It seemed I hadn’t been keeping as close of an eye on the situation as I’d previously thought.
TWO
Jessie
THE NEXT MORNING, I was still stewing about the Annihilator flowers as I stood on the porch, watching the final preparations for our departure. To my utter shock, Austin had agreed to take them with us. He figured it was safe enough if they were kept out in the wilds, where only the shifters’
sentries ventured. The flowers would imprint on them, wreak havoc on any intruders, and all would be well.
I’d reminded him that he was operating on the assumption that the flowers wouldn’t grow legs and terrorize the community. He’d assumed I was joking.
I most certainly was not joking.
This was his show, though. I’d take lead with the gargoyles, and he would take lead with the shifters—including his interactions with his brother. So now psycho-killer flowers were being transported in their plastic pots to unsuspecting shifters who didn’t deal in fantastical and volatile magic. Super.
“Jessie, we’ve got a problem,” a familiar voice said from my left.
I barely stopped myself from sighing as I turned to look at Nathanial.
“What’s up?” I said.
“It’s the basajaunak.”
Terror froze up my middle. “Please don’t tell me they’ve changed their minds about helping.”
He minutely shook his head as Ulric jogged up, his dyed hair combed flat to his head. Clearly he was trying to look a little subdued for Kingsley’s shifters. It wasn’t working.
“The opposite,” Nathanial said. “More have shown up. We no longer have room for them on the chartered flights.”
We’d made space for two dozen basajaunak and our various cargo.
“How many more showed up?”
“A dozen, all parents. They’re watching out for their kids. The lead basandere is one of them. She said she’s not operating in a leadership role here, but she wants to keep an eye on things. They have all agreed to fight.”
Austin walked up wearing a white T-shirt and faded blue jeans. We’d all be changing into nicer clothes after we landed.
I relayed what Nathanial had told me.
Nothing about Austin’s expression or bearing changed. He’d completely done away with the looser persona he’d adopted for Ivy House soil, and even the mildly thawed persona he now displayed in the territory at large. He was back to being a tough, blank-faced alpha shifter, something that would be expected of him in Kingsley’s territory.
“We can add on a third wave and charter another jet,” he said crisply. “It’s too late to change the current setup.”
“Not to mention we need to get those flowers set up as quickly as possible,” I murmured.
“Tell Mr. Tom to arrange it,” Austin commanded. “He can do it from the road. Let’s load up. Time to go.”
Nathanial nodded and turned, striding away, and Austin pushed forward to bark orders.
Nessa bounded up a moment later with a ponytail and a bright smile.
“Going to meet the in-laws, huh?” she asked me, and then winked. “Nervous?”
“Of course she isn’t nervous,” Mimi said as she strode past us toward one of the waiting cars.
“What would be the point?”
“Of course I’m not nervous,” I whispered, mimicking Mimi.
Nessa laughed and turned to stand beside me. Ulric was on my other side, all of us surveying the shifters heading for the cars.
“But seriously, are you nervous?” Ulric asked. “I’m nervous, and the thought of my mom potentially embarrassing me in front of a bunch of new shifters isn’t a big deal compared with your deal. Meeting the in-laws is big.”
I shook my head as I watched Cyra and Hollace duck into the wrong van.
“Dang it.” I started forward, but the new leader of my gargoyle forces, Tristan, beat me to it.
He stopped by the opened door, said a few words, and backed away. Laughing, Cyra climbed out, Hollace after her. Tristan pointed to where they should be.
As if feeling me looking at him, he turned to catch my gaze. A subtle nod and he was walking away again.
“Very efficient, our resident gargoyle,” Mr. Tom said, stopping beside us with a basket. “Now.
How about some blueberry pancakes for the road? I have some lovely green tea here, should you want it, or even a decaf coffee in case you want something stronger that won’t enhance any travel jitters.”
“I’m fine, Mr. Tom, thanks.”
“If she wanted a bit ta eat, she’d ask fer it,” Niamh drawled as she passed by with her cooler.