Eva gave Caden a warning look when he opened his mouth to argue.
"I have to take Caia back anyway."
The mare lifted her head from where she'd been investigating the wreckage of Eva's tent. There was an almost surprised expression on her face, as if she'd hoped no one would notice the hundreds of pounds of horse flesh standing right beside them.
Caden's face wasn't happy. In fact, it was perilously close to grumpy. An emotion not often associated with her stoic commander.
To her surprise, he didn't argue. "Very well."
His nod was short before he stalked after Jane and Drake.
Van lingered, his face holding a surprisingly astute expression. He shot Gawain a glance. "Coming?"
"You couldn't keep me from this." Gawain strode after Caden.
"I'd think after your experience with Caden's brand of interrogation you'd want to stay as far away as possible," Van called.
Gawain's shoulders bunched, but he didn't turn around, ignoring Lion Clan's leader as the other man sauntered in his wake.
Fiona lifted her eyebrows at Roscoe and Ghost. "Choose."
Eva glanced between them. "What are they choosing?"
"They know," Fiona said, not looking away from her men.
"It's your turn. I went last time," Roscoe said.
Ghost folded his arms over his chest and sneered. "No dice. I paid you back by taking your place to watch over the camp."
Understanding dawned and Eva rolled her eyes. "You're talking about who gets to stay behind with me."
The men gazed at Eva with identical looks of stupid before resuming their conversation as if nothing had happened.
"I still say you do it," Roscoe drawled. "I haven't sat in on a good torture session in weeks."
"I'll be fine." Eva waved her hands at Polaris. "There's a Kyren right here."
"No offense." Fiona shot a not-quite apologetic look that was much too frank to be in the realm of true apology at Polaris. "But we don't trust the Kyren any more than they do us. She's important to the Trateri and me personally."
Polaris's ears tilted forward. If he took offense, he was holding those feelings close. Eva couldn't catch even a hint of his emotions.
Ignoring the Kyren, Fiona pinned Eva with a stare. "If you're going out to the herd, you're taking one of them with you. I've already lost one friend. Don't make me lose another."
When Fiona put it like that, how could Eva say no?
She lifted a hand to show she wouldn't interfere.
"We could do it," Buck offered as he and Witt joined them.
Roscoe scoffed. "Thanks, but we've got it."
"What? You don't trust me?" Buck's grin was teasing as he sauntered away, saying over his shoulder. "I'm hurt."
Witt gave Eva a respectful nod before following his companion.
I am leaving as well. Don't forget we are watching you.
"Not much chance of that when you remind me every other minute," Eva muttered as Polaris spread his wings and took flight.
