“I might be the friendliest of Lords, but it does not mean I’m weak.”
“Rowan, I didn’t mean to imply anything of the sort.”
An uncomfortable silence fell between us. “You know, don’t you?” I might be safe, but for how long? With Rowan’s knowledge, he could make life extremely difficult for me, no matter where I went. But who was I kidding? After my stunt in the town square, word had probably already spread like wildfire. It was only a matter of time before all the other Lords knew my secret, too.
“I’ve suspected for a while and waited for you to trust me enough to tell me yourself.” This smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I have to admit, I got the surprise of a lifetime when I pulled into downtown and saw a beast the size of a two-story house walking through town.”
He snorted. “No.Twobeasts. It looked like something from a Halloween movie marathon.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t want you to think any differently about me.”
“So, a Chimera.” He scrubbed his hand over his jaw. “I assume there’s a story there.”
When I stayed silent, Rowan nodded. “Ah. Okay. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
“I can leave. You don’t have to—” I set the mug down on the small table and went to swing my feet over the edge of the bed when Rowan stood and put a warm hand on my thigh.
I stilled.
“Stay.” His eyes beseeched me. “I won’t promise to protect you because I know you don’t need my help, but I will stand by your side for as long as you need.”
I swallowed hard. “Things are different now. Everyone will know what I am. I wouldn’t want any harm to come down onto you for harboring me.”
Another faint smile. “I don’t care.”
My eyes squeezed shut as relief and worry roared through my veins. “You should. I’m a Chimera. My blood is tainted. I’ll never?—”
Rowan cut me off. “What did you say?”
I blinked. “I’m a Chimera?—”
“No. Tainted? Who said that to you?”
Caelan. I’d forgotten about Caelan being wounded. I hadn’t even thought about him when I’d woken up. Even though there was an ache inside me where his presence had rested, the thought didn’t bother me as much as it should have. Something to think about later when I could make more sense of everything.
Rowan’s jaw tightened. “That sonofabitch.”
“No. It’s okay. He’s right.” The words held a sound of defeat I’d never heard myself utter before.
Gold rolled over Rowan’s eyes. “Evie,” he breathed. “No one, no matter how powerful they perceive themselves to be, has the right to say that to you. You are perfect exactly as you are.”
Tears burned the backs of my eyes. “But what about my children?”
Rowan lowered his head and took a deep breath. His frame trembled with rage. When he looked at me once more, his hazel irises burned with power. “They will be as wonderful as you are.”
Rowan’s hand still gripped my thigh. I laid my hand over his, soaking in his warmth and power. “Thank you.”
We stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment until he pulled away and stood. “You have free rein of my territory. The Keep rests on fifteen hundred acres.”
I gaped at him.
“There are orchards and gardens all maintained by me and a small staff. You’re in the greenhouse which is attached to my main residence. I do not keep a regular staff, but there is a chef who comes in three times a week, and a cleaner who comes once a week. The fridge is stocked, but if there’s something specific you want, please tell me and I will make sure you have it.”
He opened his mouth to continue.
I interrupted before he could say anything else. “Rowan.”
The Lord stopped talking, a faint blush of color on his cheeks. “Yes?”
I touched my hand to my heart. “Thank you. I won’t stay too long. Just enough for the furor to die down. Then I’ll get out of your hair and figure out my next steps.”
Gold rolled over his irises once more. “Evie, you are welcome to stay forever if you wish to.”
Without waiting for a response, he turned and left me alone in his greenhouse. He didn’t push for answers, didn’t pepper me with questions. Rowan simply took me out of danger, put me in a safe place, let me rest, and brought me wonderful hot coffee when I woke up. I stared at the doorway for a long time before I let out a long, slow breath and tried to calm my panicked mind.
Oh man. I might be inserioustrouble.
