“We’re agents of the Summer King, employed to hunt down a traitor, killing us will only bring disaster down upon you and yours.”
Uncertainty flickered in his eyes. I was betting most spooks backed down when they realized who he worked for. Too bad for him I wasn’t exactly known for taking into account the consequences before I made my move.
“I don’t care who you work for. You’re standing on my land. Without a proper notification or clear evidence of your fugitive ever having been here.”
I was well within my rights to retaliate.
“You can’t plead ignorance either since you were there when the barrow lord and the master of the city agreed on the terms,” I said with a glance at the injured Fae.
He wasn’t looking so good. His skin had paled, his breathing growing more labored by the second.
I’d seen him around the barrow a time or two. He was one of Arlan’s guards. He should know better. Even if his friends didn’t.
“You know who I am,” I said, addressing him. “You know who my sire is.”
When Thomas learned about this, there would be war. If I ever informed him of what happened.
“You know what he’ll do to you if either of us are hurt.”
He’d turn the city upside down, hunting for the perpetrators. The streets would run red with the blood of the innocent and guilty alike.
The third Fae curled his lip in a sneer. “I doubt that. Everyone knows about the grudge between the master of the city and his yearlings.”
“Your information is old, friend. Otherwise, why would he have gifted me this territory and the house that sits on it.”
Suck on that.
All he had to do was ask around to confirm I wasn’t lying. Thomas had been quite high profile when he’d practically forced the house on me in front of a gathering of vampires.
The Fae who’d tried to challenge my assertion sent the wounded man a questioning look. There was a marked hesitation before Arlan’s guard nodded reluctantly.
Their leader’s features tightened. He must have realized how badly they’d overstepped. “In the interest of cooperation, we’d like to formally request passage through your territory for the purposes of hunting this traitor.”
“Request denied.”
“You just said—” the Fae argued.
“There’s nothing in the rules that say I have to grant you permission.” I gave them a hard smile. “You don’t get to break the rules and then try to use them to force my hand. Get off my property or we’ll dine on Fae blood tonight. I’m told it’s quite the delicacy. Isn’t that right, Connor?”
“It is a feast like no other,” Connor agreed, eying the Fae hungrily.
“We’ll go,” their leader declared, giving his friend a look that told him to cool it.
At least one of them had brains.
There was a standoff as the friend held his leader’s gaze before cursing and giving in. He stalked toward the wounded Fae, dragging the man’s arm over his shoulders before escorting him toward my property line.
The leader lingered long enough to deliver a warning. “We’ll be back tomorrow. You’d better hope we don’t find evidence of you harboring this traitor. Even your master won’t be powerful enough to protect you then.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I murmured as the Fae glided after his brethren.
I remained on guard long after the trees had swallowed him, my gun up and at the ready.
Connor’s head tilted, his expression intent as he listened. After a moment, he nodded, “They’re gone.”
I lowered my arms and holstered the gun with a feeling of relief. “For a moment there, I was afraid they’d call my bluff.”
Connor’s forehead furrowed as I stepped around him, heading in the direction I assumed the Fae had been going before he’d intercepted them. “You were lying.”
