Movement on the other end of the battlements drew her attention.
“Just great,” she muttered as three people came into view.
“What is it?” Trenton asked from behind her.
“Enemies.” She knew she didn’t have to say anything more than that. He’d understand.
He gave them a onceover, his gaze cool and assessing. “Want me to kill them for you?”
She sighed and straightened, not taking her eyes off the three as they approached. “It’s not that kind of battle.”
It’d be so much easier if it were.
She kept her expression neutral as they drew near.
Victoria led the way, her curls pulled tightly back from her face today. Although she was just a few years older than Lainey, she looked old before her time, her skin weathered and beaten, cheeks sagging, and her eyes sunken with bags under them. Bitterness had soured any beauty she might once have had.
The other two, Gerald and Eliza, had never been particularly hostile toward Shea, but they hadn’t been friendly either. Their presence would either make this upcoming encounter go smoothly or exacerbate it.
“Whatever you do, don’t react,” she cautioned Trenton.
He grunted.
That was all they had time for as the three reached them.
“Pathfinders,” Shea said in a cordial voice.
“How are you still breathing?” Victoria snapped.
The other two watched with blank, impassive gazes. Guess they weren’t going to help make this encounter pleasant after all.
Shea took a deep breath, counseling herself against showing anger. That would just encourage Victoria, losing her temper would show weakness that the other woman would definitely try to take advantage of.
“Victoria, it’s been a long time,” Shea said, her voice as stilted as her pent-up feelings.
“Not long enough,” Victoria said, her thin mouth made even thinner as it tightened. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Obviously someone disagrees,” Shea returned, politely.
Victoria snarled. “You’re the reason my son is dead. For that alone, your existence should have been ended.”
Trenton shifted at her side, his face darkening in a frown. He stepped forward. Shea’s hand snapped out to hold him back as she gave him a warning look.
Victoria’s eyes shifted to Trenton and then back to Shea as her mouth curled. “The only thing that saved your miserable hide is your mother’s position.” The smile she gave Shea was sadistic. “Not even she can save you this time.”
Shea arched one eyebrow, not letting the poison spewing from Victoria’s mouth fluster her. This woman had been a hero of hers at one time, now she was a bitter woman clinging to the past. “I have never needed my mother to save me.”
“Unlike some,” a strong voice said from behind Shea.
She turned to see Reece join them, his arctic blue eyes fixed on Victoria with a degree of dislike and loathing that was surprising in her normally laid-back, carefree cousin.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Victoria snapped.
“Just that Griffin was the man he was because of your shortcomings,” Reece returned.
“Reece,” Shea cautioned.
He flicked her a glance but didn’t stop. “Your son was a grown man, capable of making his own decisions. No one forced him on that mission, he chose it all on his own.”
