Caden's eyes narrowed as he studied the mythological.
"Sebastian here, has told me a little of the events that have transpired. I suspect your Warlord and Battle Queen will be interested in his news."
Caden stepped aside and gestured toward the Keep. "My people and I will accompany you, then."
"What's the matter, human? Do you not trust me?"
"Not even as far as I can throw you."
"Then you are very wise." Ajari paused and considered Eva. "Your presence will be required as well."
Eva looked between the two men, trying to keep the look of horror off her face. "I don't think—"
"She has no need to be there," Caden said at the same time.
"She has every reason," Ajari countered. "There are things happening you have no hope of understanding. Her importance to the topic at hand cannot be dismissed."
Eva fought to remain still as all eyes turned toward her. Uncertainty filled her. She wanted a simple life filled with certainty—safety and boredom, because they went hand in hand.
This had all the hallmarks of excitement and danger. Two things she’d gone out of her way to avoid.
"I should really stay here to look after Sebastian," she started.
"I can do it," Jason volunteered, raising his hand.
Both Caden and Eva sent him equally disbelieving looks.
Jason was impervious, either not noticing or not caring. "What? I'm her apprentice. I'm perfectly qualified."
"Doubtful," Ajari said.
"You're not my apprentice. You're shadowing me while Hardwick and Ollie assess your skills," Eva corrected.
"The mythological isn’t a horse," Ollie pointed out. "No one is qualified because none of us have cared for his kind before."
"All the more reason to let me do it. She shouldn't get all the recognition just because she found him first," Jason argued.
Ollie gave Eva a commiserating look. "Go, I'll keep an eye on the newbie."
Eva still didn't like this, but it seemed there was little choice for now. She fixed Jason with a hard look. Even though she found him annoying, he had brought the mythological breakfast. As begrudgingly as possible, she said, "Thank you for bringing his food."
"I didn't do it for you," Jason said.
And just like that, her gratitude whisked away.
She bared her teeth in a smile that held a startling resemblance to the winged horse's when he was about to bite. "In that case, make yourself useful while I'm away and fetch more."
Jason heaved a heavy sigh but didn't argue. He might not have liked the order, but he wasn't going to pass up spending time with the Kyren.
Noticing Sebastian watching Jason with far too much interest for her comfort, she patted the winged horse on the neck.
"You're not to eat him." When he gave her a disappointed look, she added, "I mean it. I'll be very upset if I come back and there is a single tooth mark on either of them."
The mythological lifted one lip, as if to ask who did she think she was, ordering him about.
She gave him a hard stare, treating him like any other recalcitrant mount.
"If there are any problems, I'll be the one to handle them. Not you."
