"You know, for someone who's supposed to be the reasonable one, you're really on edge," I point out.
Rowan's mouth quirks. "Reasonable doesn't mean I like this situation. Just means I can control my dislike better than the others."
"What is it about him that bothers you all so much?"
"Besides the fact that he's ancient, unidentifiable, and powerful enough to paralyze four alpha wolves with a single word?" Rowan asks dryly. "Not much."
"Fair point," I concede.
We reach the invisible barrier of Villeneuve's wards, and Rowan stops. He carefully tests the edge with his hand, his expression tightening when he meets resistance.
"I'll go on ahead and ask him to let you in," I say.
Rowan nods, clearly unhappy but resigned. "I'll be right here."
I walk through the barrier, the magic washing over me like stepping through a waterfall. But before I can reach the door, it swings open to reveal Villeneuve himself, dressed as impeccably as ever in a tailored suit despite the early hour.
He looks like a fucking model.
I'm suddenly feeling slightly underdressed.
I have to admit, as detached as I am toward men in general, Villeneuveisbeautiful. Suspiciously beautiful, even. High cheekbones, inky dark eyes, chiseled jaw. His suit fits like it cost more than my entire wardrobe, past and present combined.
His entire aesthetic does give vampire vibes. He doesn't seem like a shifter at all.
But today, Villeneuve looks... not quite himself. There's a pallor beneath his usual composure, faint shadows under his eyes that his impeccable appearance can't hide. If I didn't know better, I'd say he just woke up.
"Ms. Cook." He recovers quickly, but I catch the slight delay before his usual smoothness kicks in. "What an unexpected pleasure." He looks past me at Rowan, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "And you brought a guard dog. How charming."
Behind me, I hear Rowan growl low in his throat.
"We were hoping to speak with you," I say, choosing to ignore the jab. "May we come in? Both of us?"
Villeneuve studies Rowan, his expression unreadable. Then he makes a subtle gesture with his hand, and I feel the wards shift and ripple.
"Your wolf may enter," he says. "Temporarily."
It's the third act of magic I've seen him directly perform, the first being when he pulled me to his side during the confrontation with Kyle, and the second being when he froze both the pack and the coven in place like it was nothing. I file this away as further evidence that he's not what he claims to be. Normal shifters can't manipulate magic that way. And neither can vampires.
Hell, his affinity for magic is pushing it for every magical species I'm aware of.
Rowan crosses the invisible boundary cautiously, his body tense as if expecting pain. When nothing happens, he relaxes marginally and moves to my side.
"Psst," I hear someone whisper from the trees behind us. I glance in the direction of the sound and see Sean's head and shoulders poking out of a large bush. He points to Villeneuve, brings his knee up like he's kneeing an invisible man in the balls, and then gives me a thumbs up and a grin before disappearing back into the brush.
Villeneuve stares at him with a masterfully blank expression.
"Subtle," Rowan mutters, scrubbing a hand over his face.
"Thank you for seeing us," I say with an apologetic smile as Villeneuve leads us inside.
"I confess to curiosity," he replies, guiding us through the now-familiar hallways to the same parlor where I first spoke with him. "You seemed quite determined to join your wolves the last time we spoke. Having second thoughts already?"
"No," I say firmly. "Actually, that's why we're here. About the Bonding ceremony."
"Fascinating." He gestures toward the sitting area. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. Would you care for tea?"
"Tea would be great," I say, knowing it's best to observe the niceties. "Thank you."
