I lifted my shoulder. “I want to say it was for the best, but lying doesn’t make it easier.” He laughed.
“We are stupid.”
I nodded. “But it probably is for the best.” I saw hurt flash in his eyes. “We both have things we have to work through, and being hung up on each other would get in the way.” I smiled through the pain. My words were cutting through all the anger I had built up this last year.
He nodded. “Verity…”
“Is a witch.” I finished.
He sighed and rubbed his neck. He paced away from me and nodded. “Yeah, she is really awful.”
“No.” I started to laugh. “She is like me. She has powers.” He whirled to face me, but Toya walked out and snarled.
“Yes, she fucking does.” Toya stomped to the sofa and dropped.
“What do you mean?” Rowan walked to the love seat, leaving my chair open for me.
“She played around in my mind.” Toya snarled again. She was still pissed. “She bumped into me at graduation.” Toya wiggled her finger. “Then she latched onto me and wormed her way in. Whispering bullshit about Amy and eating away at our bond until I attacked her.”
Rowan looked at me as I settled in my chair. I waved his concern off. “I fought her off. But the truth came to light. Verity is related to Aurora and Amara.” He looked confused. “Aurora, the one I tortured.”
“The one that tried to take over your father’s pack.”
“The one and the same. The twins are Verity’s younger sisters.” Rowan’s eyebrows shot up. “It’s a long story, but that isn’t why I wanted to talk to you. She isn’t stupid. And she is most definitely using magic against you.”
Rowan nodded. “I haven’t been myself in a long time.” He sighed. “But I have a way to remind myself.” It was my turn to be confused. He just waved me off. “The rebuilding?”
I nodded. “We all know everyone is still alive.” He nodded. “But I have to be able to come and go as I need. So I want to pretend to rebuild, as will Toya. But in truth, Toya and Wendy will help me watch Carly, while I’ll have more freedom to move.”
“I doubt Vince will like it.”
“Probably not, but I think I have a solution. I’ll take the position, and ‘stay’ on pack lands. But I say that you are deciding if I am allowed to move to my father’s pack lands.”
“If I allow it?” He snorted. “We both know I can’t make you do anything you don’t want to.”
I laughed. “True, but no one else knows that. You can say you need to determine if it is safe for a new pack to grow on my father’s lands with the threat of the rogues still in that area.”
He thought about it. Then nodded. “I can do that. Plus, it will give Vince some hope that Brandon will have time to win you over.” I winked and pointed at him. “You won’t, right?”
I shook my head. “Not a chance.” Then I stood. “One last thing.”
Rowan looked at me. “What is it?”
“You can’t tell anyone about what we talked about.” I grimaced.
He nodded. “Do it.” He closed his eyes as I walked over.
I placed my finger on his head and sent my intention through his mind. This conversation, our plan, will remain hidden from any outside source. “Lata sur ben shi na.” The magic whipped his hair around, and for a fleeting moment, I wished I could run my fingers through it.
I stepped back. My fingers aching, but my resolve hardened by the minute. Rowan stood, looking back toward the door. “How are you going to play this?”
I thought about it for a minute. “I’m going to play the fence.” He just tilted his head. “I’m going to act like I want to rebuild, but that you are refusing me. You won’t allow anyone into the pack lands because of rogues, so I have to figure out another choice, another path until you allow me back onto my pack lands.”
“Why?”
“Because it will do two things. Give Vince some security that I hate you. He won’t trust me if we are still close. And I need him to trust me enough to allow me close.”
Rowan nodded. “It’s one reason your father, and I created space.” I nodded. I figured it was a part of the truth, but it didn’t hurt any less. “The second thing?”
