Austin put his hands on his hips and turned away from the building, his eyes going distant. “The guy is like a celebrity in the shifter world. The way he was able to hang onto his pack in the beginning is just shy of miraculous. The amount of times he was on death’s doorstep would make your balls shrivel up. He ended up having to be an incredibly brutal alpha to maintain his position—incrediblybrutal. Tristan turning people inside-out kind of brutal, but some of those people were his family and friends. His uncle’s people and his dad’s were all trying to pull the rug out from under him and assume control. That territory and all the family’s holdings was—is—worth a fortune.”
He paused for a second, the breeze ruffling his hair. The gargoyle who was clearly trying to lead us to our quarters waited in confusion a few feet away. He probably wondered why our lips were moving but he couldn’t hear any sound.
“I really feel for that guy. I see what my life could’ve been if I was older and felt used up, and it’s not a pretty realization. I had the same realization when a broken alpha gorilla asked if he could squat in my territory.” Austin showed Sue a small grin. “If I had to guess, I bet Niamh knows how fragile John’s situation is. How likely he is to spook. Needling Sue kept Sue focused on her and distracted from his past.” He looked at Sue. “I assume you’ve figured that out by now?”
Sue grunted in acknowledgement.
Austin nodded. “She clearly doesn’t think she’s what John needs.”
“Needs for what?” I asked.
Austin pulled his lips to the side in thought. “I don’t know, exactly. To hang around, maybe.”
“Would he be helpful to your organization if he were to join?” Tristan asked.
Both Austin and Sue blew out breaths, Austin with a sardonic grin.
“Without doubt,” Austin said. “Coming back from perceived death would just make himmoreof a legend. I would love to see Armendale’s face when he found out.” He lost his humor. “But he’s been through hell. I knew who he was when he burst out of those trees, but my offer stayed the same. He needs a community. He needs peace. We’ve built a safe harbor for people, and I will stand by that. Anything else is up to him.”
Tristan nodded like a riddle had just been solved. “Niamh’s giving you guys room to be altruistic until she can find an angle. Then she’ll move in, just you watch.”
28
Sebastian
Someone rappedat the door to Nessa and Sebastian’s small room in the city’s only hotel. The space had two single beds with night tables for each and two chairs, one on each side of the room. There was a bathroom shared by Jasper and Ulric in the adjoining room.
Sebastian glanced at Nessa, saw that she was just finishing organizing her suitcase, and moved to get the door.
Niamh stood in the hallway. Behind her, gargoyles and shifters passed by, heading for the stairs that would take them outside.
“Come on,” she said without preamble.
“What?” he asked in surprise. He saw the cape in her hand, and surprise turned to panic. “Why?”
“Come on,” she said again, jerking her head in the direction everyone was walking. “Let’s go.”
“No.” He thought about shutting the door in her face. “I’m good. I’ll stay here.”
“Come on.” She reached in, grabbed him by the shirt, and yanked him into the hall. “You need a drink.”
Edgar skulked down the hall with a smile. He also had a cape on.
“No, I don’t. Honest. I’m fine being this wound-up.” Sebastian tried to backpedal. “Why in the world would you use capes in a gargoyle settlement? We’re not hiding from mages. They are going to know these aren’t wings.”
“What’s…” Ulric stepped out of his room next door with a growing smile. “What’s going on here?”
“We need a conversation starter.” Niamh held out the cape for Edgar to take before grabbing Sebastian by the shoulders with surprising strength for an old woman. Appearances were very deceiving here. “Put that cape on him,” she told Edgar.
“No, no.” Sebastian tried to weasel away from the vampire and his bright white canines. “It’s okay. I’ll do. I’ll do it!”
“I’m coming,” Ulric said as he made way for Jasper. “I want to see how this plays out.”
“It won’t play out well,” Sebastian groused. “It never plays out well. For me, anyway.”
“Nonsense. We always get what we’re after, don’t we?” Niamh gestured him on. “Let’s go. I’ve got the skinny on the roughest bar in the settlement. Granted, there are only three bars here, but it’ll have to do. A few of the more powerful guardians always hang out there.”
“Jessie said not to start a fight,” Sebastian bleated, dragging his heels.
