A burst of magic rocked the sky. It cut through John and thrummed up his spine. It seemed to saypay attention.
He froze with the sheer power of will it took to resist that command.
“Was that Jessie?” he asked.
“Yeah. Tristan couldn’t get Gerard’s gargoyles in line so she’s taking over.”
More bursts of magic thrummed now, not as potent, all with directives.
The gargoyles finally started to integrate, not forming their own little clusters, but adding to those already established. They’d learn the ropes before forming their own. Smart. It’s what John would’ve done.
He let out a breath. “I swore I would never be in a pack again.”
“Then don’t be.”
“Except my sisters are in danger. Kingsley Barazza is a strong alpha leading a strong pack. Aurora told me what they were up against. My sisters have a larger pack, but it clearly isn’t the size or even the force that is the issue. It’s the mage magic. And they don’t have any.”
“But we do. That’s the point. If they were in danger, we would help.”
He huffed and studied his feet for a moment. “Shifters usually rely on family and pack friends for aid. We stick with what we know. We don’t trust strangers.”
“Yeah, I think Austin wanted to do that in the beginning. Or told Jessie it was his first inclination? Something like that. Obviously, he came to his senses.”
“And you’re saying I should come to my senses?” he growled.
She laughed in delight. “If the shoe fits, Mr. Island.”
It was very hard to take oneself too seriously around her.
He continued to study his feet. “It floors me. Jessie, a Jane, and Austin, someone the alpha community ridicules, would drag their team and all manner of creatures—“ He shook his head and looked at her. “Youwould go to a complete stranger’s aid, putting your life in danger, at the drop of a hat?”
“Well…that is the point of the convocation. And in return, those shifters would hopefully help us if we needed it. Or others iftheyneeded it. To beat the mages, it’ll take a village. Surely you know the value of unity?”
He did, more than most. A unified pack was a strong pack. He wouldn’t have been able to hold the line if his father hadn’t been an impeccable alpha before him.
The problem was, it was hard to unify a lot of people and keep everyone content and peaceful. It was hard to keep a growing pack healthy and happy if that pack also had some powerful players, and enforcers had to be powerful. Only the best alphas managed. He’d been one. His sisters were. Kingsley Barazza.
He looked skyward at the gargoyles, their positions shifting and changing, synchronized despite the newcomers. They worked in their groups and helped the newcomers fit into the whole.
Wasn’t that what Austin and Jessie had created with this convocation? They weren’t asking everyone to be one pack or one cairn. They were asking the pack and cairn leaders to lead their people while fitting into the whole. Jessie and Austin were using their people as a hub to help the others integrate when needed.
John sniffed, shaking his head. The little Barazza boy had allowed a Jane and her magical house to open his mind, and in so doing, expand his horizons. He let her show him theway, having created her own hub, and he was attaching his people to hers to help fortify it. He had the training, and she had that special something that could not be taught. That John didn’t himself have—he’d had to use violence to keep his people peaceful. The whole thing was so incredibly complex…and somehow seemed so simple.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever been humbled in my lifetime,” he admitted, because even though Nessa probably didn’t remember, she’d admitted a vulnerable truth in his presence. For her, at least. She’d done the right thing in protecting her family. So even though she probably wouldn’t think this was a big deal, this was a vulnerability for him. It would make them even.
“I have always been the king of the mountain, but I feel utterly insignificant in this moment. Austin and Jessie have taken their setup to the next level. To a place I would never eventhinkto go. It wouldn’t make sense, all this, without seeing it. Maybe without my living in it. If still in my former position, I’m honestly not sure if I would’ve joined the convocation. I’d probably resist, like many others will. Or I’d try to take the lead, thinking I would be better.”
He clenched his jaw and then laughed.
“I wouldn’t be enough.” He laughed again. “I must admit for the first time in my entire life that I would not be enough. If I took control of this thing, it would all come crashing down.” He turned his head a little to glance at her out of the corner of his eye. “I’ve built a reputation on the opposite. I’ve upheld that image through some very rough times.”
“I get it about building a reputation, upholding the image despite the warnings, and then needing a big alpha gargoyle to track you down in the middle of the night when you have your hands tied behind your back, and a bag over your head, to fly you to safety.” She nodded at him, her eyes serious and laughing atthe same time. “Yeah. That’s what hanging on our laurels gets us in this new world.”
She shrugged it away, so easy and light and carefree while also dangerous and cunning and intelligent. John could see why Tristan was in rapture.
“Look, Sir Ego, Austin couldn’t do this on his own, either. Ask him. He’ll tell you point blank. Jessie couldn’t, and she wouldn’t want to. As a team? Yes. Together, they make magic. Rather than comparing yourself, maybe ask why you care? And if it’s for any decent reason, like the safety of your sisters, then maybe ask whatyoucould bring to the table.” She grinned without looking at him. “Sounds like you have a bunch of sway with that Ol’ Image you’ve worked so hard for. Austin doesn’t have that, and he probably needs it. Maybe that will take the bite out of the humble pie?”
He grinned, back to shaking his head. “You seem to have a talent for managing big personalities. If anyone had spoken to me like that back in the day…”
