Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
“That’s going to be a problem,” Ulric murmured as he fell in beside Niamh. “Them fighting for power like that.”
“Not a’tal,” Niamh replied, making sure she and Ulric ruined the orderly line heading to the storage facility doors. “It’ll just give our friend the alpha a new challenge. He seems to love those.”
Ulric shook his head, falling behind a little so Niamh could enter the single doorway first.
“I fortified the spells.”
Niamh nearly jumped out of her skin from the surprise of Sebastian’s unexpectedly close voice.
“Janey Mack, lad. Yer as bad as Edgar at sneaking up.”
“That is quite the compliment,” came Edgar’s disembodied voice from somewhere behind them.
“Last week,” Sebastian went on as they made their way through the recently redone halls. The concrete floor reflected the bare bulbs dotting the way above them. Orange metal gleamed along the walls, the doors to what were very likely vacant storage cells. “Alpha Austin— I mean Austin Alph— Dang it.”
“Yer also as bad as Edgar in getting names right, hmm?” Niamh said.
Nessa started laughing.
“That alpha has a way of reducing me to a blubbering mess,” he replied, shooting a glare backward, probably at Nessa. “Anyway, the alpha asked that I fortify this place with magic for just such an occasion.”
They turned one corner and then another. The place was seemingly set up like a maze. It wouldn’t take a genius to figure it out. Edgar had made his plant maze much harder to navigate.
“Did you tell him that you were expecting to need it?” she asked.
“No. I didn’t want to worry him unnecessarily. I figured the first mage in would be easy to navigate. Well…hoped that would be the case, at any rate.”
“Did ye, now? And how did you think he’d react to you withholdin’ vital information that directly related to his mate’s safety?”
Sebastian was quiet for a moment. “I…I mean…” He struggled for words. “I’m always around. I’ve been paying attention. Watching for signs that mages are near, I mean. I’ve had my eye on things.”
She shrugged and said, “I’m sure it’ll be grand,” somehow managing to subdue her sarcasm. She wouldn’t trade places with him for all the world.
They turned a final corner, and the building opened up around them. The storage units that should’ve been there weren’t, creating a warehouse-like space three stories tall. Within the area sat what looked like a large white cube with a narrow door embedded in it. This would’ve been what Sebastian had fortified. The enemy mage’s prison.
They stopped in a chaotic sort of mass, the few shifters perfectly aligned on the outskirts and the Ivy House crew randomly spaced between them.
Nessa practically danced through everyone to stop beside Jessie. “Okay, everyone, if I may. Here’s how things are going to go…”
“Send Edgar in first,” Niamh said, putting a little power behind that command. She hadn’t ever used that particular magical ability with this crew. She’d been saving it for when she really needed it. Now was the time.
Nessa snapped to attention, and Cyra and Hollace, standing right in front of her, looked back with furrowed brows. Austin Steele’s gaze beat into her for the second time this evening, but she didn’t let that bother her now. She wasn’t messing with his people, so he wouldn’t mess with her.
One and all then shifted their gaze to Edgar, who was hanging in the back. He held one of the Ivy House spell books and stood much too close to Broken Sue. If it was any other time, Niamh would’ve burst out laughing at the mildly uncomfortable expression leaking onto Broken Sue’s otherwise stoic face.
“Who…me?” Edgar asked with raised eyebrows, looking around. “Go first?” He straightened a little. “My, this is an unexpected honor.”
“Well, but…” Nessa hesitated. “If that mage has somehow escaped his restraints, he’ll be dangerous. He’ll be able to fire magic…”
“Ah, sure, it’ll be grand,” Niamh said, still hiding her sarcasm. “Jessie practices on him all the time. He’s right as rain.”
“Well, I do still have nightmares from that one time, but I try not to sleep or daydream, and it seems to be okay,” Edgar said with a smile.
“See? He’s grand.” Niamh motioned him on. “Edgar, while we get organized, go break the ice, will ya? Fill our trespasser in on the perils of flower growing. Or your quest for the perfect doily. Or all your medals from cheating in the flower shows.”
Edgar skulked closer to the cube—in fairness, it was his version of walking—and waggled his long finger at her. “You know very well I do not cheat in that flower—”
“Yeah, yeah. Tell him all about it.” Niamh walked him forward, pulled the door open, and shoved him in. “Mind ye don’t get hit with magic. Ye wouldn’t want to rob Jessie of retiring you. I’m sure she’ll look forward to it one of these days.”