But I had a duty to the people of Ivy House (literally). They were counting on me. I had to remain focused on the possible magical threat posed by the visiting mage. I had to keep focused on the politics I would need to play. I had to be lucid! Whatever was happening between Austin and me (I still hadn’t looked into what that meant for a female gargoyle—I was kind of afraid to find out), it had to wait until the danger passed. Until I wasn’t practicing magic constantly, constructing wards and creating potions, trying to anticipate which talents I’d need to match wits and skills with our visitor. Right now the pressure was too high for me to figure us out—I needed some room to breathe, and so did he.

His territory was coming together with Kingsley’s help, but it was clearly taxing. Kingsley said he’d never seen such a rush to join a pack, and the resulting chaos was a real thing. People were coming in droves now, having completely overrun the few towns Austin had claimed for his territory, forcing him to expand to a few more. Realtors were having a field day. Hotels, restaurants, and bars were rolling in cash. It had taken an insane amount of work in a very short time, but finally Austin said things were getting in line, just in time. His defense and the structure of his territory would somewhat be in place.

“Miss.” Mr. Tom stuck his head into my room. I sat at the table in front of the windows, the midmorning sun falling over my empty breakfast plate and bone-dry coffee mug. My stomach was tied in knots.

Today was the day. The visiting mage and his people would be arriving and settling in. It was time to be on my best behavior, and to put my best foot forward. I was representing my people and Ivy House, and I would do them proud.

We’d decided to meet him and his people at the swankiest restaurant in the county, two towns over, which Austin just happened to own, a recent acquisition. That gave us control—he’d closed it down for the night and set up his people within the grounds.

“Yes.” I stood and picked up the plate.

Mr. Tom bustled in and took it from me. “Sebastian needs you in his makeshift lab. He says it’s urgent.”

I slowly let out a breath to keep from shaking. Sebastian had been working overtime these last couple weeks, helping me prepare for what he called nice-nice warfare—everyone acting pleasant to your face, only to gouge you in the back the moment you turned around. Having played a part in previous such occasions, he had a good idea of what spells and potions they might use against me—and he’d been training me in their use and applications. It was a different kind of battle than I was used to, but he’d made it clear it was a battle all the same.

Sebastian was convinced this visiting mage was no more than training wheels. That I’d have no trouble dealing with him, what with my power, growing knowledge base, and magical crew.

He didn’t seem to understand that I had absolutely no experience when it came to mages beyond my close brushes with Elliot Graves’s people, and none of them had sat down with me for tea. I wasn’t magical at heart, and I didn’t know anything about the politics of the magical world.

“Of course.” I smoothed my sweats down my legs.

“Miss.” Mr. Tom paused in picking up the plain white mug.

“Yes?”

“You have no reason to be nervous. By allowing these miscreants into your territory, you are essentially stooping to their level. It has to be done, as these things often do, but they are lucky to bask in your presence. You are the heir of Ivy House. You are the queen of the gargoyles. You are majestic. If anyone should be nervous, it’s the mage and his ragtag crew.”

I released a smile. He always built me up too high, and this was no exception, but right now I needed it.

“Thanks, Mr. Tom,” I said, stepping away from the chair.

“There is nothing to thank me for. Now, go down and help Sebastian before he pops a blood vessel. He is very worked up about something.”

I took the secret hallways to the heart of the house, Sebastian’s voice floating out to me as I approached the cavern holding the crystals. “I don’t have enough power for this spell. Ain’t that a bitch? When was the last time that happened? A long while, I can tell you.”

I stepped into the room. Sebastian was bent over the bookstand holding the second magical spell book, facing the pulsing crystals in the center of the rough-hewn rock and stone room. No one else stood with him.

“Who were you talking to?” I stepped around a robust camping stove set up to the right, army green and with a large cast-iron pot sitting on the burner.

Sebastian glanced back before returning to the book, his hands braced on his hips. “Ivy House. It’s much more rewarding than talking to a plant because I know Ivy House can actually hear me.”

“Can’t answer you, though.”

“Neither can a plant.”

I stopped beside him. “This is true. Edgar let you look through the book?”

Edgar usually kept it in a hiding place in his cottage for safekeeping.

“No. Ivy House arranged it. I assume so, at any rate, because it was waiting for me on the stand this morning. If Edgar had wanted to show me something, he would have watched me the whole time to make sure I didn’t write anything down. He’s been suspicious of me ever since I leaned over his shoulder and commented on how useful one of the spells would be in my new life. It was the spell that turns people mute. Obviously, he didn’t get the joke.”

I laughed. “And after you guys got so chummy over the new growth elixir.”

“I feel bad about that.” He wiped his eyes. “I was just trying to correct the one he had. I didn’t think it through. The original serum worked just badly enough not to totally count as cheating. This one… He’ll inevitably win more gardening competitions, and I’ll be an accomplice. Soil will be on my hands.”

I laughed again. Sebastian was not usually this light and humorous. I wondered if it was his way of releasing his nerves about the week to come.

“It was always cheating,” I said, patting him on the back. He tensed but then relaxed into the touch. “Think of it this way: you’ll make the flowers taste better for the basajaun. Can’t hurt having that kind of friend.”

“That is true.” He checked his watch. “I can only assume that we’ll hear screeches come training time, and Edgar will run out yelling that I’ve stolen this book.”

“Probably.”

“The book was open to this page when I came in.” He pointed down at a spell, the title not in English and therefore incomprehensible to me. “An invisibility spell. I’ve done some similar things, as you know, but nothing this powerful. This spell calls up ancient magic, I’ll bet you anything. It’s a doozy. Why teach you mine when we can learn this one, am I right?”

“Isn’t that the kind of magic I have, ancient? Passed down through the years, stored within this house for safekeeping?”

He twisted to smile at me. “Yes. Your magic is stolen out of time. All magic stems from the same place, the same time, but yours is closer to the root. You could make this potion, but I’m certain I can’t. For once, I am not the most powerful mage in the room. It’s strangely…refreshing. Like the pressure has been taken off.”

Sebastian’s ego was as tame as Austin’s—he cared more about getting the job done than letting everyone know he’d done the legwork.

A rush of urgency rolled through me. I wanted time to speed up so I could see Austin sooner. He’d been too busy to stay over the night before, but he’d called before bed to say goodnight. We ended up chatting for an hour while he ate and then got ready to supervise various challenges for pack placement and hierarchy. Sleeping on my own was great, but sleeping in the same bed with him was infinitely better. His warm body curled around mine, his sweet breath dusting my face, his heart beating inside of my chest…

“Let me know when you’re done,” Sebastian said, tracing a line in the book with his finger.

“What?” I glanced around. “Me? Done with what?”

He glanced at me, pale eyes assessing. “You’re back. Great. I never know how long you’ll spend thinking about him. It’s fun to fall in love. I try not to interrupt.”

My face flamed and I didn’t know what to say.

“Now, I know Edgar usually reads these to you,” he continued, “but since the house showed the book to me, I assume it’ll be okay if I read them. You’ll have to let me know what she says. I don’t want to step on any toes.”

“He has been approved,” Ivy House said.

I relayed the message.

“Oh. Great.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I thought maybe she’d strike me dead.”

“He is watched, always, and if he steps wrong, I will ensure the fear he feels during his slow death will cure him of chasing his next adrenaline high.”

“Good grief.” I scrunched my nose but relayed the message.

“That’s fair,” he murmured.

“What do you say to her?”

“Oh, just odds and ends, truths and horrors of my past. My plant is surely happy to be rid of me. It’s probably less depressed on its own.”

I couldn’t decide if I should give him a comforting word or two, or just blink at his oddness. He certainly fit into my crew.

“Must be hard working for powerful people, huh?” I finally said.

“In my world, yes. In your world, it seems not. Now, this passage is entirely written in Latin. It is incredibly advanced, but since you have a knack for potions—or following directions, as you say—and enough power, I think you’ll be fine to learn it now.”

“Right now?” I checked the time again.

“Yes, right now,” Ivy House said.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine,” I said, and Sebastian gave me that deadpan stare of his before glancing around. He clearly knew Ivy House had answered.

“You’re not weirded out by the magical house, huh?” I rolled up my sleeves and then looked at the stainless-steel pot on the camping stove. “Did you remember to turn on the gas?” I checked the propane tank on the side of the setup without waiting for an answer.