Too bad that same magic tended to twist the mate protectors’ minds. Past protectors had killed their mates in a fit of jealousy and greed. It was one of the reasons Austin hadn’t taken the power, the other being that he wanted to meet the shifters on an equal playing field, with no extra legendary
gargoyle magic passed down from a magical house.
Both of those reasons were why I hadn’t pushed him. But man, would it be useful right now.
He led a group of shifters north to the border and then turned west, running along the territory line.
Kingsley had been adamant that we stick to the pack land, only fighting when the mages and mercs breached the boundary. I didn’t understand it, but there was so much space between the pack border and the surrounding towns that it didn’t seem worth arguing the point.
I felt the gargoyles who’d taken the potions that would make them invisible and immune to others’
invisibility potions. They were right over the boundary line, able to see for miles and miles, unless Momar had come up with a new potion that ours couldn’t penetrate. It was always a possibility.
Austin picked up speed, covering the ground quickly and shedding shifters as they headed to their new posts. To the south, I could see two cars taking the small road leading away from the pack. None coming in. We’d need to set up some sort of checks to make sure we knew who was coming and going.
Toward the east, the terrain transformed into a rocky incline, too steep to be of much good to anyone. When we circled back to where we’d started, more shifters were waiting for Austin, and this time they accompanied him back toward town. As he hit the outer streets, cutting through the middle, they flared out until he had someone posted in every section.
I met him at the southern edge of the town, landing next to Tristan and shifting into human form.
Not long after, the whining of three SUV motors could be heard coming closer.
Austin shifted into his human form, his eyes on me. “Tristan, watch her. Let me handle what comes.”
Confusion dragged down my brow as Tristan partially stepped in front of me, his wings ruffling.
“Why, what’s coming?” I asked, putting my hand on Tristan’s arm to push him out of the way. I should’ve known he wasn’t going to budge without magic.
An old Bronco, a beat-up Chevy pickup, and some sort of off-road, adult-sized go-kart-looking thing sped down the street, passing the last two houses. The Bronco pulled up in front of us, the Chevy to the side, and the go-kart thing with big tires jumped the curb onto the weeds and natural landscaping. They were trying to block us in for some reason.
My power started to pump, fanned higher by the possibility of my mate being in danger. The invisible gargoyles stationed in the air lowered, on hand in case there was a problem.
Austin put his hand out. “Hang on, Jess.”
James, Kingsley’s beta, stepped from the Bronco, leaving the door open behind him. His bearing was tense and authoritative. Behind us, Bruce climbed from the go-kart thing with his shoe laces untied and a hostile demeanor. A guy I didn’t know came around the pickup, equally grumpy, ready for a possible problem.
“Beta,” Austin said by way of greeting, his voice a growl.
“Austin,” James replied, his gaze direct and dominating. “We’ve gotten word that you’re spreading your people around our territory.”
He’d gotten word? Did he not have eyes? It wasn’t like we were trying to hide it.
“Correct,” Austin replied.
“There are concerns that your operations are heavily militarized and that you seem less like a pack friend and more like a hostile takeover.”
“I’m here to help fortify and defend this pack,” Austin said, his gaze not dropping. “How did you anticipate I’d do that, by sequestering my people to the town square to sing ‘Kumbaya’ while braiding each other’s ass hair?”
He’d totally stolen that from Niamh, and it was epic. I barely hid my snicker. Tristan didn’t stop himself from chuckling softly.
“You did not clear this fortification with the alpha,” James said, and Bruce took a step closer.
Tristan changed position, his hand finding my back and nudging me between Austin and himself.
He apparently thought I was breakable.
Annoyance and frustration ate away at Austin, felt through our bonds.
“The sole point of my people being here is to help protect the pack, James, as you well know.
Otherwise I would’ve just brought my mate to meet my family. My people are learning the layout, defining the territory, and creating an invisible patrol”—he pointed up at the invisible gargoyle fanning us with his wings—“that the alpha expressed a desire in creating. If my people seem militarized, it’s because we’ve dealt with smaller-scale versions of the sort of attack you’re about to face. If I were you, I’d be damn glad someone experienced is taking over the job you are ineffectively handling. Now, if we’re through, I have some things to discuss with my team before we meet with the alpha tomorrow to go over a unified defensive setup.”