"You going to let a woman play your strings like that?" Vincent asked, his smirk vicious as his gaze moved between the two of them.
Eva was quiet, waiting to see how Ajari would respond.
"Why wouldn't I?" Ajari asked. "Her iron hand is wrapped with velvet and I find I have no need for freedom quite yet."
Vincent paused, his expression confused before his gaze shifted to Eva. "Is this what you've been reduced to? Sleeping with monsters?"
"Why is it when some men are faced with a woman in power, they always assume she's slept her way to the top?" Eva asked coldly. She didn't care what these men and their little minds thought. "You should be thankful I stopped him and be on your way."
Vincent didn't want to go. That much was obvious, more so, because it was a woman telling him to. A Lowland woman who should know her place.
She could see the refusal on his face and braced. Ajari dropped the pretense of cleaning his claws as he prepared to attack.
"You heard her, move along," Caden ordered.
For several seconds, none of the men moved. Caden took a threatening step toward them, eyes calm as his hand dropped to his waist and the sword there. It was all the incentive they needed. Vincent backed away, chancing one last glance at Eva.
"We're not done with this," he threatened.
"You are if you want to remain among the breathing." Caden stepped toward him. "You don't look at her. You don't talk to her. Test me on this and we're going to have a problem."
Vincent stalked away, his companions trailing behind.
The only one to remain was Kent.
Caden arched an eyebrow at him. "Was I not clear?"
"Yes, sir," Kent said, hesitating and casting a pleading glance up at Eva. When she frowned in confusion, his shoulders slumped before he too, slunk away.
"It is important to keep the rodent population down," Ajari instructed in a low voice. "Otherwise, they can unite and go for your throat."
Eva's sigh was filled with exasperation. "It's a wonder sometimes that we have any alliance with your people given the way you refer to us."
Ajari hummed. "You persist in seeing us as human. We're not. It's best if you remember that."
"And yet whenever I start to treat you as a beast, you're quick to remind me you’re more," she returned.
"The Flock is a contrary race," Ajari shrugged. "Our answers change based on our whims."
“I thought you were called the Tenrin.”
Ajari’s lips curled. “That is a term outsider’s have chosen to call us through the ages. To our kind, we are simply the Flock.”
Eva's eyes narrowed as she prepared to ask another question. Sebastian shifted under her, nearly dumping her to the ground. Ajari took advantage of her distraction and hopped down, following slowly in the throwaways’ footsteps.
"That's going to be a problem later," Eva said softly.
"Yes, but it won't be your problem," Caden agreed, drawing her attention.
Eva was mildly surprised he hadn't already moved off. That seemed to be his preferred method of doing things. Appear, issue a decree, then disappear before anyone could argue.
"Steer clear of the Lowlanders," Caden ordered. "They're resentful of their lot in life."
"Because the Trateri took them from their homes and now treat them like second-class citizens," Eva pointed out.
Caden made a small motion of agreement. "They have reason for their resentment, but it makes it powerful, nonetheless. You're an easy target."
"You could let them go home," Eva said.
