Villeneuve keeps smiling while Rowan bristles. "My pleasure."
Rowan is dead silent on our way out of Villeneuve's mansion, but I know the moment we make it past the wards, the others are going to ambush us. I can already feel them watching.
And I canseeSean. He's up in a fucking tree for some reason, like he thinks he's Tarzan. And the tree is leaning precariously. How did he even get up there?
"Just say it," I tell Rowan, sighing.
"Killian is going to lose his mind," Rowan says flatly without wasting a moment. "Villeneuve in ourterritory? At a ritual that willdetermine the future of our pack? It's a security nightmare."
"I know."
"We don't even know what he is."
"I know that too."
"And yet you invited him anyway," Rowan says, his voice tight with frustration. "You even left your grimoire with him."
I'm surprised he's picked up on what a big deal that is. Most shifters don't bother learning more than absolutely necessary about magic, and honestly, it goes both ways.
"What choice did I have?" I stop walking, forcing him to face me. "We need that ritual to work, Rowan. Not just for me, but for all of you. Unless you want to get expelled from Stormvale for failing to secure a Bonded?"
He drags a hand through his hair, a gesture I'm starting to recognize as his version of Sean's more dramatic displays of frustration. "But that's not even close to my first priority right now. I'm not saying your decision was wrong," he admits. "Just that it's going to create complications."
"Killian will have to deal with it," I say firmly. "If he wants this bond to happen, he'll have to accept that Villeneuve is part of the package."
Rowan studies me, his dark eyes unreadable. "You're good for him, you know," he says finally. "For all of us."
The words catch me off guard. "What do you mean?"
"Killian's used to getting his way. We all are, to some extent. Alpha shifters aren't exactly known for compromise." A small smile tugs at his lips. "Having someone who stands their ground, who makes decisions based on what's right rather than what's easy… that's something our pack has always needed."
I don't know what to say to that. It's one of the nicest things I've ever heard, and it's coming from the wolf I'd least expect to be sentimental.
"Let's just hope that standing my ground doesn't get us all turned into toads," I mutter, resuming our walk.
Rowan falls into step beside me. "At least we'd be toads together."
Despite everything, I find myself laughing a little.
My foot hasn't even hit the other side of the ward before a man-shaped missile barrels into my side and strong arms wrap around me, lifting me off the ground. "Bout fucking time!" Sean howls, squeezing me so tight I can't breathe, even though I'm pretty sure he's trying to be gentle. "We thought Villeneuve fed you to his goblin pit."
"Villeneuve has agoblin pit?" I choke out, fighting to breathe while instinctively melting a little bit into his warm embrace. "I didn't even think goblins were real."
"They're not," Rowan says flatly. "Try telling that to Sean."
"Isawone, man," he protests, finally setting me down without letting me go. "It looked me in the eye and stole my fucking socks."
"Witches need to breathe, Sean," Killian says firmly, appearing through the trees with Micah not far behind.
"Oh, right." Sean grins sheepishly and loosens his grip. "Sorry."
"I'm fine," I say with a laugh, looking over at the others. "But I have some bad news."
"What did he do?" Killian snarls, pushing Sean aside to grab me, his huge hands engulfing my shoulders as he looks me over for any sign of injury. "Did that freak put his hands on you?"
"No," I say immediately. "Villeneuve was nothing but a gentleman, as always."
Killian grimaces doubtfully, but he seems to accept it. Then he looks down at my empty hands. "Where are your books?"
