“You’re messaging the fae? Is that wise?” I didn’t much appreciate what his question implied.
“He kidnapped my friend. I wanted to talk to her.” I hurriedly closed the app, not wanting him to see any inappropriate messages Zane might send.
“Fae don’t do things like that, especially not Autumn Court royals.”
“Um, they do. He took her from the club when the demons attacked, and nobody’s seen her since.”
Adam’s eyebrows shot up, and he shook his head, clearly doubting me. We’d never had a super close relationship, but any affection between us was now in short supply. The mage at my side acted like a stranger rather than someone who’d been a father figure my entire life.
A bird chirped above our heads, and from somewhere deep in the thickets, Fig oinked.
I knew there were other mansions nearby, but something about the height of the walls and the thickness of the foliage blocked out most ambient sound from outside the garden.
The sun had sunk below the trees, painting the house pink and orange. If only I weren’t a wanted criminal. Under different circumstances, I would have found this trip rather relaxing.
Then I started wondering: Why had Adam come out here? Had he and Maverick made a plan?
So I asked him, not enjoying the uncomfortable silence stretching between us.
“Not really, no. Security around the venue will be impenetrable.”
“To pathetic mages, perhaps,” Kenji scoffed in my head. He must be nearby. “I’m watching the pig. It’s a source of entertainment.”
“Leave him alone!”
Kenji didn’t answer, but I heard a faint growl from the shadows, and then Fig came scuttling out at a rate of knots, his eyes wide in alarm.
Kenji cackled. “Stupid pig.”
I settled poor Fig on my knee, wincing at how heavy he’d become.
“Kenji doesn’t see an issue with the security,” I remarked, paraphrasing.
“Perhaps.” Clearly, Adam appeared skeptical. “Look, Raven. I didn’t come outside to talk about that.” He shifted on the bench, staring out into the overgrown garden rather than at me. “I wanted to apologize for how things went when you came to the farm.” I noted he didn’t sayhome. “Willow has found it difficult lately. I think she misses you, even though it might not seem that way.”
“Really?” The pain from how she’d treated me lessened. I’d missed her too. In the early days, at least. Now I was far too busy trying to survive to miss anyone from my old life.
“Yes, she called earlier to say she felt so bad she used a teleportation potion so she could apologize in person.”
I spun around in surprise. “Wait…what? I thought nobody could leave the farm because of the lockdowns?”
“That’s true for lesser magicals. Mages and witches have been granted more freedom of movement because they have greater powers to defend themselves.” It was news to me. None of my mates had mentioned such changes to the rules.
“Surely shifters can protect themselves too?”
“They don’t have magic, Raven.” I bristled at the condescension in Adam’s voice. My bear was more than capable of defending me and himself against a demon.
“Bigger shifters are arguably more powerful than mid-tier witches,” I pointed out, but Adam shook his head dismissively.
“I didn’t make the rules, Raven.” For a mage who professed to hate everything his brother stood for, he seemed remarkably on board with his bullshit policies.
“If that’s the case, surely Nula shouldn’t be here?”
Adam’s jaw clenched in irritation. “She’s still weak from what she went through with Tiberius. As the only one of us in our coven with healing magic, I had to bring her with me to continue with the healing treatments.”
Was that what the boomers were calling sex these days?
Zane snorted in my head.“Shall I take your temperature with my special thermometer, pet?”
