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)
“Explain,” Austin said in a rough tone.
“I knew you’d react to that,” Sebastian mumbled. He took a deep breath. “First of all, please know that I’ve been making schemes for years and years. I know the mage world very well. I know the rules, and when the rules are most likely to be broken—”
“Yes, yes, we’re all in awe of your expertise. Please move on,” Mr. Tom said, setting aside the mostly empty tray of sandwiches.
Sebastian blinked for a moment, then complied. “I don’t count on loyalty in the mage world, but I do know how to get people to do my bidding. I won’t bore you with the details. Let’s just say if you offer them something they covet, especially if they can’t get it elsewhere, you’ve got them for as long as you keep offering them that thing.”
“Money?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Sometimes. It’s certainly always part of the equation. But a chance at being in the winning outfit, the opportunity to double-cross someone who’s treated you badly—there are many pressure points out there. Nessa and I are good at finding out which ones make people tick.”
“What’s your point?” Austin asked.
“We have a network. When I went underground, I hinted that I would be back. I made it known to my people that they’d be rewarded if they remained faithful. Those who leaked the information at that time were killed outright—”
“I like how he does business,” Cyra murmured.
He shrugged again. “In the underbelly of magical society, everyone knows the risks of betrayal. Three-quarters of that network is still active. Many have access to the enemy, and all are operating with networks of their own. So my foundation is solid, even after my hiatus.”
The room was silent, many nodding. Sebastian went on. “So. Long-term goals.” He inclined his head toward Austin. “Bring down the Mages Guild. I can’t bring them down by myself. Momar? Probably.” He paused for a moment. “Maybe. He’s got a helluva setup now. I could probably take him out personally, but the Guild could easily step in and take over his operations. Or someone else might. That serpent has many heads. To fight the Guild, we need another organization equally strong. For that, I’m counting on the unified shifter pack you’re planning on setting up, Austin.” He flinched. “Steele. Alpha Steele.”
“Close one, Sabby,” Nessa muttered with a grin.
He didn’t acknowledge her. “We need a large force to combat the corrupt Mages Guild. I think, with Alpha Steele leading and Jessie at his side, that would fit the bill.”
“And what sort of control would you want after helping set that up?” Austin asked.
Sebastian’s expression puckered, and he put his hands out. “I don’t want to mess with shifter politics any more than I have to. I just want someone trustworthy and well-intentioned to be in charge—someone who can force the Guild to be a less corrupt organization. There are good mages out there. I’d like to be one of them some day. You’re the shifter who can do it, Austin Steele. We all know it. So I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
“You seem to do just fine in the shadows,” Nathanial said. “Why would you want to mess with the Guild?”
He hadn’t heard Sebastian’s whole story, and Sebastian clearly didn’t feel like going into it now. So he replied, “Revenge, at the heart of it. Or maybe the ability to step out of the shadows and not be assassinated. Take your pick.”
“So you’re doing this for you?” Nathanial pressed.
Sebastian shrugged. “For me, and for mages like me. Which brings me to my next long-term goal. Jessie needs her own network, one that Elliot Graves is not a part of. I’m hopeful that Ulric’s mom”—he glanced at Ulric with raised eyebrows—“can help get that started. Regardless, she needs an army. Alpha Steele will have the shifters. She needs her gargoyles. But she also needs mage allies. And this is where it gets tricky.”
“Despite yer efforts,” Niamh said, “Jessie is not perceived in the magical world as any sort of threat. I’ve done the research. She is a curiosity to many and a joke to those with power. We got proof of that earlier this evening. They might’ve heard she’s a powerful mage, but so far, they haven’t found anyone to verify that.”
“Right…” Sebastian indicated Niamh. “She’s right. Jessie is…mostly a joke. At present. Mages won’t be in a hurry to work with her.”
“Not even if you ally with her?” Austin asked.
Nessa shook her head. “Elliot Graves makes for a certain type of ally. Most of the people who’d willingly work with him are bad people. We wouldn’t want them for Jessie.”
“Except you put a stamp of interest on me,” I said. “You basically claimed me in that cave meetup. You heard what that mage said—Momar’s going after the survivors. When he catches them, he’ll know you favored me.”