Roscoe and Ghost's argument fell silent as they took in the Kyren's passage.
Roscoe was the first to cave. "Fine, I'll go with her. But you owe me."
Ghost clapped him on the shoulder and hurried away before he could change his mind.
"You two make it seem like I'm a burden or something," Eva remarked.
"It's more that neither of us have gotten to see the commander break someone. It's a good opportunity to learn new skills."
Eva didn't know how to respond, so she turned her attention to Caia.
"Well, my dear, have enough fun for the night?"
Caia snorted, letting Eva take hold of the halter and guide her to the field where Ollie and Jason were probably waiting.
"We need to have a talk about your propensity for attacking creatures much more dangerous than yourself," Eva told the mare.
Wouldn't it be nice if something as simple as that would solve all her problems?
twelve
CadenshadowedtheAnateriand their two prisoners, ignoring the clan leaders following him.
Movement in the darkness caught his attention. Caden's lips curved. It seemed Covath wasn't as sanguine about giving up his prisoners as he pretended.
Caden would bet anything he owned that Tenrin surrounded them, ready to report back regarding Caden's actions.
That was alright. Let them watch.
This would be a good lesson for them in what happened to the Trateri's enemies.
Caden didn't plan to hide his brutality nor was he concerned about what his actions might reveal.
He was what he was. A killer.
Their allies would either accept that fact or they wouldn't. Caden couldn't change who he was.
He could try. For Eva, he would. But he knew himself and this world. He could only pretend to be a bunny for so long before his fangs and claws wet themselves in blood.
If he was destined to fail, why go through the trouble?
Besides, the Kyren and Tenrin had their own dark sides. In that way, they were more similar to Caden than Eva. Maybe that was why they were all so drawn to his herd mistress.
She had a light inside of her that made beings like them want to bask in its glow.
Possess it for their own.
It was his job to make sure no one ever got the chance to damage that light.
And he always accomplished his mission.
"Anyone ever tell you, you're a bit scary when you get that look in your eyes." Van smacked his lips in dissatisfaction when Caden continued to ignore him. "I'm surprised to find you so eager to take up this role. I would have thought you’d want to keep this side of yourself from the pretty herd mistress."
Caden could feel Gawain's sharp gaze on him, even as the other man was careful to keep his presence low-key. Fallon's foster brother had grown smarter since he was arrested under suspicion of trying to assassinate the Warlord.
If he wasn't still a threat to Fallon's rule, Caden might even find himself liking the other man.
"Is it because you're bored of playing the noble hero?" Van mused, undeterred by Caden's silence. "I imagine for a man like you it's hard to resist getting your hands dirty."
