Page 78 of Magical Midlife Conclave

I stared her right in the eye and then gave my commands to everyone again, pushing them out to the boundary lines first to make sure all was well, and then spread out into town to help lock things down.

She didn’t budge. Her people looked between her and me.

Help, or leave, my magic said now, blistering in its intensity. I’d trained for stamina, for using powerful spells over and over all afternoon and beyond. A standoff here wouldn’t affect my ability to handle the shifters in a moment, so I didn’t hold back.

Help. Or leave.

Her hair puffed out. She stood up, all twelve feet of her. This was about to get real.

Fine.

HELP or LEAVE.

17

Jessie

“You felt her,” the Elder said to everyone gathered. “Do as she commands.”

I didn’t waste time, pushing off into the sky. Ulric was there immediately.

I reiterated the magical commands for the basajaunak and then hit the garhettes with their orders. Namely, Get into town and work your magic, literally and figuratively. They didn’t even really need to understand the commands outside of go. They’d handle the rest naturally.

Ulric flew me as fast as he could, half the speed of Tristan, and that was fine. I wanted a moment to assess the situation and get my head in the game.

Cyra and Hollace had made quick work. A lot of shifters had retreated into buildings or under porches, hiding from the lightning and fire. It had mostly cleared the streets.

Another crowd of people were centered around Austin’s bar. I recognized quite a few alphas.

I wiggled to get free and brought the gargoyles in closer, leaving Tristan in the sky with them. Watch. Guard.

I didn’t want a sudden rush of shifters dodging fire and lightning to attack me. I might get nervous and overreact. Someone had been stabbed already—I didn’t need to explode anyone.

I landed, still holding my muumuu. I hadn’t even noticed that when facing off with the Elder. That had probably looked weird.

I shifted and slipped the muumuu on, slowing near the door. Waves of stay back emanated from the bonds with Austin. Danger. Worry.

Ah. He was worried for my safety. Or maybe worried someone would call me a name and he’d lose what little control he probably had over his beast. He always tried to keep me from the fight, and I hadn’t been here to argue with him about that.

I was here now.

Drex, the shifter we’d visited on the mountain, stood in the doorway. He had his arms loose at his sides with aggression pumping all around.

I let magical calm emanate around me.

“Why are you standing there?” I asked him, stopping.

Hostility sparked in his eyes. “We got generational shifters throwing their weight around in there. Austin is worried it’s going to kick off. I’m providing a buffer.”

“Thank you.” I put a hand on his arm. He flinched at the contact. A line formed between his brow…and a little fire leaked from his eyes. “You can go now. I’ve got it.”

He started to shake his head.

“It wasn’t a request, Drex,” I said, still calm, but now speaking with force. “You can go now. If you want to stay close, you can go dodge lightning and fire with the others.”

The line between his brows deepened into a frown.

“Go.” I prodded him with my magic. “You can challenge me later, if you want.”