Magical Midlife Invasion (Leveling Up #3) - K.F. Breene Page 0,28

his secret on those. I can’t keep the deer from eating mine.”

“Yeah, totally. He loves talking about flowers. Say, listen, you looked a little shaken up a moment ago. You okay?” I reached back and touched Ulric’s arm, a silent cue to get ready.

“Well, I’ll tell you what.” Dad huffed. “You were all over me about airing out my begonias, but you don’t say boo to your friend there, doing the exact same thing. You see? I know what I’m about. If a young, fit man like that needs a little air on his nether regions, don’t you think I do, too?”

It was my turn to stare and then blink rapidly, my mouth hanging open and my eyebrows at my hairline. “His…begonias?”

“Yes. Look at him there, letting it all hang out. Sometimes a man just needs to air out the bells and tackle.”

“This is true, sir,” Ulric said, and I could’ve kicked him. My father didn’t need a green light to walk around naked.

“Anything…else on your mind?” I asked tentatively.

“Yeah, that butler is in charge of dinner, and I think it’ll actually be ready when your mother said it would. It’s a Christmas miracle.”

“Christmas miracle?” Ulric said.

“You kids better wash up.” My dad nodded, turned, and strode for the house as though nothing too crazy had gone on.

“Maybe he didn’t see,” I said, watching him go, the daisy still in his hand.

“Maybe…” Ulric said. “But he could see Austin standing in the trees, and a naked man is a lot less conspicuous than a polar bear.”

“But…wouldn’t he say something?”

“Jessie, we could use your help over here,” Niamh called.

“I’m good.” Not one ounce of pain made it into Austin’s words, and yet I could feel that he was nearly crippled with it. I’d really gotten him good with way more power than I’d known I possessed. Ivy House must’ve increased my access again, apparently under the impression I could handle it. And maybe I could, but Austin was another story. Thank God he’d been in his bear form when he tripped that magical wire.

“Hand me my clothes,” he said.

“Jessie,” Niamh said.

Forgetting about my dad for the time being, I jogged back to Austin, standing tall and proud, acting the part of the tough guy who didn’t feel pain. Even though I knew better.

“I got this.” I took Austin’s clothes from Niamh, who’d picked up the sack Ulric had dropped a moment ago. “Everyone else hit the showers. Oh…” I snapped and pointed at each of them in turn. “You can try the clam dip, but don’t eat much of it. It’s a hot commodity in my family. She didn’t make enough for this many people.”

“No, thanks.” Ulric made a face and started walking toward the house. Jasper and Cedric followed, with Niamh close behind.

“Jessie, did I hear correctly that your father wanted to speak with me?” I nodded, and Edgar edged closer. “I hadn’t intended to go in for dinner. Maybe I’ll just pop in afterward?”

“That’s fine, Edgar. Or chat with him tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Edgar smiled, his fangs tucked away, for once, and his teeth whiter than I remembered. He must’ve asked Agnes for an elixir that would help. He’d really been putting in an effort to pass for normal with the parents staying. “That’s a much better idea, yes. I think I’ll just grab a spot in the woods somewhere and watch what comes by.”

“You’ll want to mask your smell,” Austin said. He’d barely moved since he’d changed, each action probably radiating anguish through him.

“Yes. Great idea. A good old-fashioned mud bath ought to do the trick.” Edgar put up his thumb before hurrying away.

Austin’s eyes flicked to me. He didn’t say anything.

“You don’t have to play tough with me, Austin. I peeked. You’re—”

“Did you like what you saw?” His voice was low and thick, sending shivers across my body.

My face heated. “You’re in incredible pain,” I said, ignoring the sexual innuendo. He tended to relax when he was dealing with pain. His focus slipped, and his grip loosened on his usually iron-clad self-control. “Why didn’t you slow down or opt to find the basajaun another day?”

He shook his head, his eyes roaming my face. “I’m good.”

I laid my hands on his chest just above his pecs, his skin too hot. Heavy bruises marred his ribs. A gouge bled from the left side of his stomach and another gash dribbled blood down his thigh. Moving around him, I found scrapes and scores down one side of his back, the skin already

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