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)
“Of course not, miss.” Mr. Tom indicated I should go back in the house. “With Austin Steele’s guidance, we have procured a temperature-controlled warehouse to store the pricy automobiles you both own. A little overkill, if you ask me, but I know you like to make him happy. This vehicle is for special occasions only. I took the liberty of parking that hideous connection gift you received in the warehouse, as well. Soon we’ll purchase some about-town vehicles for the crew. Oh, and we have procured a mating gift for your mate, to be presented to him when you aren’t so outrageously busy. I must warn you, though, the weird mage did not play by the rules for that one.”
Sebastian spread his arms. “Okay, but seriously, the mage had it coming. He was poking around in Nessa’s affairs, and once he gained access to some private files, he started sending her lewd messages and pictures. She paid him a visit, and I helped myself to some of his effects. We reap what we sow.”
“What is it?” Austin asked.
Sebastian smiled. “You’re going to love it. More importantly, your brother is going to be so jealous.”
Austin shook his head, still looking at the car as headlights appeared down the street. “I don’t want to make that kind of gift procuring a habit.”
“I hear you loud and clear, alpha,” Sebastian said, crossing his arms in front of him. “But these people really do deserve it and more. Much more. You’ll see when you dip your toes in the mage world. Anyway, we should probably get into positions. Time is running out. Nice watch, by the way.”
“It was given to me by a guy who is excellent at gift giving,” Austin replied, walking back toward the front of the house. I assumed it was his people arriving to make a show for the arriving gargoyles. “I can’t wait for Christmas.”
Sebastian laughed as the cars stopped, the most relaxed he’d ever been in Austin’s presence.
“Miss, I really think we should sojourn to the house,” Mr. Tom pressed. “You should be relaxing in comfort while the rest of us handle the details.”
I ignored him as Broken Sue stepped out of a black Lincoln Town Car. He said something in a clipped tone, too low to hear, before walking around the hood of the car to open the passenger door. Nessa’s bare legs swung over the side as Broken Sue reached a hand in. She took it and gracefully allowed him to help her out.
“Wow,” I said, taking her in. I barely recognized her.
An off-the-shoulder, asymmetrical chiffon evening dress hugged her tightly at the bodice, decorated in sparkling silver sequins. It loosened up around the legs, higher in the front and then flowing down to the ground in the back, light and airy. Her hair had been piled on top of her head in an intricate design, decorated with what looked like diamonds woven in to appear like fairy dust. She’d aimed for dramatic makeup, completely the opposite look to my simple dusting, with a thick smoky eye under dark brows, accentuated with dark lipstick. She looked like the devil to my angel, and I knew that was by design.
“Yes, she’s a knockout when she makes the effort,” Sebastian whispered.
“No.” Broken Sue put his hand on Nessa’s shoulder to stop her from bending over. She turned back in confusion, and he gently but firmly escorted her to the sidewalk a few steps away. “I’ll get it.”
He returned to the car to retrieve her notepad. When he handed it off to her, she smiled up at him, batting her eyelashes dramatically. “My knight.”
Ignoring the comment, he passed by her to stop in front of Austin. He wore a similar tuxedo that molded to his large frame, but with white buttons instead of black and no scarf.
As always, Austin’s people lined up quickly and in an orderly fashion. Kace, the pack member next in the hierarchy behind Broken Sue, headed up one column and Broken Sue headed up the other, both standing tall and broad amid hard-faced shifters. Austin would wait with me inside.
A pulse of magic brought my people to the front of the house.
“And we’re just supposed to leave you alone with these gargoyles?” Cyra asked me before I’d gotten to slip inside. Mr. Tom was practically dancing from foot to foot to get me moving.
“I’ll have more people than they will, remember?” I told her. “Austin will be with me, for one. I’ll have Broken Sue and Kace standing by the front door and Sebastian and Nessa loitering around with an invisibility potion—”
“If they don’t sense us,” Sebastian said.
“Niamh will be very close, at home, and a bunch of basajaunak will be blending into the trees around the house, not to mention Mr. Tom is acting as butler and Naomi is leading the catering crew. I think I have half the team on hand. I’ll be more than fine.”