What was more, people confounded her. She didn't always understand why they did the things they did.
Still, none of these were reason enough to provoke that level of hostility from Covath. He didn't even know her.
"If you had told me of your interest, I would have been happy to facilitate a meeting." Ajari's smile held an edge Eva recognized. It was the smile Ajari gave those humans he found obnoxious. Half ridicule and half vicious.
Roscoe and Ghost paid rapt attention to the brewing drama.
Caden and Eva shared a look, his questioning, hers baffled. He tilted his head toward the two in a gesture meant to prod her to interfere.
Eva gave him big eyes. Was he crazy? Why would she throw herself voluntarily into that fire?
Caden's grin was wolfish as he bent down to her ear. "I take care of the humans. You the mythologicals, remember?"
Eva mouthed a curse. How had he found out what she said to Jason?
She glared as he straightened. This was a low blow, and he knew it. Unfortunately, his smile said he didn't care.
Making an angry sound in the back of her throat, Eva focused on the Tenrin with a feeling of dread. She really didn't want to get in the middle of a fight between siblings.
All she had for a reference point were the fights she used to have with Elis. Those had been knockdown, drag out battles and had a tendency to savage anyone stupid enough to interfere.
Sadly, Caden was right. She didn't have the luxury of letting them tangle. Not with so many eyes on them. Human—and Kyren.
Searching for inspiration—or a way to escape her fate—Eva's gaze dropped to the motionless objects at their feet.
She blinked. Were those—
No. They couldn't be.
One of the objects moaned.
Damn. She was right. The Tenrin had thrown a pair of bodies at the Trateri’s feet. Live ones.
Eva raised a hand. "Not to interrupt this sibling spat, but could you explain why you tossed those two on the ground like a sack of unwanted clothes?"
That had been polite, right?
Then again, maybe not, considering the way Covath and Ajari locked on her.
Eva kept her expression bland. Not an easy task considering their predatory glares.
Honestly, she felt a little bit like the mouse they referred to humans as. A little wary but faking a bravado that could disappear at any moment.
Another moan came from one of the bundles.
Van frowned, finally figuring out what Eva had already realized. Fury grew on more than one face as they put together the clues.
"You don't recognize them?" Covath asked.
The sly teasing in his tone, so similar to Ajari's, was a warning.
It made Eva pause. She took one more look at the bundles, noting the battered faces as the men glared at their surroundings. What really caught Eva's attention were their clothes.
The shirt and pants were made from a low quality fabric, the cut simple. Nothing like the more complicated construction the Trateri favored. They also weren't wearing warm weather gear, a necessity for the mountains.
If Eva had to guess, she'd say they were Lowlander. Maybe a Highlander from the more southern parts, but Eva doubted it.
"Should I?"
