Damned if he could make himself break eye contact, though. Damned if he could stop his power from surging or dampen the energy that crackled between them. They were heading into dangerous waters right now, a challenge for dominance imminent. One they’d both follow through with because neither of them knew how to back down, their pasts be damned.
“Okay, okay, okay.” Jessie ran her hand up Austin’s arm and over his shoulder. “We’re tired, tensions are running high, and we’ve got a big puzzle to work out. We’re all a little wound up.”
She brushed her fingers across his neck and pressed her body to him, drawing his focus to her like a moth to flame. He bent down to give her the kiss she was tilting her head back to receive. Her smile was disarming and easy, and her fingers slipped between his, further anchoring him.
“So. Protocol.” She winked at him before turning her attention back to Kingsley, who’d shifted his gaze to her as well. “We’ve done the introductions, we’ve raised the alarm as to the magnitude of threat we’re soon to face, and now we all…break up for naps, right? Or a rest and a read?”
“I trust my house is still in working order?” Mimi stepped up between her grandsons. “No parties in it, I hope.”
“Mimi,” Kingsley said, his voice gruff. “Did you enjoy your holiday?”
“Greatly. It’s going to become my permanent residence, or didn’t your mate sing it from the rooftops?”
He grunted. “Dinner is at eight.” He spoke to Austin, still keyed up. “Mom looked after your house. It’s ready for you. The beta will show the rest of your people to their accommodations. They’ll be spread out across a couple of hotels and inns, except for the mages, who will be in a bungalow near downtown where they will be under constant surveillance. I realize he’s been with you awhile, but my people need to know we’re watching him. The basajaunak will be in the park nearest your house. There should be plenty of space for them. The rest of the territory knows to leave it alone.
Earnessa invited you and Jessie to our place for dinner tonight. See you then.”
He didn’t spare anyone a glance as he turned and walked back into the building. His people followed him, clearly uneasy, except for James, who stayed behind with a guarded expression.
“I have my car around back,” he said, looking everyone over. “When you’re ready to move out, I’ll show you the way.”
“Go grab it,” Austin said, not doing enough to temper the command in his tone. “We’ll load up now.”
When James jogged away, Austin gave Niamh a poignant stare he knew she’d understand. She’d have to slip away with a small team to extract some of those mages from town. All of them, if possible. That town needed to be cleared of vermin, and given the mages were only there because of the shifters, the shifters had to take care of it. How Kingsley couldn’t see at least that, Austin couldn’t fathom.
“He can’t know we defied his orders,” Austin told Niamh softly, walking her to the van she’d ridden in. “It’ll lead to a challenge, and that would…complicate matters.”
“I’d planned to use one of his cars…”
“Do not plan to use one of his cars. I’ll make one available to you. Tell Sebastian and Nessa to
get me a list of the gear the enemy will be using, and anything else they can scrape together.
Sebastian’s fears are incredibly valid. The way he chose to share them wasn’t ideal, but it probably helped put everything in perspective. We have work to do.”
“Yes, alpha.” Niamh got into the van.
Austin turned—and then immediately jerked backward—not having noticed Edgar sneak up on him, which was worrying, since Austin should’ve felt the vampire’s proximity in a few different ways.
“Hello, ma’am,” Edgar said with a smile.
Austin just waited. There really was no point in reacting to the vampire’s antics. At least he’d cleaned up his teeth.
“What about the flowers?” Edgar asked. “The sooner we get them into the ground, the better.”
“That’s on the schedule for our meeting with the alpha, Edgar, as you know. Please go put on some pants that fit.”
“Yes, sir!”
Suddenly Austin wasn’t so sure Kingsley was going to go for the flowers. It was easy to see the merit in something like lethal flora once the absurdity no longer registered. Austin had been worked in gradually, though. Kingsley’s people weren’t used to the level of weird that Ivy House could conjure up. They’d probably have a hard enough time adjusting to the gargoyles.