“Kiss-arse,” Niamh murmured.
“Niamh, keep an eye on Edgar. He’s skulking away,” I told her.
Everyone turned to look. Edgar froze halfway behind a curtain. He stepped back out with a simpering smile, offering no explanation.
“Everyone is definitely going to know where we stand,” I told Austin as we resumed walking. “We certainly aren’t hiding any of our weird.”
“And you certainly didn’t hide any of your power,” he murmured, squeezing my hand. “Good.”
“Is that Aurora I see tucked away in your lines?” Kingsley asked when we neared the table. “She wasn’t on the list.”
“Neither was one of Miss Ironheart’s people,” a woman in a flowing pink dress said.
Everyone stood behind a chair, all evenly spaced with more than an arm span between them except for two. Those were closer together and were clearly intended for Austin and me, as ours was the only group with a co-leader.
“It is Aurora, yes,” Austin said as he reached out to grab the back of a chair. “She’s alpha material and our family, not to mention symbolic. She was the one who stopped my attack on you all those years ago. I assume that’s at the forefront ofeveryone’s minds. Now she will act as liaison to Jess and step in the way if anyone should attack me.”
“You’d let your niece try to stop someone from challenging you?” the woman in the pink dress asked in disapproval.
“No.” Austin pulled out a chair and looked at me, intending for me to take it. I did, and he sat in the one next to me. “She’ll stop Jess from ending the fight prematurely.”
I doubted that, but it was a nice sentiment. I’d be fine with a sanctified challenge—probably—but if a surprise attack kicked off, I doubted I’d be still long enough to remember to back off.
NINETEEN
Jessie
Kingsley settled in the chair next to Austin. The rest of the alphas watched me.
“Allow me to make the introductions.” Kingsley reached for the pitcher of water and a water glass. He filled it as everyone hesitantly took their seats. They were wary of Austin, that was obvious. It seemed like they really did think he’d just randomly lose control and rush them.
“This is my brother, Austin Steele, original co-alpha of the Dusky Ridge Convocation. Beside him is Jessie Ironheart, original co-alpha of the Dusky Ridge Convocation and mistress of the fabled Ivy House, a magical house harboring the essence of a female gargoyle. She was previously a Jane, but she’s been at this for over a year and has had to hit the ground running. Because of the help she and my brother provided my territory, she’s now a target of the most ruthless mage we’ve ever seen. They’re both pack friends, I support them in their endeavors, I trust them with my life and the safety of my people, and I plan tohelp them unify magical people into a moral establishment that benefits all.”
Austin nodded in greeting, so I did the same. Kingsley then went around the group, introducing the other nine alphas, who had slowly taken their seats and were studying Austin and me with calculating expressions. None of them were original alphas, most having inherited their packs and continuing to build on them. One was a fifth-generation alpha, and I had a feeling he didn’t do much more than keep the peace. Only one of them had had problems with mages in the past, and that had been nothing more than a skirmish. They’d lost a couple people, but they’d been able to run the mages off.
“First, we should probably clear up the second additional person you brought, Jessie,” Kingsley said when he’d finished the introductions, “and then I think it would be wise to run through the rumors. It seems a large portion of the alphas out there believe the worst of my brother and none of the best. I’d like to clear the air.”
Austin nodded. Once again, I followed suit.
“Jessie?” Kingsley prompted me.
“Oh,” I said. “Sorry. She’s a recent addition to my crew and felt compelled to join us today.”
“And you let her?” asked Margery, the woman in the black dress I’d seen at the doorway.
I shrugged. “She looks the part, as odd as that is. She’s now on the team and getting everyone organized was just shy of chaos. You have nothing to worry about. She’s a Jane. We’re trying to infiltrate the mage world electronically, and we needed someone exceptional to navigate the technical side.”
“She’s aJane?” asked Zack, the fifth-generation alpha with graying hair and sharp brown eyes.
“I really like how generous she is with compliments,” Fred said from the corner. She’d plunked down on the ground to wait. Dave had joined her. “Exceptional, did you hear that?”
“Shh,” someone told her.
“Yes,” I answered Zack. “The magic she does with computers is all brainpower.”
“I’d like an introduction to this team of yours,” said an alpha named Dale, his deep voice reverberating through the space. He was only second generation, in his mid-thirties, and seemed a little more intense than the rest of them.
“Yes, let’s tackle those rumors first, shall we?” Kingsley clasped his hands on the table. “Jessie, can you take us through your people, and then Austin, you can talk about your betas.”
