“I think it was lucky she had the option. It was lucky that it took them so long to erect that spell. Just a bit longer, and she wouldn’t have made it. None of us would have. We didn’t see it coming. Even now, the ball is in his court. He holds all the power because he holds all the knowledge. We don’t have a foothold in the mage world, but he has a damn good idea of how shifters work.”
Kingsley nodded slowly, his eyes analyzing Austin. “And how will you get Armendale to come around?”
“Screw Armendale.” Austin’s power surged through the room, and he didn’t bother tamping it down. He didn’t have to apologize to Kingsley, not after they’d talked it out. “He’ll be a statement. People are going to doubt my power, Jess’s magic, and our abilities until we prove our might. We’re seeing it right now with this errand your friends have us going on tomorrow. I don’t have time to travel around the country doing small chores to prove our worth. Armendale is how we prove it. And if he slights me, I’ll prove it viciously.”
Kingsley’s eyes widened, still analyzing. He was a methodical thinker. He took whatwasand altered it just enough to create whatneeded to be. Austin was the brawn, Kingsley the brain. They needed to play to their strengths for this to work.
Austin changed the subject to something he’d realized that day. “You steered that meeting well, from the moment we walked in to the second you wrapped it up.”
Kingsley took his time taking a sip. Though he seemed reluctant to switch topics, he finally relented. “I figured I’d better. Your crew and hers are a lot to take. You have an extremeamount of power in your setup—not just those betas, all of them—and she has more. It doesn’t help that when you or she gets incensed, your beasts sparkle through your eyes manically. It was making people nervous.”
“I will always make people nervous. I saw the evidence of that in your territory, and that was once my home. I can work with gargoyles and mate a gargoyle because I’m a battle species, just like them. Iamwild, Kingsley. That’ll never go away. I’ll never be properly housebroken, not to people like Armendale.”
“What are you saying?” He was back to analyzing.
“I’m saying that right now, I’m what’s needed. I’m the determination, fire, and muscle that will unify everyone. I have the power and the drive and a damn good reason: to protect my mate. I’ll force a path where there currently isn’t one. I will create a safe haven because that is, apparently, in my nature. But if we should ever be lucky enough to see peace…I’ll become obsolete.”
A crease formed between Kingsley’s brows. “I’m not following.”
“I won’t be what’s needed. I’m the battle commander. I’m the steel that Momar will crash against. But once he’s destroyed and we have some semblance of a fair governing body represented by all magical species…I’ll step aside. I’ll let you tap in and do what you do best—lead a peaceful, organized faction where everyone thrives. This time when I step away, though, I won’t leave the organization in ruins. I’ll do it the right way.”
Disbelief warred with pride and respect in Kingsley’s expression. “What about Jessie? Does she get any say in this?”
“She wants what I want—to be magical without the danger. She literally battled her way into magic, and she’ll battle her way out. And then she wants to rest. I stepped up so that I could stand beside her, and I can’t wait to step down to stay at her side. This is your vision, Kingsley. I see the necessity of it, and I’ll helpyou achieve it, like you have helped me achieve all that I am, but I won’t hang on to it. I didn’t want your pack, and I don’t want this. It’s yours. I’ll force you to take it.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. He was clearly lost for words. Just like he would’ve stepped aside if Austin had wanted his pack, Austin knew he’d planned to step aside in this. Had already. He wanted what was best for the people. Somehow, he’d never realizedhewas what was best for the people.
“Now,” Austin continued into the silence, “I can see you want to argue or get sentimental or who knows what, but I need to know what I’m walking into tomorrow. I assume you know the details…”
This time, Kingsley didn’t speak for a full minute before he finally relented on the topic change. And then they got on with the job, together.
TWENTY-ONE
Jessie
I stepped into the crisp morning air, which would’ve been downright frigid and unbearable if I didn’t have magic shielding me from the worst of it. I was trying to save my energy for what would surely turn into a battle for a territory.
“It’s as cold as a witch’s tit out here,” Ulric said, meeting me in front of my suite.
“I never understood that expression,” I said as Jasper joined us, and then Dave and Cyra. Indigo and Edgar came next, followed by a trickle of the rest of them. Today, they were early. Yesterday, when it was important, they were late. It was like they didn’t want to do things the expected way.
“Witch’s tit.” Jasper pointed at the sky. Ulric and I looked up. Nothing but pale blue. “Like…they fly on their brooms, and it’s cold, so their tits would be cold.”
“Huh.” I nodded. I could see that.
“Okay, but what about a witch’s nose?” Ulric countered.
“It’s a swear.” Jasper frowned at Ulric. “You don’t swear usingnose. ‘It’s as cold as a witch’s nose out here!’” He lifted his eyebrows. “Not the same punch.”
“What about warlock’s balls?” Ulric asked.
“In the stories, do warlocks fly brooms?” Jasper paused, but when Ulric didn’t supply him with an answer, he shrugged. “Well, even if they do, their balls are probably the warmest part about them in that scenario. Also smashed. Now, ‘it’s as uncomfortable as a smashed dick’ might work, but then you lose the witch and warlock scenario. Or wizard. Or whatever.”
“Flying brooms aren’t actually a thing, right?” I asked as Austin stepped out of our suite in a dress shirt and trousers. I wore a similar outfit. This was a professional situation, and it was thought we should dress the part, even though it was almost certain that we’d end up fighting. A muumuu made a lot more sense.
“Not that I know of,” Jasper said.
“Neither are witches or wands,” Ulric replied as Austin started walking. “Dicks and Janes got that part of magic wrong.”
