“Your response to my fiancée was to fire back and insult both of us. I am well equipped to choose my own bride, no matter what you might think of her blood.”
“Evie is royalty,” Simone said quietly.
Evie’s attention snapped to my Omega, her eyes burning with anger.
Simone gave her a sympathetic look and shrugged in apology. “She should know who you are so she knows how to behave around you.”
Evie shook her head. “Someone like her will never check her behavior because no one has ever held her accountable for a single thing in her life.”
Rachel opened her mouth.
“Do not say a word,” I commanded, sending Simone a withering glare. “Evie is royalty and holds high standing in myhome. Even if she did not hold the position she does in the fae court, she would still be welcome in my Keep. Who I date or do not date is none of your concern, and if you bring it up one more time, I will personally have you escorted off my land, your father be damned.”
Rachel dropped her eyes but not before I saw two pink spots of fury appear high on her cheekbones. “Of course. My apologies, Caelan.”
I waited for the other shoe to drop, but she kept her mouth shut, seemingly cowed.
If she really was, this was only temporary. I squeezed Evie’s hand one more time and rose, tugging her up to stand beside me. Rachel’s lips tightened when I slid my arm around her waist. “I trust you can find your own way back to your quarters,” I said to her. “If not, Simone or Garrett can show you the way.”
Garrett bared his teeth, and Simone stared at Rachel, death glimmering in her eyes.
Evie huffed a laugh.
Rachel did not respond, only stared with a sullen expression.
“Good.” I nodded and led Evie away from the dining area.
Chapter
Nine
The urge to strangle Rachel with a pothos vine stayed with me for the entire walk to Caelan’s study. His soft laugh told me he knew exactly how I was feeling.
This felt different than Gianna. The swan shifter hadn’t wanted Caelan. She only wanted his power. This woman…I think she wanted both, and that was enough to send a burning thread of fear into my heart.
When the doors shut and Caelan pulled me against his chest, I melted into him and sighed. “She’s awful.”
“I’m well aware,” he murmured.
The rhythmic thump of ceramic on wood made me smile. I pulled away from him and held my arms out, waiting for Seymour to launch himself from the edge of the desk.
His traps opened wide as he sailed through the air. I laughed and caught him, hugging him close when he landed in the circle of my arms. “Hey.”
Seymour bumped me with his main trap and made an odd clicking noise.
I grinned and held him out at arm’s length, studying the way his roots tumbled over the edge of his pot. “Hmm. You need a bigger pot again.”
Seymour waved his traps at me.
“Maybe Caelan will let you come home with me. You can hang out in the greenhouse while I work.”
“I’m sure we can arrange a visit,” he rumbled.
Caelan reached over and plucked Seymour from my hands. “It’s getting late. You need to go to bed. Evie and I have a lot to talk about.”
That clicking noise turned annoyed.
Caelan chuckled and carried him over to a spot by the window. There was a mister, some fertilizer and?—
