Chance frowned.“What do you mean?”
“Well, we know they’re still dangerous and that they have enough people to attack us, which is something we want to avoid, obviously.I don’t know why they haven’t tried anything yet, but maybe they don’t have a lot of faith in the people they have left.What if you talked to them?Maybe you can find out what they want and come to a compromise.”
Chance grimaced.“I don’t think I want to compromise with the kind of people they are.”
“I wouldn’t if I were you, but what’s the alternative?Wait for them to make their move?We don’t know what they’re gonna do, so doing that would put everyone in danger.If you reach out to them, though, you’ll find out how they’re feeling about all of this, at the very least.”
“Angry,” Theo muttered.
Chance was looking at Seth.“You know, that’s not a bad idea.”
“No?”
“I don’t know how they’ll react, but I can have Sullivan reach out and set up a meeting.I can poke at them and find out how they’re feeling about everything.”
Seth didn’t have to be at the meeting to know how those people felt.The coven leaders would be angry, and Seth wouldn’t be surprised if they wanted revenge.
Which was what worried him the most.
* * * *
“IHEARD A RUMOR,” MADELEINEdeclared almost as soon as they were done eating lunch.
Ryan supposed he should be grateful that she hadn’t brought it up in front of their parents.His mom would have wanted to know what Madeleine was talking about, and Ryan wouldn’t have known how to answer.As it was, he wasn’t entirely sure what his sister was talking about, but he could take a good guess.
“Please don’t,” he begged.
“What?”
“It doesn’t matter how innocent you’re trying to act.I know you’re not.”
“How can you say that to your favorite sister?”
“You’re my only sister.”
“Exactly.”She peeked in the direction of the living room, where their parents had settled after lunch.Madeleine had volunteered herself and Ryan to clean up the kitchen, and now, Ryan knew why.
How much did she know?As far as Ryan was aware, only one person had seen him and Seth, and he didn’t think his sister knew Seth’s friend.He could be wrong, though.Even when they’d lived with the coven, Madeleine had found it easier to make friends and grow close to people than Ryan ever had.It was probably how she’d ended up with a husband while Ryan was still on his own.
Well, maybe not.He wasn’t sure what was going on with Seth, but he did know that he wanted more.He had hopes, although maybe he shouldn’t in case this ended up a disaster.
“Come on,” Madeleine said as she bumped their shoulders together.“I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
“Only because you don’t have anyone to tell.”
“I’ll have you know that I’m making friends, unlike you.”She paused and cocked her head.“Or maybe you are.Friends with benefits?”
“Please don’t say those words.”
“What?They’re normal words.”
“Not coming out of your mouth.”
“Fine.I won’t mention that again, but you have to tell me what’s going on.”
“I don’thaveto tell you anything,” Ryan grumbled, glaring at his sister.
It wasn’t like Ryan had anyone else to talk to about this kind of thing.Even if he had, he and Madeleine were close.He could endure some teasing if it meant having a sounding board.
