They’d given Dave two nicknames, one being Dave, and the other provided by Edgar—Missus Smith. It would be used to further knock the mages they met off-kilter, calling a huge, fearsome creature like a basajaun a name like that. Although Dave would’ve probably done the job as well.
She inclined her head. “My understanding is that the battle could start at any time, so I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you, Alpha Austin, for changing your plans at the last minute to accommodate more of us. We were sick with worry about sending our children into the throes of danger without passable training.”
“We’re happy to have you, and that’s not a platitude,” Austin responded.
“And Alpha Kingsley, thank you for hosting us. We have found a nice hum within some of your parks and within the trees along the river. The fish are plentiful and your diligence in ensuring we always have fuel for fires and food to eat has been most gracious. You are as good of a host as any basajaunak could expect and more.”
“My pleasure,” Kingsley replied. “It’s a joy to welcome your people amongst us. There has been no trouble—it’s easy to forget that you are a visiting creature and not a longtime resident.”
“Well…for some of my people, perhaps.” Her gaze swiveled to Phil sitting on the ground behind Niamh, each drinking out of their mugs of the basajaunak’s special brew, more intense than most moonshine. “And am I correct in hearing that we are to exert all our efforts in this battle and hold nothing back?”
She was asking if they could kill at will, likely because Jessie was always asking them to hold back and not finish the job.
“Hold absolutely nothing back,” Austin replied. “If you can make my mate blanch, all the better.”
Her eyes sparkled. “It has been a long time since I have battled like this, and the young ones never have. A part of me is scared. Another part of me is excited. It is a strange feeling.”
“Hopefully all goes well,” Austin said.
“Yes.” She nodded to them before turning away, drifting toward a barbecue setup.
Austin glanced to the right, sensing his mate. She stood with Ulric and Jasper and another gargoyle, her head thrown back in laughter. The sun sparkled on her beautiful face and a warm happiness radiated through the bonds. She reached out to put a hand on Ulric’s arm before shaking her head and dropping it again.
“You’ve really changed,” Kingsley said, and Austin realized his brother was watching him closely. “Back in the day, that simple touch would’ve driven you to madness. You would’ve killed him without batting an eye.”
He was referring to how Austin had been with Destiny, his ex. “Back in the day, my head was twisted and the way she touched other men was a lot more suggestive.”
“True.”
“I’m still that guy, Kingsley,” he said in a low tone, his eyes fixed on Jess. She glanced his way a moment later, catching his gaze and giving him a smile just for him, full of love and longing and joy.
“Ask Brochan.”
She winked at him before turning back to the guys, a gush of warmth coming through the bonds.
“We’re all that guy with someone we love,” Brochan said, and Austin supposed that was true enough. “I can’t speak to what you were like in the past, but there has never been a finer alpha—
begging your pardon for saying so, Alpha Kingsley. His brutality and viciousness have served him well in the challenges we’ve faced so far.”
“Since we’re among equals, even though one of us is currently a beta…” Kingsley paused for a moment. “I’m not facing this coming attack with the bravery I’d expect from myself. Honestly, boys, I’m shitting my pants.”
Brochan adjusted his footing—a slight accession to both the humor and vulnerability Kingsley had shown—and Austin nodded.
“Waiting for the unknown is the hardest part,” he said. “We’ve seen hell already, and we’ve had time to organize. It’s better than a couple of situations I’ve faced with Jess in the past.”
Kingsley tensed, and a little liquid sloshed out of his glass.
“What?” Austin asked.
Kingsley’s eyes had squinted, his focus acute, on the trees at the other side of the grass. Like he’d seen something. “What did she mean by gnomes?”
Jess peeled away from the guys, her gaze finding Austin again. She sauntered toward one of the barbecue pits, her hips swaying. Someone greeted her, and she inclined her head in answer, then spoke to someone else in what was probably a pleasant way. She always sought to make everyone feel at home.
Mr. Tom appeared at her side in a flash, trying to take over her plate. He hadn’t gotten to attend to
her much during their visit, Austin getting that privilege, and the old butler was trying to make up for it at every given opportunity.
“Gnomes aren’t like those dolls at Ivy House, right?” Kingsley pressed.
Jess reached the barbecue with Mr. Tom dogging her steps and stood at the back of the line.
Everyone in front of her tried to let her go first, an honor that was customary for an alpha, but she wouldn’t hear of it.
“There are no dolls here, no,” Austin said, not lying. Truthfully, the gnomes were worse than the dolls, although at least they stayed outside. But Kingsley was already on the verge of shitting his pants
—the last thing he needed was news of a possible gnome infestation.
When Jess got to the front, she took a plate and pointed. The shifter at the barbecue placed a steak on her plate, and her glance up said she wanted to share it.
“I gotta go,” Austin said immediately.
“Hey,” Kingsley said, dragging Austin’s focus back for a moment. “If you can tear yourself away from the festivities for a minute, I have a new car to show you. Brochan, you’re welcome too, if you want. You don’t seem overly great at small talk with strangers.”
Austin watched Jess saunter to a chair Mr. Tom had pulled up for her, away from others. After Mr.
Tom had stepped away, she sat, crossing her legs. She slid her finger across the top of the seared part of the meat before sucking it into her mouth.
“Nah,” Austin said, eager to get to her. “I’m going to hang around here for a while.”
He didn’t say until she wants to go home. Then again, he clearly didn’t have to.
“I was never this bad.” Kingsley scoffed. “You might as well bring her. Just so long as she doesn’t complain about my cigar and drinking.”
She wouldn’t care less. Austin would have said so, but he’d already started walking, watching her bite into the meat.
Halfway there, he heard, “Uncle Auzzie?”
He hadn’t even seen Aurora approaching. If an enemy wanted to take him down, they just needed to set up Jess at a barbecue as bait.
With considerable effort, he dragged his gaze away from his mate.
Aurora stood with her feet planted and shoulders squared, her chin high but her confidence wavering. She noticed his distraction and followed his earlier gaze, understanding taking the place of determination on her face.
“Yes, Aurora.” He cleared his throat, not particularly eager to talk to a family member in this state. “How can I help?”