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At Teague’s side, Baxter restlessly danced from foot to foot with an eager-to-get-moving whine. The other dogs let out aggressive little yaps and snarls, equally keyed up.
Laying a hand on Baxter’s head, Teague fixed his gaze on Ronin and said, “Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I don’t think this is intended to be a friendly visit.”
His neck seeming tight with tension, Ronin planted his feet. “You know, I never quite understood what my father saw in your mother. Pretty she might be, but she is so very fragile. Codependent. Weak.”
Well aware that the dick only meant to rile Teague up, he didn’t take the bait. “And yet, she has so much power over your emotions, doesn’t she? You invest so much hatred in her that it close to consumes you. Seems kind of sad, really.”
Saxon folded his arms. “I can guess that you’re here to kill us,” he said, his voice fairly dripping with boredom. “I’m curious as to why.”
“But you’re not shocked to see me here,” Ronin mused, “so I suppose one of the shadowkin made you aware that it was I who sent them, which means you also know that I became Master Huntsman,” he added, his chest puffing up.
Slade coughed out a low, scornful snort. “Zagan must have been having a weird day when he thought you’d make a good Master.”
A cord in Ronin’s neck seemed to twang. “He saw my potential.”
“He sure didn’t see that you’d abuse the Dark Host’s resources by siccing shadowkin on people like dogs to avenge private grudges,” muttered Leo. “You don’t think it was a chickenshit move to send them after Teague?”
“Chickenshit?” echoed Ronin, his chuckle strained and empty of humor. “If I in any way feared him, I wouldn’t be here now.”
Gideon raised an index finger. “Ah, but you’re not here for a one-to-one fight—you versus Teague. Are you? Nah. You’re not even here for a fair-and-square battle wanting to pitch your people against us. You brought mercenaries with you. Which brings us back to the whole chickenshit thing.”
“I don’t know, Gid,” said Archer, scanning the pack of chupacabras. “Maybe it’s not that he’s a chinless wonder. Maybe he just doesn’t think there’s a hope of defeating us unless we’re outnumbered.” He put a hand to his chest. “I personally find that a compliment.”
Ronin’s upper lip quivered as he looked Archer up and down. “The chupacabras are here for entertainment value.” He cut his gaze to Teague. “I will enjoy the sight of them tearing into you.”
“Weakening Teague, you mean,” Tucker put in. “That’s what this is about. You want to tire him out so you have an edge over him.”
Ronin’s eyes flared. “Why would I fear my father’s bastard child who never once challenged me, no matter what I did or said?” he countered, all snooty and pompous.
“You never officially challenged me either,” Teague pointed out. “Or have you forgotten that?”
A muscle in Ronin’s cheek ticked as he clamped his mouth shut.
“You know, I almost did throw down a gauntlet once. It was back when we were juveniles, when you constantly pulled dumb crap like egg my house and play knock-and-run. Honestly, all it really did was exhaust my fucking patience. It was the stuff you said to my mother that got to me. I was done listening to you insult her—something you insisted on doing at every given opportunity. There’s only one reason I left you alone. Would you like to know what it is?” asked Teague, arching a taunting brow.
“I already know the answer: you weren’t confident you could take me.”
Teague had to chuckle. “Oh, far from it. The truth is . . . ” He paused, feeling a dark smile curve his mouth. “Soren promised he would keep you in line and away from my mother if I swore not to challenge you.”
Ronin’s lips parted. He spluttered. “Nonsense.”
“Nope. Pure fact.”
“He wouldn’t have spoken to you about anything at all, let alone about me. He had nothing to do with you.”
“You were the only son he gave a crap about, yeah.” It had never bothered Teague, because he’d felt not one ounce of respect for the man who’d tossed his pregnant mistress out of the little cottage he’d once put her in, making her homeless. “That’s why he made that deal with me. He wanted to protect you.”
“You lie,” Ronin ground out, his cheeks stained red.
Teague shook his head. “He sensed I’d hit my limit with you, and he had no faith in your ability to survive a duel to the death with me.” Soren had openly admitted it, annoyance and shame coating every word. “So he came to me and made an offer. One I accepted, because I wanted my mother to be left in peace. But I made it clear to him that if he failed to do as he vowed, my own promise would become null and void.”
