Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“About the posture and the power,” Margery said. “They have the power of alphas. At least, that shifter does.”
“They both do,” Austin said.
“The Austin Steele I’ve heard about all these years would never allow someone that close to challenging,” Zack murmured to a short man with a bald head. Kevin, I thought his name was.
“Make no mistake,” Austin said in a growl, “if they were close to challenging, I’d handle it. My beast would push me hard. I am that Austin Steele you’ve heard of. They aren’t close, however. They know their positions, as do I. Our hierarchy is firmly in place. There is not a question of my dominance, and so I’m not worried about how they posture. Neither am I worried about my mate’s team, packed with power and seemingly in constant chaos. What we’ve cultivated works. In battle, it works. Kingsley can attest to that.”
“I can.” Kingsley nodded. “I taught Austin everything I know, and he’s taken it to the next level. He thinks he’s the same Austin Steele from the rumors, but he isn’t. He isn’t the hotheaded kid from my territory. He’s grown into his might, and he’s trying to do noble things with it. So, let’s talk about those rumors, shall we? As you can see, my claims about the people he has on his team are true. The phoenix, the basajaun—they’re here.”
The alphas inclined their heads. “I’d still like a demonstration of some of their magics,” one of them said.
“You’ll have it,” Kingsley replied. “Austin and Jessie’s team is stacked with power. Their whole territory is stacked with power and battle-ready. It’s not a territory of restful inhabitants, like I have. Like you have.” He looked at them pointedly. “You know my daughter. She lives there now, and she can attest to those claims at a later date. But let’s talk about Austin.”
Austin settled back in his chair and draped his hand over the back of mine. He ran his thumb against my shoulder, and I knew he wasn’t looking forward to this.
“He’s obviously powerful,” Kevin said. “He also obviously has a firm handle on his people.”
“He does,” Kingsley said. “Shifters and gargoyles.”
“Not the basajaunak?” Margery asked.
“The basajaunak…” Austin thought for a moment. “Their leader, Dave’s mom, is in the convocation, as we mentioned. She follows my or Jessie’s battle directions and organizes her basajaunak accordingly. In Dave’s mom’s absence, they answer to Jessie. The convocation is in segments. Jessie handles the people we have over there. She and Tristan command the gargoyles and other fliers. I handle the ground crew, turning certain aspects over to Brochan or my other top personnel. I oversee the whole to create a cohesive unit while Jessie combats any magic wielders. Dealing with mages and all these other magical types is a balancing act, one that’s always moving and changing. We have a unique situation we’re trying to manage, which was why we were able to handle the battle in Kingsley’s territory.”
“With mage help, right?” Zack asked.
“Our mages…went their own way,” I said with a heavy heart. “For now. It’s part of the reason we need Fred. Nessa is better than us at technology. We had to find her, and soon, we’re going to bring them in. They’re misguided in their thinking, and I’m about out of patience.”
The uncomfortable feeling I’d had regarding their situation coiled in my gut, like I was running out of time. Like something was gravely wrong, and soon it would all blow up.
I shook it off. I’d need to get with Niamh and come up with a plan.
“We need them,” I said, the assurance of that statement ringing in my voice. “I need them. I’m not enough to combat Momar. Not even close. I’m strong, but I’m not experienced. I don’t know the culture, the rules. I don’t know where to focus my magical learning or even how to test-drive the new, intense, and extremely dangerous spells. While I also need to find, meet, and unify other mages, like Austin is trying to do with shifters, they are our core group. Without them, we’re vulnerable.”
My heart sped up as I said that, knowing it deep in my bones. Without Sebastian and Nessa, we would fail. Without us, one or both of them would die. I wasn’t a seer, but my gut feeling was so strong, I would never dare question it.
Without thinking, I turned in my chair. “Niamh, you’re not needed here. Take Fred and get back to work. I want to meet to discuss everything later tonight.”
“Sound.” Niamh pushed to standing and gestured for Fred to follow her.
“On it!” Fred called, and followed her out.
Austin twirled a lock of my hair around his fingers, and I turned back to the table at large. “Sorry about that,” I said. “We just have a lot of irons in the fire right now, and we often need to divide and conquer.”