“Ah.” Thomas crossed his legs. “He is rather protective of her.”
I glared at the three of them. “Excuse me—still in the room.”
Liam covered his smile, looking away.
I eyed the drink in Thomas’s hands, wishing I had one. Maybe not bourbon or Scotch or whatever it was they were drinking but something.
“What’s the big deal about Vegas anyways?” I asked grumpily.
“The council is here.” Ice clinked in Liam’s glass as he tapped one finger against the rim. “We have no idea why.”
“Given your recent absences of late, I’m surprised you’re aware of that fact,” Thomas said.
My eyebrows climbed. Definitely a few hard feelings there.
Liam’s face was calm as he addressed Thomas. “You can have no complaints. I’ve made sure to keep abreast of the situation during my sabbatical.”
“Ah, yes. Your enforcers. I can’t tell you how pleased it makes me to know they come running to you with everything.”
“Is there a problem,deartháir?”
A tense silence fell as they glared at each other.
“Shouldn’t you guys have gotten an invitation?” I asked.
I might not be sure exactly what was going on, but I had a feeling I didn’t want to be present for whatever fight was about to go down.
“You’re the head of the council, aren’t you?” I asked Ahrun. “How could they hold a meeting without you present?”
I may not have been an expert, but even I knew that.
“A most excellent observation, my dear,” Ahrun praised.
Oh goody. The annoying ancient approved.
“Would either of my boys like to educate our youngest?”
Reluctantly, Thomas withdrew his gaze from Liam. “They’re claiming it’s a coincidence they’re all here in this city at the same time.”
“That’s a mighty big coincidence.”
Did they think Ahrun and the others were that dumb?
Hearing my thought, Ahrun smiled, the utter lack of emotion in his expression. “It would seem so.”
I gave him an irritated look.I told you to stay out of my head.
Immediately after sending that thought to him, I added trees and boulders to the forest I used as my mental defense. Not thatit was likely to do anything. Ahrun seemed to have no problem subverting even my best attempt at safeguarding my mind.
“Given this city’s status as neutral territory and how people travel from all over to visit, it’s a difficult claim to disprove,” Ahrun explained.
“How did you figure out they were all going to be here?” I asked.
Dumb question.
“Let me guess. More spying.”
“Don’t you prefer to call it surveillance,” Ahrun murmured.
