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)
“Now, now, Withor.” Nelson gave him a sly smile. “Jealousy doesn’t become you.”
Eram narrowed his eyes at Nelson and then shifted his attention to me. “Why are you wearing that bracelet? It sticks out like a bruised thumb compared with the rest of your much nicer ensemble.”
Austin glanced at me, and expectation rose through the bond. This was the perfect setup. It was time to issue the challenge, especially since Nelson’s people were probably making a list of other things they hoped to steal.
“If they attempt a raid on me, they’ll get a nasty surprise,” Ivy House thought as the dolls woke up. Tristan was currently standing in the empty room with the random closet full of gold, and one of Eram’s people had made it to the third floor and was walking into the art room. The dolls were preparing, just in case.
“This bracelet?” I lifted it to show everyone, wiggling it in the light. “I figured it was a joke, and I was the butt of said joke. Otherwise why would Nelson just give it to me when he’d challenged everyone else to come and take it? He has to be laughing at my expense, right? Making fun of my small team and lack of enormous guardians?”
Sebastian, standing behind Eram right now with only a few feet to spare, slowly put a thumb up.
“Jessie!” Nelson placed a hand to his heart. “How could you think so little of me? I’m just a bird watcher.”
I laughed for his benefit. “This is true. Well…” I put down my wine so I could use that hand to unclasp the bracelet. It fell off into my palm, and the suddenness wiped the smile off Nelson’s face and captured his focus. “I’m sure I can figure out how to protect an itty-bitty little bracelet like this.”
I held it up for Mr. Tom, who was waiting near the door.
“Mr. Tom, would you do me the favor of setting this out on the table behind me? I’d put it on the coffee table, but I don’t want one of us to spill our drinks on it.”
Nelson watched me shrewdly, all the charm and humor stripped away to reveal sparkling intellect and raw ruthlessness. He nodded at me, just slightly, and my gargoyle thrummed within me. Challenge accepted.
TWENTY-TWO
Nessa
“This is really boring, Sabby,” Nessa whispered to Sebastian.
This potion was a serious game changer. Sebastian was a genius for concocting it, and Jessie a godsend for helping him bring it to life. They could move around without smell, sight, or sound, and they could hear and see each other? If there was the equivalent of a Nobel for mages, he’d get it, hands down.
They stood dangerously close to Mr. Charming, the leader of Gimerel. Friendly, funny, and easygoing, he was a delight to be around.
Nessa had never trusted people like him. Pull back the covers, and there were bear traps in bed.
Mr. Charming reached back to scratch his head, making Sebastian take a step away so as not to be accidentally touched. Wind probably rustled Mr. Charming’s arm hair. She and Sabby stilled, waiting to see if Nelson would notice. Jessie coughed into her hand, glancing over.
Nothing.
Austin or Brochan would’ve spun around, grabbed them by their invisible necks, and clunked their heads together. Most decent shifters would. Nessa had forgotten how easy it was to spy on non-shifters.
“They have to go to dinner soon,” Sebastian whispered back. “Let’s just give it a few more minutes.”
She pointed at Mr. Porsche, the other somewhat funny cairn leader. “Let’s go see if he can sense us. Maybe he’s got hidden talents.”
As they slowly made their way over to them, the leaders finally stopped bickering for long enough to ask Jessie a meaningful question.
“Be honest,” Mr. Porsche said, leaning forward. “Did you really like that carriage?”
Jessie grinned and leaned a little into Austin, an action that always made him curl his arm around her and pull her closer.
“Truth?” she said, the wine putting a little flush into her cheeks.
“Yes,” Mr. Porsche drew out. “Tell us. Tell us!”
“It is very pretty,” she said, and everyone hung on her every word whether they realized it or not, “and the details in it are very cool…”
“Go on.” Mr. Porsche rolled his finger in an air circle.
“But what the hell am I going to do with it?”
“I knew it!” Mr. Porsche fist-pumped the air and pushed back, laughing.
His back hit the cushions and his head came dangerously close to hitting Nessa in the stomach. She jumped back, swinging her arms. A wafting of wind feathered his hair.
Nessa and Sebastian froze again. Jessie cleared her throat, frowning over at the wooden carvings on the fireplace. The image had changed to a man with wild hair sitting on a couch with a stick figure in a ghost costume standing behind him.