“Here, use mine.” Cyra stepped forward and stripped her glasses from her face.
“Yours don’t have any lenses in them,” Hollace reminded her.
“Oh yeah. Well, where are hers—”
Cyra cut off as she spied Tristan. He’d stepped out of his line and walked over to Bruce with the grace and confidence born of a natural fighter. He stopped in front of the other man, his stare hard and direct.
“Excuse me,” Tristan said, and the viciousness in his tone was clear. He bent, his gaze slipping from Bruce, his head bending, exposing the back of his neck. He was making a statement—he didn’t think Bruce posed a threat. One could argue it was a challenge, something Austin knew Tristan would be happy to face.
Butterflies fluttered through Austin’s stomach, but he didn’t move. Kingsley’s gaze zipped over to him as Bruce tensed up, unable to hide his response.
Tristan straightened as though uncoiling. He held up the glasses to the other man, standing just a fraction too close. His eye contact was definitely too hostile.
“You must’ve missed these hitting your shoe,” Tristan said in a dangerous tone. “Luckily, they didn’t break. I know you must’ve been concerned.”
The gargoyle paused for a long beat, tension curling through the air as Bruce flexed his muscles. A moment before the posturing slid into an actual challenge, Tristan pulled his gaze and stepped back.
He clearly had shifter protocol down to a science. He might be a gargoyle, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t play the game with shifters.
Well done.
Indigo was finally separated from her possessions and placed in her spot, behind the official members of Ivy House. Edgar came next, smiling, the suit he wore matching Niamh’s and not fitting at all.
Kingsley took in the vampire, looked at Niamh, went back to the vampire. When his gaze met Austin’s this time, he wasn’t able to hide his bewilderment. He’d met them before, sure, but time had
clearly dulled his memories.
The vampire hit the spot where Indigo had tumbled and let out a cry of alarm. He pitched forward, his hands waving. “Whoa!” he said as he crashed down onto his shoulder and then rolled dramatically.
“What are ye at?” Niamh said, sidestepping so as not to get hit by his kicking legs.
“What are they tripping over?” Ulric asked, looking at the offending spot. “I don’t see anything.”
“Thanks so much!” Jess called, pulling Austin’s focus away from the train wreck that was the Ivy House crew.
She came around the first truck, her hair catching the late-afternoon sun and a smile gracing her face. She walked with poise and confidence, her arms swinging, not at all concerned about drawing challenge with her animation.
He’d been worried this would happen. He’d been worried she’d call attention to her differences.
To the ways she didn’t fit in.
Seeing her now, though, followed by a dozen basajaunak who probably made the small hairs on these shifters stand on end…he couldn’t have been prouder. She was unequivocally herself and wouldn’t sacrifice that for anyone. She was incredible, and he was glad they all got to see it.
“There isn’t anything there,” Edgar murmured. “I just didn’t want Indigo to be embarrassed.”
“Eejit, ” Niamh said.
“That’s actually very sweet, Edgar,” Cyra said.
“He needs to work on his falling,” Hollace replied. “It wasn’t at all believable.”
“It is if you eternally think of him as a vaudeville character,” Ulric said. Clearly none of them remembered that they were supposed to stand quietly, waiting for the formal greeting.
Jess reached Austin and Kingsley, still beaming.
“Oops.” She frowned, pulling her lips down. “Oh wait, no.” Her expression smoothed out as she stopped beside Austin.
It was only then that Austin realized two of Jess’s crew hadn’t yet taken their places.
Sebastian walked forward with all the swagger and arrogance of a man who literally owned the world. One hand was tucked into his pocket and the other was a little bent, showing off his gleaming watch as though it was his ticket in.
Nessa walked beside and a little behind him, her curls bouncing, her cleavage displayed, and her hips dramatically swaying from side to side. Her black dress had a sheen, and her makeup gave her the vibe of an “evil temptress” in a Bond movie.
They stopped just behind Jess, each of them looking out to the sides as though supremely bored of the situation and the people they were meeting. Austin wasn’t sure the show was wise, but it was certainly effective. They had the attention of every one of Kingsley’s shifters.