Magical Midlife Love (Leveling Up #4) - K.F. Breene Page 0,42

something right.

I was panting and sweaty toward the end, something that had never happened to me before while practicing magic.

When Sebastian finally declared we were finished for the day, he was fresh-faced and with sparkling eyes. He wasn’t tired in the least, but he’d clearly had a good time. That was a relief.

“Now you fly?” he asked, reseating himself on the log.

“Yes. I have to learn better aerial maneuvering.” I hesitated in shedding my clothes. It was hard enough to disrobe around shifters, who were used to seeing others naked, but Sebastian’s fixation on his shoes earlier had shown how uncomfortable he was with Austin hanging around naked. I wasn’t in the mood for a peep show.

As if realizing it, Sebastian rose, stepped over the log, and sat with his back to me. “That has to be so weird, going from not even knowing magic exists to all of this.”

“Very weird, yes.” I hesitated for a moment, just to make sure he didn’t turn around.

Austin repositioned himself between us, cutting off Sebastian’s sight even if he did peek.

“I don’t much like an alpha at my back,” Sebastian murmured. “I can feel him there somewhere. The small hairs on my neck are standing up like I’m about to get attacked.”

“If you plan on staying peaceful, it’s not me you need to worry about. You’d do best to keep an eye on Niamh,” Austin said. He’d pulled on the sweatpants but hadn’t bothered with the shirt, his big, broad back corded with muscle.

“Don’t ruin the surprise,” Niamh said, removing her clothes.

Clothes off, I shifted to my gargoyle form. My face didn’t protrude quite so much as the male gargoyles’ did, my wings were smaller, and I put out a sort of swirling light show when I moved. Jasper and Ulric changed with me, the sound like boulders moving against hard-packed dirt.

“Can I turn back now?” Sebastian asked, and I took to the sky. When he saw me, I could just barely see his mouth go slack and his eyes widen. “That is every bit worth the price of admission,” he said, and then I was up through the trees, out of hearing range, soaring with my kind, wind against my wings, savoring a sort of freedom I couldn’t express in words.

If Austin called in his brother, my ground game would be covered, but I still needed more fliers. Up here, soaring through the air, I realized how important that was.

My blast of magic nearly knocked Jasper and Ulric from the sky.

Hurry up.

An answering blast nearly froze my blood. I was calling in the best, and they had answered. They were on their way.

I sure hoped Austin could handle them.

Twelve

Mr. Tom leaned over the young master, sleeping more soundly than Mr. Tom could recollect anyone sleeping, ever. If an attacker waltzed into this room, it would be open season. Luckily, Master Jimmy had the house and his mother to look after him. He’d be safe as long as those held up.

“Young master,” Mr. Tom said softly, something that usually roused the miss when she didn’t sense him lurking over her. Not so much as a twitch.

“Young master,” he repeated, a little louder this time. At least this boy approved of being called the proper title. Much less fussy than his mother or grandparents. He could get used to the boy staying in the house. It made Mr. Tom feel all kinds of useful.

Except when he wouldn’t wake up.

“Master Jimmy!” Mr. Tom kicked the bed.

“Hmm?” The young master slowly opened his eyes. “Hah!” He jutted out his hand in some sort of karate chop move he must’ve learned from his mother.

“We need to start training you in combat ASAP,” Mr. Tom said with a sniff. “No one connected to this house should go around cartoon-style karate-chopping at people. It’s embarrassing for all of us. Now.” Mr. Tom straightened up as the young master rubbed his eyes. “There is coffee on the night table for you and breakfast waiting downstairs. Best get moving. You’re off to see the basajaun today. Austin Steele will be going with you just in case the insufferable flea magnet decides it doesn’t like strangers and attacks. You never really know with them. This particular one has been downright tame compared to some others I’ve heard about, but I would still refrain from turning your back on it.”

The creature still hadn’t, after all this time, so much as told them its name. It was very odd. Good to have on one’s