“Work for?” He laughed. “Olegev Holdings, I guess. I’m the CEO.”
I slid down my sunglasses. “Oh, I’m sorry!” I gave him a closer look, wondering if there were male witches. “I’m a friend of Zara’s, actually.”
He looked at me in surprise. “Wait, are you Willow?”
I smiled and nodded.
He laughed in a way that made his smile even more adorable. “You’re not going to believe this, but you stood me up for a date.”
My jaw dropped. “Wait. You’re—”
“Alexei.”
Zara’s cousin, who I was supposed to go out with but whose call I never returned. I hadn’t even checked the message. He must have asked me out for a date, and I hadn’t known. “I’m so sorry!” I gasped. “It was a mistake!”
He just laughed. “I guess it’s fate for our paths to cross here. Are you going to run out on me now?”
“No.” I smiled.
I heard someone clear their throat behind my back. I peeked over my seat and saw Severn standing there, frowning at us. I swung my legs around quickly.
“Willow,” he commanded. “Take the children to the cottage immediately. It’s time for their supper.”
Alexei frowned like he didn’t approve of Severn’s tone, but I just shrugged and herded the kids out of the pool. We dried off and walked back to the cottage, where I managed to get them to shower and then fed them, and after playing some board games, put them to sleep.
Once they had finally fallen asleep, I found Severn in the kitchen, typing on his phone.
“You didn’t have to be so rude back at the pool,” I said.
He put down his phone, ignoring my comment, as he informed me, “There are alarming rumors circulating among the retreat that someone might be trying to organize the shifters. I don’t trust that everyone here is an ally. I want you to stay at the cottage with Henry and May for the remainder of the retreat.”
“What about Zara?”
“The witch? Or is it hercousinyou’re interested in?”
“I just met that guy this evening!”
“It sounded like you had history. If you’re involved with someone, you should report it to me.”
I rested my hands on my hips. There was no reason my employer needed to know about my love life. “You need to respect my privacy, Severn, or one of these days I’m going to quit.”
A flash of uncertainty passed over his face.
“Or did you forget that Icanquit whenever I want?” I asked.
“I didn’t forget.” His voice was deep. He moved a step closer, intimidatingly. “I never forget, not for a second, that you are the one person I can’t make do anything.” He practically hissed the words. “If you were one of my subjects, I would forbid you from speaking with that warlock again. I would forbid you from speaking toanyother Gifted male. You don’t need to be thinking about a romantic relationship right now. Your focus should be on your work.”
I tipped my chin up. “I’ll talk to who I want to.”
His nostrils flared. His eyes darkened, and I thought of him at Locke’s party, his pupils dilated and heavy with lust. “Don’t test me, Willow.”
“You can’t do anything to me. Fire me? What about Henry and May?” I motioned in the direction of their bedrooms, where they were sleeping.
His forearms were flexing beneath his rolled-up shirt sleeves. “You are impossible.” His breath was shallow. “I’m just trying to keep you safe.”
“You’re trying to control me, and you hate that you can’t.”
“I do,” he muttered, moving even closer as his voice dropped dangerously. “I want you to obey me. I want to forbid you from ever speaking to any man who looks at you the way that warlock did.” He moved closer again, and I backed up, but this time I was against the kitchen wall. He pressed his hands on either side of my head, blocking me in. “I want to forbid you from ever leaving.”
