Chapter 4 #2
“I can also anchor a line and stabilize the flow. That is mighty helpful for spells and maybe portals, if that’s real.
I can prevent dangerous surges and unpredictability.
Or I can manifest surges to help boost a spell.
So, at Kingsley’s, I could’ve surged the power to help the mages create the spell quicker. ”
“If you were a bad guy,” Phil said.
“Right. Obviously.” She held up a finger. “But I can also do the reverse. Again, assuming I can figure out how with the resources at my disposal.”
“We need to find more of ye and get ya some training,” Niamh said, tapping her fingertips on the bar.
Nessa took a deep breath. “All good things come to those who wait.”
“And other clichés and stuff,” I said off-handedly, quoting Tristan from earlier.
She laughed. “Exactly. So, assuming I can do it, I should be able to redirect energy. As a good guy at Kingsley’s, I could’ve tapped into the ley line and disrupted the flow.
I could’ve sent the energy away from the area and deflated the spell.
Done at the right time, it could’ve saved…
” Her eyes turned mournful. She didn’t say the name.
“And maybe killed yerself in the process,” Niamh said.
I looked at Nessa hard.
She shrugged. “Disrupting the flow comes with a lot of risks, yes. To me, personally. But with great risk comes great rewards. And other clichés and stuff.”
I took a deep breath. “Well. Hopefully we won’t need to make you prove that you have the ability.”
Austin moved in behind me. He picked up the chair, turned it a little, and pulled me so that my back was leaning against his front, crooked in the chair. He slung his forearm over the chairback.
“There are also rituals that can be used to augment my magic,” Nessa went on, nodding hello at Austin.
“Oaths, sacrifices, celestial timing, stuff like that. Anyone can use those, and have throughout the millennia, but without the right magic, that’ll only afford one so much power.
Mine would be a boost and doesn’t need a goat. ”
“A goat, me arse,” Niamh said. “We’d sacrifice a crooked mage if we did anything.”
“What did I just walk into?” Austin asked.
“Nessa is getting ahead of herself,” Niamh said. “She has a few books, like. She’s a far cry from making a portal.”
“What did I walk into?” he repeated, leaning harder against me so he could see Nessa’s face.
“I need a lot more information.” She waved Niamh away. “I’ll get there, I’ll get there.”
“What did you want to talk about, Niamh?” Austin asked.
“Too late,” Niamh murmured as Tristan walked into the bar.
I glanced around at the seats. “We should’ve met at Ivy House. We don’t have enough room here.”
“Nonsense.” Niamh motioned for Nessa.
“I’ve been working on it.” Nessa winked at me. “It’s fine. This time they won’t have any idea why they moved.”
“Until they think back to what ye just said that they overheard,” Niamh murmured.
“A kiss and a stab, that’s all it takes to ward off a bully,” Nessa responded.
“Not even remotely.” Tristan’s whiskey voice made Nessa flinch and then suddenly go rigid. Her face turned crimson and she looked away, reaching for her drink so she’d be turning her back to Tristan. “Especially if the bully is me.”
The bubble of space around Tristan closed as he walked closer, leaving Aljoe trailing behind within the press of bodies.
Gargoyles bumped into him, their wings fluttering against his sides.
Someone stepped in his way and stopped, not concerned with blocking him.
No one was treating him like the dangerous alpha shifter he was. Weird. Did they have a death wish?
“It’s always like this,” Niamh murmured, leaning closer to me. “The shifters scatter because they know better, but the gargoyles don’t care when something is dangerous. They like to poke the beast to see what sort of battle will ensue.”
“But he’s part of my group,” I said in confusion. “Why would they poke at him when I’ve spoken up on his behalf? Not to mention they must’ve heard the stories about his power from when we found him.”
“They’ve heard the stories.” Tristan took the empty seat next to Nessa.
“They’re curious. To a guardian, this isn’t being disrespectful, it’s asking him to come out and play.
To give them a show of strength. This is gargoyle culture.
They want to meet the danger head-on. They fully expect him to resort to shifter culture, and trust me, they won’t stay and fight.
The problem is, he’s intentionally trying to maintain a low profile out of courtesy to you and Austin.
That’s what I’m guessing, anyway. He hasn’t mentioned his discomfort to me or Sue.
The guy is basically setting himself up to fail. ”
“And you’re letting him?” I asked in disapproval.
“Yes. He needs to learn to acclimate, and if he can’t, he needs to ask for help. It’s the only way he’ll find a forever home.”
“He’s not a stray, Tristan,” I murmured.
“He kind of is,” Tristan responded. “And this stray needs to find his footing.”
Aljoe stiffened, his eyes glittering malice, his movements jerky.
He was fighting his beast. I could see it.
He was trying to hang on to his control.
Years of muscle memory was probably screaming at him to make an example of these people, to fight for the space he deserved.
To claim his place here, violently, as he’d done his whole adult life.
But he was new in this territory and trying to fit in without claiming a position of power.
He was trying to figure out how to get along with other creatures—to acclimate, as Tristan said—without resorting to violence.
He was trying to make Austin’s and my lives easier by not posturing and showing his power, worrying that might threaten our authority.
In doing so, he was making his own life harder.
He wasn’t asking for help because what he really needed was permission.
My heart lurched at the same time as my beast stirred. Permission granted.
I sent a thread of power at him, carrying a clear command.
Fight.
His hazel eyes snapped up, finding me immediately. Someone bumped him. A wing brushed against his shin. His jaw tightened, his body tensed—he still didn’t move.
The aggression rose within me, sensing battle. Advocating for it.
Fight, I sent again with a stronger flick of power. Fight!
His body shook from the strain of resisting. His eyes glimmered; he wanted to comply. His gaze flicked to Austin, seeking approval. Wanting to make sure.
Who could ever assume this guy would forcefully take a pack unless it was necessary? He barely knew us, and he was doing everything in his power to prove his loyalty.
I barely felt Austin nod, a subtle movement. He knew what was going on, and he agreed with my resolve.
The gargoyles wanted to poke the beast? Well then, they’d get what they asked for.
Nessa
An undercurrent of power and energy exploded through the bar, so volatile even Nessa felt it. It didn’t send a clear message, just a blanket threat.
“What—”
She gasped as Aljoe grabbed a gargoyle who’d stopped in front of him and bodily tossed him out of the way. The throw had such force that the gargoyle bowled into several others, taking them to the ground.
“Watch where you’re going,” the alpha shifter growled.
The circle of bodies around him didn’t immediately scramble out of the way, and even Nessa knew that was a very bad decision.
More brawn than brain, those gargoyles…but not enough brawn to compete with the beast in their midst. Aljoe had somehow gotten the message that he no longer needed to be on a leash.
Malice pumped out of his muscular frame, so potent that Nessa reached for Tristan without meaning to. She clutched his arm, unable to tear her eyes away.
“Easy, Natasha,” Tristan cooed. “He’s just making a little space for himself. It’s good.”
It didn’t feel good. It felt like the apocalypse had come knocking.
Aljoe’s shoulders straightened, head pushed back, the posture of a powerful alpha at the top of his game.
He grabbed the guy next to him, slammed a punch into his stomach, and shoved him back.
He clutched another by the neck and then punched him in the face.
The guy’s nose cracked, and blood gushed.
Aljoe threw him away like he was nothing. He whirled on two more gargoyles.
“Is there a reason you’re crowding me?” he demanded, and the threat was plain. Move, or die.
The gargoyles’ eyes widened in terror. Their faces bled of color.
“N-no, sir,” one said, scrambling away while another hastened to do likewise. “S-sorry, s-sir.”
Still that threatening power pumped out, the feeling much like Austin when he had his dander up.
Another gargoyle didn’t move out of the way fast enough, frozen in fear.
Aljoe grabbed his shirt at the chest, leaned in to push, and then noticed a petite woman standing behind them.
He pivoted immediately, stepping to the side and ripping the gargoyle along with him.
He let go, and the gargoyle tumbled away like a rolling bolder.
Several people jogged out of the bar to either make room or just get out of the vicinity. A large circle opened up around the irate shifter.
And then everything slowed down as the alpha faced the terrified woman.
“Excuse me,” he said in a gentle tone, so unlike the growls from a moment before. He offered a little bow. “I apologize, I didn’t see you there. Forgive me.”
Her cheeks reddened and gratitude filled her eyes. A dopey smile curved her lips. She’d met a knight in the flesh.
“He’s got game,” Nessa murmured, relaxing again. Aljoe was back in control of his animal, simple as that. Or maybe he’d never lost it.
It took her a moment to realize Tristan’s hand covered hers comfortingly, his thumb slowly running across her knuckles. She shivered with the feel of his proximity before slowly pulling her hand away.
“Thanks,” she murmured.
“Always,” he replied, his eyes glowing brightly as he looked at her.