“Yeah,” I agreed.
He tugged me to him, sliding a warm hand through my hair to cup the back of my neck. Rowan tilted my chin up and bent to look into my eyes.
His were more green than gold today, a ring of our shared bond outlining his iris. “Remember who you are, Evie, and remember that you are mine, and I am yours. Remember who tried to take that away from you. Know you are far more powerful than he could ever be, but also know Caelan is flawed and part of him is human. He is wounded and hurting, and wounded animals often lash out at the people who can help them.”
I swallowed hard. “And if he tries to hurt me?”
His eyes flashed with vivid color. “Then you take that motherfucker down.”
I framed his face in my hands and brought him in for a scorching kiss. “I won’t be long.”
Rowan nodded and turned to Garrett and Moira. “Evie can take care of herself. You are her last line of defense if something goes awry.”
A ring of gold encircled Garrett’s irises. He nodded.
Moira’s incisors flashed down with a quiet snick. “Ready.”
We turned and headed toward the Keep grounds.
Someone I’d never seen before greeted us. He, like many shifters, was tall and lean, but from the way his emotions bristled against my finer senses, his animal rode him harder than most.
His hair was a soft brown, cut into a severe buzz with scalp showing. A hard jaw and ice blue eyes highlighted a harsh face that wasn’t quite handsome. This shifter was a killer. His eyes widened slightly when he spotted me, almost like he couldn’t believe I was the one who’d done this to their Lord.
His lips tightened with distaste. “Are you Evie?”
I nodded. “This is Moira and Garrett.”
The shifter snorted. “I know the traitor.”
Words meant to incite, but Garrett had dealt with shifters like this for years now. “Hello, Schute. Nice to see you again.”
Schute snorted. “Wish I could say the same.”
Garrett grinned, genuine amusement on his face. “How many of Caelan’s people did you have to kill to get my position?”
Schute’s face turned to granite.
Garrett chuckled. “Just as I thought. Take us to the Lord. Evie has graciously agreed to meet with him, but she does not have much time to spare. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner she can return to her Keep.”
Schute let out a disgusted snort. “And whore herself out to her new Lord?”
One moment Schute was standing. The next, he was motionless on the ground, his throat and stomach laid open, and his eyes staring blankly at the sky.
Moira choked.
I swallowed hard and let out an unsteady breath. I hadn’t even seen Garrett move.
Gods.
“Um,” Moira said shakily. “Holy shit, dude.”
“Power is a gift, Evie. He was a waste of space and bad for Caelan’s rule. I did that prick a favor.” Without a backward glance at Schute’s body, Garrett continued forward, his stride relaxed and confident.
Moira and I looked at each other for a long moment. “That was both terrifying and super hot,” she whispered. “My lady bits are on fire.”
“Did you see him move?”
Moira shook her head. “I should have, but?—”
