Chapter 20 #4
“Yes. Don’t bother questioning; it won’t make sense even if I explain it—”
His words cut off as he took in the backyard.
Tiki torches flickered in the darkness all around the perimeter of the grass.
Little tables dotted the way, most high, some low with chairs.
Flowers sat on tabletops in lovely vases, resting on doilies, and Austin bet all of them were oddly shaped.
Four canopies had been set up off to the left.
Within stretched long tables, upon which sat steaming heating elements keeping food warm.
A large group of people, all magical types, stood around chatting.
Most wore casual clothing—jeans and T-shirts or open collars and loose pants—and just as many had ditched their shoes to walk barefoot in the grass.
The latter decision couldn’t have been to prepare for challenges, because everyone’s body language was just as casual and relaxed as the dress code.
The crowd pushed all the way to the tree line, where garhettes lingered with random weapons pulled from households.
They were holding the line against the gnomes.
This place was so damn weird.
Jess walked out of the crowd with a glass of wine. She wore a summery dress and no shoes, hair falling down around her beautiful face in waves. She gave Austin a warm smile.
“Hey, babe.” She stopped in front of him and angled her face up for a kiss. Afterward, he pulled himself away even though he wanted to linger, and she said, “Hi, Kingsley.”
Austin slung his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in tightly. “What’s all this?”
“Yeah.” She looked out at everyone. “I honestly don’t know how this happened. A couple people at the challenges today were disappointed they couldn’t come to dinner, and before I knew it…” She motioned to the large crowd in front of her.
“Who organized?” Kingsley asked.
Jess put up her hands helplessly. “Everyone.” She laughed as the alphas nodded at her in hello before wandering out into the crowd.
“I called Mr. Tom about it, and the shifters who first invited themselves said not to worry, they’d bring stuff for a BBQ.
Their friends all wanted to come, and then someone mentioned it to the garhettes, and one of the basajaun said he’d just finished some brew, and this would be a good time to unofficially try it out…
” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Here we are. ”
“Anyone go sailing over the trees?” Kingsley asked.
“Because of the drop-kicking contest?” Jess rolled her eyes.
“I swear, those basajaunak are more aggressive than any shifter. No, and they’re mildly annoyed about it.
They’d be more annoyed, but they’re having a good time.
It’s really…” She shrugged again. “It’s really chill.
I warned everyone that’s the only way I’d have this thing.
We’ve had a couple people puffing up, and a few gargoyle-shifter issues, but all the hostility has been dissolving really quickly.
I think people are tired from earlier today.
Everyone just wants to hang out and have a good time. ”
“The threat from Jessie and the basajaunak is a good excuse to let bygones be bygones.” Kingsley put his hands into his pockets, a sign of trust that no aggression would happen. “Did Aljoe make an appearance?”
Jess’s lips tightened in embarrassment. “Yeah. People keep saying he at least didn’t end up in a tree.”
Kingsley huffed, nearly laughing. “That’s true.”
“Did Armendale’s people come?” Austin asked
Jess lost her smile. “No. They aren’t welcome here. Neither are their friends. They seem hellbent on terrorizing people. I don’t get it.”
Austin told her what Kingsley and he had talked about not that long ago.
“Yeah, maybe,” she said. “A few people seem ready to spiral at any given moment. It’s weird how shifters can’t be in each other’s company without starting trouble.”
“Too much emphasis on hierarchy and power,” Kingsley said thoughtfully.
“All the sanctioned challenges will help. Everyone just needs a moment to figure out where they stand with people they don’t know and maybe to get out of their own way.
It’s obvious we don’t value control as much as we need to.
The gargoyles are making laughingstocks of us in that regard.
They seem to get along in big clusters just fine. ”
“Yet another thing for you to figure out.” Austin patted his brother on the shoulder.
“Yeah,” Kingsley said hollowly. “I’d ask you to switch jobs, but…I don’t want yours.”
Austin and Jess both laughed.
“Shall we?” Austin said, indicating for them to move forward. “Is Calvin okay with the change in plans?”
“I offered them the use of Ivy House and a quiet meal, but they wanted to be out here. The basajaunak are waiting for you guys before they light the bonfire. Then we’ll say a few words and bring out the brew.
After that, there will probably be drunken brawls and a great many dropkicks, for which I will be inside.
I warned them. That’s all I plan to do.”