“Very much so,” Aurora said.
“She’s the only one of her kind. People haven’t seen a female gargoyle in generations,” Ulric said. “They were beginning to think female gargoyles were a myth.”
“And she was a Jane who got her magic in a strange way.” John nodded as the bartender put the beer down in front of them and walked away. It was anyone’s guess who’s tab it wasgoing on. “She’s no better off here than Austin is with the shifters. Maybe worse, right?”
Ulric took a swig of the watery beer. “And now you see the struggle.”
A large Guardian headed toward Niamh’s group at the bar.
“Here we go,” Jasper murmured.
John tensed and started to stand.
“Leave it,” Aurora said, putting out a hand. “That crew is more than capable. This is part of the plan. Let it play out.”
John glanced at her, something unreadable in his eyes.
Aurora could clearly discern his body language in her peripheral vision. “You’re not an alpha anymore, remember?” she said, not looking away from the Guardian strutting down to the others. “You’re not even in the pack. You’re a rogue. Taking a command will do you good.”
“Miss Alpha-in-Training-Wheels, indeed,” John murmured, a little smirk playing across his lips. “My sisters would like you.”
“What’s with the capes?” the big guy asked Sebastian. Ulric could only see his back, his wings down to his knees. The shoulders said he was a strong flier, but without seeing the gargoyle form, Ulric couldn’t tell anything else.
Sebastian hesitated, glancing at Niamh for help. The space in conversation allowed Edgar to answer.
“We are paying homage to the mighty gargoyle.” Edgar put his spindly fingers on the bar. “I once created a shrine to honor your god.”
“What is your god?” John asked quietly.
“One Edgar made up randomly and insists is real,” Ulric replied.
“If I had a phone,” Edgar said, “I would’ve taken a picture and could now show it to you. I don’t have one, though. A phone, I mean. I’ve created a few shrines, many out of deadmage bodies, and it is assumed I am something of a liability.” He chuckled silently. “I beg to differ. Art is art.”
Nessa nodded sagely and looked at the gargoyle for a response.
“What?” the gargoyle said.
Granted, yes, that was a lot to unpack.
Sebastian realized he was getting no help from Niamh and said in a rush, “We’re experimenting with fashion. They look great on you, so we thought maybe we’d try them out?”
“They look great on us?” the gargoyle growled. His wings fluttered. “Are you trying to say our wings look like frumpy capes?”
“Well…” Fred blinked at him. “They do, right? Look.” She pointed between his wings and the capes. “I mean, your wings aren’t lopsided—most of you—but theydolook like capes. That’s what I thought they were when I first saw gargoyles.” She tilted her head at them. “Haven’t you spoken to non-gargoyles before? I’m sure everyone agrees— “ She flinched and flung up her hands when he hit her with a wave of power. “Sorry, bro. I didn’t know wings and their resemblance to capes was a sore subject. Our gargoyles aren’t touchy about it. I apologize.”
Ulric ran his hand down his face. “Niamh hadn’t accounted for Fred in all this.”
“Are you kidding?” Jasper wore a crooked smile. “She’sperfectfor this.Weknow she’s utterly genuine and clueless, but they don’t. They think she’s talking crap on purpose.”
“This is going to break out in a fight,” John murmured with a warning in his tone.
“Here, relax.” Niamh waved it away. Everyone in the bar was now listening. “She’s a Jane. What sort of Guardian gets riled up by a Jane? Do ye have any training at all in this cairn?”
More of the Guardians stiffened. Niamh glanced down at her lap. Her arm moved a fraction before she looked back up.
“She’s texting,” Aurora said.
“No wonder ye got a new leader, like,” Niamh went on as more Guardians stepped away from the bar and headed for them. “The old one clearly didn’t know what to do with ya if yer gettin’ riled up like this.”
