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)
“Miss.” Mr. Tom emerged from between two smaller redwoods. “I’ve found a hollowed-out tree just over there.” He turned and pointed. “The ground is mostly flat and soft, and great news! The opening of it faces away from camp. It’s a lovely, secluded spot for you and Austin to continue your nighttime gymnastics.”
I stared at him with an open mouth. Austin’s humor crowded the bonds.
“We can abstain for a few nights, Mr. Tom, thanks,” I said dryly.
“Give the tree to the mages,” Cyra said. “They’re the most fragile. Besides, that way, one of us can sleep just outside of the tree hole to keep them from getting into mischief or turning traitor and trying to kill us all.”
It was Sebastian’s turn to stare with mouth agape.
Nessa put out her hands with a laugh. “I’ll remind you that it wasn’t our idea to come to the most beautiful but scariest place in existence—”
“See? I told you,” Sebastian murmured.
“We couldn’t escape if we turned traitor,” she said. “At best, we’d stumble far enough away to fall off the side of a mountain. At worst, and much more likely, one of the basajaunak would catch us and make us into a skin coat. That would probably become a staple in their winter fashion line.”
He shivered. “They’d definitely catch us. No question. They probably wouldn’t even need to feel the wood. They’d be able to hear us.”
“Yeah, I got the distinct impression I was very loud,” she replied.
“My watcher just flat-out told me,” he returned. “I might not have been so bad if he hadn’t crowded in so dang close the whole time.”
“I will watch them.” Edgar still stood at the edge of a patch of clover, his body bent to study the ground. “I will watch you all while you sleep. It will be my pleasure.”
“Yes, fantastic,” Mr. Tom said, picking up my pack. “I’m sure we will all rest easier knowing a hungry vampire is crouching in the dark somewhere, watching us while we are at our most vulnerable.”
“The gargoyles will shift to sleep,” Nathanial said, standing a little away. “We’ll be sentinel.”
“And stone.” Ulric nodded at us before sitting beside the fire. “Vampires can’t bite stone. Sucks for all you shifters who turn into breathing types.”
“Oh, I won’t be hungry,” Edgar replied. “I’ll have a little snack before you all tuck in for the night.”
“Ever better,” Mr. Tom said, looking through my things. I didn’t know what for—he’d packed for me.
“What did she mean when she told you to watch yourself?” I asked Austin, leaning into him as the fire flickered and glowed within its circle of rocks.
The rest of the group joined us, Hollace putting out his hands to feel the heat and Cyra sitting at the outskirts, looking out into the trees.
“She’s warning me not to push for dominance here,” Austin replied. “She doesn’t think I can accept a submissive role, especially if it’s clear they aren’t actually more dominant.”
“Do you think it’ll be a problem?” Nathanial asked. “I could feel their magic pushing at me. It felt like they were trying to test me somehow, and I don’t have the power you do.”
“They were doing the same to me,” Broken Sue growled, looking out into the growing darkness. “It was annoying.”
“They’re trying to test us, yes.” Austin pulled me in against him, resting his hand on my knee. His thumb stroked across my jeans. “You can’t blame them. Hosting us here is an act of trust, and that trust is not in us—it’s in the basajaun. But it seems he has a reputation for being a loose cannon. Makes sense if he’s the only one who’s ventured away from here in who knows how long. They want to make sure their people are safe from us, so they’re prodding us to judge our reaction. They’ll have sentries watching us the entire time we’re here in case we slip up.”
“No one is near,” Sebastian murmured. “I have a large magical net around us to make sure nothing tries to sneak up and rip off our arms.”
“Your constant state of paralyzing fear around dangerous creatures is quite helpful,” Mr. Tom said, back from the sleeping area. “Austin Steele, might I remove your pajamas and set them out for you? How about a fresh pair of underwear? You’ve been walking around all day in the hot sun. We can all attest to how hot it gets in and around our…begonias, I believe the miss’s father would call them. As you know, the miss is not one for general stinkiness. I will just—”
“No,” Austin growled.
I elbowed him.
“Thanks,” he finished.
Ulric stifled a laugh.
“And if we slip up?” Hollace asked Austin.
A flurry of emotions rolled through his bond. “We can’t slip up.”
“It’s not them we need to be worried about,” Cyra said softly, still looking out into the trees. “Something is brewing. I can feel it.”