There was a reason many Lowlanders saw the Trateri as emotionless killers, and that expression right there was a big part of it.
They had a habit of separating people into two groups. Us—and them.
For those who were considered "us", their actions were similar to that of Ghost and Roscoe. Playful, a little rough but overall coming from a good place. They had a camaraderie that had drawn even someone as damaged as Eva out of her shell. Made her think that a place among them wouldn't be so bad.
Those who fell into the second group weren't so lucky. They were treated to an impartial coldness far chillier than any Highland winter.
It was a look Eva never thought she'd see aimed at their own. It told her how seriously Caden and the rest treated this.
Eva didn't have any time to consider the ramifications of that before the three's arrival. To her surprise, they were all people she recognized, if only from a distance.
What were clan leaders doing out here?
Eva's expression was pensive as she shot a look from them to Caden.
He stilled, the atmosphere around him turning almost scary.
Eva had come to know many of the faces of her lover over the last few weeks. Despite his reputation as cold and unfeeling, she'd discovered he was so much more—from playful, to seductive, to amused.
However, this was one that had been missing since their arrival in the valley.
It was the look he got when he was considering an unexpected obstacle—or someone he thought he might have to kill.
Eva's frown deepened as she peered at the trio, not liking the lengths Caden might be forced to go to keep this alliance.
The pathfinder with them was the first to breech the silence, offering his hand to Caden with a wry smile.
"I'm sure this isn't what you were expecting," Reece said.
Roscoe and Ghost made a derisive sound, not hiding their sneers.
Reece ignored them, aiming eyes that reminded Eva of high mountain glaciers at her and Caden. The blue so faint and unique you could search a lifetime and not find it in nature.
Like his cousin Shea, Reece was a pathfinder, tasked with connecting the isolated villages of the Highlands to the rest of the world. A thankless job even under the best of circumstances.
Reece had always struck her as honorable—irritated with the idiocy of those around him, but mostly possessing a good heart.
It was why it didn't make sense to Eva that he'd shown up here, dragging the clan leaders of Lion and Rain in his wake. He knew what was at stake, the conditions they'd agreed to in order for Eva to have company in this isolated place. He was aware of what would happen if they broke those rules
"You better have a good excuse for why you showed up here dragging a bunch of dead weight," Caden rumbled.
"Come now, Anateri. You'll hurt my feelings. I'll think you don't like me," the biggest of the three said.
A half smile tugged at the man’s lips, an expression Eva suspected was simply a mask that hid the extent of his ruthlessness from outsiders.
The man's distinctive shoulder length hair looked like someone had caught the sun and poured its essence into its strands. Its color proclaimed his identity as Lion Clan's leader.
Van's gaze slid over Eva before returning to Caden, dismissing her like so many others had.
"You'll live," Caden said. "What I'm more interested in knowing is why you're here when I know Fallon has made this place and the Kyren off limits."
Eva looked beyond Van and Reece to the last man. He stood slightly to their rear, his hands loose at his sides as he studied the rest of them.
Noticing Eva's gaze, the man cocked an eyebrow at her but remained silent, content to be overshadowed by Van.
He was different than the stories she'd heard. Rumor had it, Rain Clan's leader, Gawain, was a petty man. Rash to the point of stupidity. A man jealous of the successes of his foster brother Fallon.
Yet Eva couldn't see any evidence of those descriptions in the man standing before her.
