Ethan’s stoic face widened into a wicked grin. “Sometimes I think you’re more bloodthirsty than we are.”
“Titania has risen from the dead once,” I grumbled. “No reason to risk fate again.”
Caelan nodded and walked away, leaving us standing next to the ugly tree.
Ethan waited until he was out of earshot. “Why’d you do it?”
He didn’t sound angry or annoyed, only curious.
“The thought of enslaving his people devastated him. I did the only thing I could.”
Ethan crossed his arms over his chest. “Moira and everyone else are with the healers. I’ll text them and let them know you’re back.”
He looked at Rowan. “Mind if I crash at the Keep tonight?”
“Of course. We have a few empty apartments. Hope will show you when we get back.”
Rowan wrapped his arm around my waist and buried his nose in my hair. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” How could I be mad at him? My ex-boyfriend had all but commandeered me to speak to him while under the influence of an unholy power that might have gotten us all killed.
“Are we good?” he murmured.
“One hundred percent,” I promised.
Dad returned with everyone in tow, got a gander at the tree, snorted and barked, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Seconds later, we were home.
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
Moira yanked me inside her apartment and shut the door. “Are you okay? Rowan is furious!”
I rubbed the space between my brows. A rare headache was beginning to form. “I’m fine. He has every right to be mad, but neither of us could help what happened.”
Moira’s eyebrows rose damn near to her hairline. “And what exactly happened?”
“Nothing. He had to come down from his power, and I had to claim the land to keep Danu from trying again once I was gone.”
Moira’s jaw dropped. “He let you?”
“Caelan has seen the error of his ways. This time, he was properly chastised. I think going forward, things will be better.” I frowned. “Though I don’t expect us to spend much time together. If I can’t maintain the main tree at a distance, I may have to visit his Keep a couple times a year.”
“Rowan will be ecstatic.”
“Rowan will come with me.” I waved a hand at her. “Enough about me. What’s going on with Ethan?”
Her lips tightened. “Nothing. There was far too much action tonight for us to even speak.”
I turned the doorknob to leave. The only thing I wanted right now was to faceplant onto my bed. “He’s staying the night tonight,” I said with a grin. “Plenty of time to chat now.”
“Begone with you, hussy.”
I laughed and slipped out the door, hurrying back to the main house.
Rowan was waiting for me on the couch. He closed his eyes when I walked in and exhaled.
