Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
“Which is why we are going to their aid.”
“Nessa…” This time his tone and the corresponding pause sent a shiver up her spine. “We’re not enough. We have two magical workers and Austin’s pack. Big whoop. Momar is preparing an army of mages and a ground troop to stand between them and the shifters. Without the basajaunak to pump up our numbers, we’re sunk. We’re as good as dead.”
“Well…” This time it was Nessa who took an audible breath, as her brain churned quickly. “Okay. What can we do?”
He nodded, obviously expecting her to say that. They both knew they couldn’t let the shifters get crushed. That would be the death rattle to their cause. Because of that, they couldn’t run away or remove themselves from the altercation. They had to get stuck in this time. They’d need to figure this out.
“I’ve been thinking.” He walked forward, onto Ivy House soil.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” She put out her hand to stop him. “The house can hear you once you’re on the grounds.”
“I know. This house wants to protect the heir above all things. It doesn’t care how that is accomplished, as long as it is. It won’t care that this plan goes behind Jessie’s back.”
“We’d have to go behind Jessie’s back?”
“Yes. We’ll have to be the bad guy, but it’ll be for a good cause. This time, anyway.”
Nessa shook her head, looking at the ground a few steps ahead of her. “Unless it does care, takes the plan as an affront, and kills you before you can get off its soil.”
“Unless that, but I’ve talked over things with it before. It hasn’t killed me yet.”
“That is not exactly confidence inspiring,” she muttered, crossing the threshold. “What’d you have in mind?”
“Okay…” He started for the front door. “Nathanial has said multiple times that gargoyles are a battle species, and they would want to be dragged into our trouble if we had it. That they would want to battle.”
“Correct. I’ve heard the same thing.”
“And we both know that Jessie always rises to the challenge. She seems sweet and caring and like a pushover until it’s time for action, and then she’s a beast.”
“A very colorful, sparkly sort of beast, yes. I love how confusing she will be to mages.”
“Yes.” When they reached the porch, the door swung open on its own.
Shivers washed across Nessa’s skin, and she hesitated again. “Doors opening on their own make sense when the heir or one of the crew is around. It feels like they are controlling it. But when it’s just the house…it’s a little creepy. Like the walls have eyes.”
He laughed as he walked in without any trepidation. “You know how you always make fun of me for being jumpy around the shifters?” He paused for a reaction he didn’t get. “Well, you’ll never live this down.”
She rolled her eyes, following him. In the foyer, he pointed at the grand archway where the wooden carving had been changed from a sort of valley to a woman in a fancy dress. Two stick figures held the hem of her skirt like they were about to lift it up and peer underneath it.
“She’s going to reveal all her secrets,” Sebastian translated. “And yes, the house is communicating with us. Ivy House, do you want to show us around and point out all the hidden gems?”
The door to the most-used sitting room slammed shut, making Nessa jump. Then it opened again slowly, the hinges squeaking softly.
“We also know,” he said as they entered the room and various paintings in their gaudy and gilded frames wiggled, “that they won’t want to be led by her. Or at least we strongly suspect that.”
“They are slow to change,” she said, squinting at the painting. “Looks like these might be of value, then?” The paintings wobbled a second time.
Sebastian nodded, clearly quite good at communicating with the house. “I’ll take a picture and try to look them up.” He studied them for a moment. “They could certainly do with nicer frames.”
Nessa looked at the oil paintings, trying to find any sort of signature or tag. Not finding anything, she made note of the two pieces on her spreadsheets, leaving the dollar amount blank, as Sebastian took pictures.
“Slow to change, yes,” he said. “But as we know, if the right pressure is applied in certain situations, it acts as a catalyst. When it comes to those gargoyles, I am willing to bet the farm that a catalyst should be centered around battle and strife.”
“Stands to reason—Sabby, the wooden mural on the fireplace is changing. Ugh!” She grimaced at it. “It’s like we’re inside of a person…like…in its belly. Will your magic be able to fend it off if it gets in a temper?”
The door to the room swung hard and slammed shut. Several other doors, out in the hall or upstairs, some sounding very deep within the house, slammed shut as well. A thump sounded overhead. Something else slid against the inside of the walls.