Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112089 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
“True,” I said, keeping my cool. “We have Edgar to take care of the grounds, but we don’t have anyone to take care of the wood.”
She nodded, a little more confident. “Yes, that is what he said. I am not sure if you know this, but among my family, I am known for my ability to blend nature. To enhance the environment. It is a gift. I think we can help each other.”
“A trade?” I asked.
Her smile made me want to fist-pump the air. “A trade, yes. I will blend the nature in your wood with your stick-builder home—with your crew—in exchange for living within the Ivy protection. Until I can venture out to Dave’s mountain, I mean. He has offered me to stay once I am ready.”
“Ivy House protection— Never mind, you’ll see.” I put out my hand to shake, then realized Dave never did that and put it down again. “I accept. That sounds nice.”
She wouldn’t be going home with us, but would stay to say her goodbyes and gather her few things first. Dave had agreed to stay behind with her, to show her the way when she was ready and to take the blame if any of the family were angry at her decision.
We hadn’t gotten an alliance, but this seemed like a step in the right direction.
The hike out was much faster because we took a different trail that wasn’t nearly as arduous. It still took a half a day, though, and I was plenty tired by the time we made it back to the little town.
“This place still smells like incense, doesn’t it?” I asked as we loaded up the cars.
“It does.” Austin stood beside me. “It’s nice.”
“Well…yeah, but it’s weird. Like…the whole place, inside and out, smells like incense. The same kind, too. It’s not like various people are burning different sticks of incense, it’s like the whole place is perfumed by one massive stick. It’s not right.”
“I think you’re letting it get to you too much.”
“Very likely. But still…”
There were just as many snacks in the jet on the way home, and Mr. Tom asked me about them just as often after we landed. Niamh heckled him the whole time.
When we finally pulled up to the house, I couldn’t wait to be in my little parlor with the door closed and a warm drink in my hand. Maybe curled up in Austin’s lap, though I assumed he was eager to check in with his territory.
Our sedans were parked in front of the house, and I climbed out with a sigh.
“Hey, thanks for healing me, alpha,” Kace said to me as I stood near the trunk. “I took a beating.”
“I didn’t help much, just made sure the stitching worked.”
“You cut out the pain. That was worth its weight in gold. I hate pretending things don’t hurt when they do.” He laughed.
“Anytime. Every time, actually, as long as I’m able. You’re a valuable member of the pack and the team.”
He nodded and stepped back. “It’s a helluva team. I can’t wait until Alpha Steele makes his rounds and meets the other packs. It’ll be a helluva thing. Too bad the basajaunak didn’t want to join—”
He cut off. Something had clearly caught his eye. He turned toward Ivy House, and then I saw it, too. We all did, actually, because the sight came with shouting.
A short woman a couple of decades my senior and twice my girth shouted obscenities as she ran across the Ivy House lawn. I could just barely make her out in the moonlight. With one hand, she held what looked like a bat above her head. Her other hand gripped the hem of her flower-patterned dress so she could run faster. Short blonde curls bobbed on her head. In front of her ran a terrified gnome, holding up its pants.
“You’re not going to get away,” she hollered, gaining on him and then swinging down with the bat. It clunked on the gnome’s head and knocked it to the side. She pivoted on a dime and dropped the hem of her dress. With both hands, she swung the weapon down, smacking the shrieking gnome. Three more times, and then she straightened up so she could kick it. “This is not your home! Get out of here!” she hollered at it.
It scrabbled up and limped off as fast as it could. Another peeked out of the bushes, and then the chase was on again.
“I see you!” She sprinted across the lawn in the other direction. The gnome jumped out of the bushes and ran away from her. She caught up to it, though, and kicked it when she was close enough, knocking it off its feet. Then she started battering down on it.
“Mom?” Ulric said.
The woman didn’t seem to hear. She finished her burst of gnome beating before kicking this one as well. It limped off like the other. Only then did she straighten, brush a curl out of her eye, and spot Ulric.