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)
He didn’t respond, not taking the bait.
“No, thanks,” she relented. “I’m sure Sebastian is ordering me one.”
He pressed his lips against his glass, and she watched the brown liquid slide into his waiting, open mouth.
The thought of his kiss came back to her, rough and hot and delicious. His taste. The feel of him underneath her palms.
“Here.” Sebastian stopped in front of her and handed her a tequila in a sipping glass. “Let me know when we need to leave.”
In other words, let him know when she’d found Ulric’s tormentors and could get them alone. She half couldn’t wait. She needed a little violence right now.
“Will do,” she replied.
“You were left out of the action the other day,” Brochan said, one hand tucked into his pocket and the other holding his drink. He looked out at the sea of people, probably not seeing anyone at the same time as seeing everyone.
Austin appeared behind the bar, stoic and stern. His hard gaze touched down on each gargoyle for a moment before moving on. Those who met his eyes hunched, already well versed in the art of submitting. They’d either seen or heard about how he stood up to raging basajaunak without flinching. Ready to go toe to toe. That was no small thing.
Nessa shrugged, continuing to watch the bar.
“Yeah,” she said. “And I was totally fine with that. I don’t need more ways to die.”
“You don’t need any ways to die.”
She smiled up at him. “My knight.” Then she laughed at his frown. “You were left out of it, too, for the most part.”
“I was playing babysitter to the downed guardians,” he growled.
She laughed softly. “Sebastian said they withstood some serious shots of magic. It would be good to have a few of them on our side.”
He was quiet for a moment. “When they first got here, I disagreed with that. But now…” He nodded, surveying the crowd.
“We just have to reel them in.”
“Not sure what they’re waiting for.”
Voices dropped to murmurs, and then most people stopped speaking altogether. Bodies shuffled out of the way quickly, bumping into one another to make room.
Tristan stepped in, easily topping the crowd, his expression and mannerisms easy. You’d think he was ready for war, though, with how people hurried to get out of his way.
Brochan tensed next to her, his eyes and bearing now hyperalert. He took a slow sip of his drink as he watched the big gargoyle step up to the bar.
“Alpha.” Tristan bent his head in hello, almost a shallow bow. He was acknowledging the leader of this territory and doing so respectfully. That would go a long way to settle any dissenting gargoyles, if there were any left. Nessa only wished his leader were here to see it.
“What’ll ya have?” Austin asked, setting down a beer he’d just grabbed and knocking on the bar for whoever had ordered it.
“Hennessy, neat.” Tristan stared straight ahead for a moment, not looking at anything in particular as Austin nodded and turned to get it.
When the drink was handed over, Tristan said, “I wondered if Alpha Ironheart will be stopping in?”
“No, not tonight,” Austin responded. “She’s at Ivy House, if you care to stop in.”
Tristan gave him a little grin. “It’s been declared a no-fly zone, I’m afraid. I shouldn’t even be here. If you would let her know…” He paused for Austin to incline his head. “If you need anything for the goodbye dinner, as they’re calling it, let me know. I’m an efficient go-between.”
“Goodbye dinner?” Austin’s tone carried humor even though he wouldn’t allow his face to show it.
Tristan allowed himself to show plenty. “Good riddance dinner, then. I doubt any of the leaders, Miss Ironheart included, will be in a hurry for a gathering like this one again. It was a miracle they all got along as well as they did.”
“It probably helped that they had a new kid to team up against.”
Tristan lowered his head slowly, a half nod. “It did. For a time. She seemed incredibly hard to pin down, however. My master wasn’t the only one to be a little frustrated she wouldn’t be cowed. He’d thought the raid would do it.”
“He should’ve paid more attention to the power in her crew.”
“Agreed.” Tristan moved to turn away, and then hesitated. He glanced around him, obviously wanting some privacy. He probably couldn’t be seen walking off with Austin, though, not if he wasn’t supposed to be here in the first place.
“Sebastian,” Austin barked, obviously recognizing the problem.
Sebastian, sitting next to Niamh, flinched and then hunched. He got up like a kicked puppy, trudging over to the two men, giving Tristan a wide berth.
“Pretty impressive that you have that mage deferring to you,” Tristan said conversationally, watching Sebastian approach. “His skill in battle is incredible. His trust even more so. He was blown off the roof with no wings and didn’t seem troubled by it at all.”