenly, and I repeated the message.
Gargoyles from town rose into the sky. In a moment, though, every single one of them dropped down again. They’d clearly seen Gimerel coming and decided not to get involved. They didn’t want to go up against Tristan.
That was fine, as long as they saw me beat him.
I called Sebastian as I jogged down and through the second floor.
“It’s on?” Hollace asked, coming out of his room. He had on slacks but no shirt, having paused in either putting on or taking off his clothes.
“That’s what the big guardian was so busy about, then,” Cyra said, popping out of her room with a big smile. “I called it, didn’t I, Hollace? I said it would be today.”
After Sebastian answered, I rapidly told him what was happening.
“We saw the gargoyles. We’re already on our way.”
“What’re our orders?” Hollace asked, his hands now at his zipper.
“Fliers, get on the roof and get ready,” I replied. “We won’t take to the air until they’re over the property. The shifters will be here soon. They’ll take the ground. Obviously. Most of our defense will be Ivy House. They seem to think I want to hide where my magic came from—probably so I can pretend to fit in. Nope. If they’re stupid enough to attack Ivy House, they can get the full brunt of her defenses. I’m not trying to hide anything.”
I could feel the basajaunak running away from the house, spreading out within the wood.
“Crap,” I said, calling Austin.
“What’s up?” he answered.
“Get someone out to Dave and make sure he understands that we are not killing these gargoyles. We can hurt them, but we’re aiming for zero mortal injuries, even if they say something nasty.”
“He seemed to be clear on the rules the other night, but I’ll deliver the message.”
“I know he was, but you know him…and the others.”
“Understood.”
Edgar was skulking around his cottage, in no sort of hurry. He’d probably end up saving the day again. You just never knew with that vampire.
Nathanial jogged out of his room down the way, buck naked and no muumuu in sight. He was heading to the roof with the rest of his fliers, though had clearly hung back a bit to speak to me. He wouldn’t be in his skin long anyway.
“Are you still going to take Tristan on?” he asked.
“Absolutely, hopefully in front of an audience.”
“I’m no match for him in the air,” he said, his usually calm and confident tone wavering a little. “I’m not going to be much help to you.”
I paused. “I don’t want help. I want everyone to see my weaknesses clearly. I can’t fly very fast or maneuver very well. I’m tiny in comparison. I’m purple and sparkly, for God’s sake. Everyone will see that he has me utterly outgunned in all the ways they think matter. And I will blast him out of the sky. I will not fail in this. I cannot.” Fire raged through me. “If that leader turns up, though, allow him into the house. I want Ivy House to make him sweat.”
“With pleasure,” Ivy House said.
Nathanial took a long moment, his gaze fierce and proud. He didn’t comment, as was his nature, but his nod said it all.
He knew he was on the winning team. We would all make sure of it, together, relying on each other.
When I got downstairs, Naomi sat at her desk.
“I assume you’re not going to fight…” I let the comment linger so as not to offend her. Shifters were prickly about old age and fighting prowess.