Magical Midlife Love (Leveling Up 4)

“Yeah.” Austin looked up at the house. He waited for a moment, but ultimately, he couldn’t help himself. “It’s a helluva thing, seeing a female gargoyle, isn’t it? I’d thought they’d be as ugly as the males, but it’s hard to tear my eyes away.”

“It literally stopped my heart when she took off into the sky. I wasn’t expecting the light show. That isn’t sexual or anything, so don’t come after me, but…”

Austin couldn’t contain a surge of pride. “I know. I was in a cage with her when she first learned how to change. I nearly fell backward, which would’ve been messy because of the long drop ending in six-foot-high spikes…”

Kingsley just gave him a look.

“Long story,” Austin said, unperturbed. “There’s a lot I haven’t told you.”

“Well, that’s going to have to change, because I plan on shamelessly using both of you to up my status.”

“You might want to wait awhile. I still have a mess of a territory to sort through, or didn’t you forget I had to call you, crying for help?”

Kingsley gave him a hard stare. “You can be modest with everyone else, brother, but don’t try that crap with me. You took down a phoenix.”

Austin blew out a breath, trying not to preen. “I had help.”

“Bull. It was just you against the phoenix, and you won. I’ve never heard of a shifter bringing one down. She was no joke, either. The females are more powerful than the males. This is going to elevate our whole family line.”

He leaned over and mock-punched Austin before climbing out of the Jeep. “And then that crazy woman of yours went after the thunderbird! When she didn’t have to! This territory has taken down a phoenix and a thunderbird, and a basajaun fights beside you. Welcome to the big leagues of status, brother.” He laughed. “I’m not sure I could be more jealous.”

But it was pure pride in his voice. It felt beyond good to hear it—it felt vindicating.

Austin got out of the car and took a long look at his brother, seeing the years he’d missed in Kingsley’s graying hair and the deep lines creasing his face. They’d lost so much time. Austin hadn’t realized how much he’d missed his family. How much it meant to him that his brother had come the moment he’d called. “Thanks, bro. For turning up.”

“It’s good to see you. We’ve all missed you. We purposely gave you space, but we’ve missed the contact, Mom most of all.”

Austin nodded. He needed to call her. To apologize. To explain.

Kingsley put his hands in his pockets, a sign of respect and trust. “Mom is going to want to visit once it’s all set up. Meeting a basajaun would’ve been enough of a draw, but if that phoenix and thunderbird are still here… I think I’m going to lose ‘favorite’ status.”

“It’s about time,” Austin said with a smile. “Let me have a turn.”

They reached the door, but Kingsley turned his back to it, looking out over the grounds and street. “Tell her how you feel,” he said after a moment. “She needs to know. Hell, she’s obviously on board—she must’ve instinctively known you were claiming her, and if she didn’t approve, I think the whole bar would’ve known.”

They turned to face the door, which opened of its own volition. An army of dolls waited inside, sad baby faces or manic Halloween green faces with black stitches, many of them holding real knives.

“What in the…” Kingsley stepped backward.

Austin could barely keep from laughing. Time for a little Ivy House initiation.

“You didn’t think the house could protect Jess. It took offense. Looks like it’s going to show you what’s what. You’ll probably need to submit, or leave the property. I’ll let you decide. Good luck.”

Austin laughed at Kingsley’s bewildered expression and made his way through the dolls. Poor Kingsley would have to learn about Ivy House the hard way.

Twenty-Five

A week after meeting with everyone to discuss plans, I walked down the hall toward the stairs, a million things on my mind. We’d decided to mostly host the coming mages in restaurants or a banquet hall in town, which would make things easier, but a dinner or two might take place in Ivy House, which meant I needed to update the furniture in at least a few of the rooms and hallways. I’d always thought of it as stately and homely, but Niamh had pointed out that I was crazy, and the furniture was actually gaudy and severely outdated. I’d never claimed to be good at interior design.

I could pick a few pieces of furniture, but I didn’t have a clue on how to bring a look together. The whole situation was a nightmare, not to mention I was constantly training with Sebastian, trying to learn all I could in the few short weeks to come.