“A vote,” I echoed. “They willingly allowed a Chimera into your territory?”
“A Chimera who’s been a model citizen and a business owner for almost a decade. A Chimera who defended another Lord’s Keep. A Chimera who ripped territory from another Lord who failed in his leadership duties.”
“You make me sound like a hero,” I said with a laugh.
“A fae queen who stood up against a god and defeated him to save her home,” Rowan said quietly.
Nothing he said was false, but he made me sound so noble. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. “You know I just wanted to be left alone, right? None of this would have happened if I’d stayed in my little corner of town.”
Rowan barked a laugh. “Mess with the bull and you get the horns?”
I sent him a wry look. “Pretty much.”
“If you decide to stay, maybe you can have a peaceful life once more.”
I thought peace had passed me by the moment I decided to save a Shifter Lord’s life. “Maybe.” The thought was certainly nice, wasn’t it?
We stoppedin a small town bordering Coeur d’Alene, a stunning city with views to die for. I needed complete privacy for what I was about to do, so Rowan pulled off onto a side road I hadn’t even noticed until he was in motion and drove up a steep gravel road until the path ended.
I grabbed my pack, jacket, hat, and gloves and was about to open the door when Rowan popped up and let me out.
“Thanks.” I slid out and hissed as the cold air hit me. “Shit. It’s freezing here.”
Rowan glanced at me with concern as he adjusted his pack around his neck. “You normally aren’t so sensitive to temperature. Is everything alright?”
“I think it’s the tattoo. Maybe it was helping me a lot more than I thought.”
He helped me into my jacket and watched me put on my hat and gloves. Lips pressed tight, he looked away and up the steep and narrow path. “We have to head in about two miles. Will you be alright?”
I scoffed. “I can just shift into a bird and fly.”
Rowan’s lips twitched. “Forgot about that.” He shrugged. “Or I could shift, and you can climb on my back.”
“You want me to ride you?” I regretted the words as soon as I said them.
His eyes sparkled. “A red-blooded male will never say no to a good ride from a woman like you.”
“Shut up,” I said with a laugh. “You let me walk right into that!”
He laid a hand over his heart. “I would never be so crass.”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course not.”
“Whaddya say, Evie? Ever rode on the back of a grizzly?”
I shouldn’t. Ireallyshouldn’t. But I was tired and heartsore, and the magic leached into my bones, dragging me down. I needed to get it out and rest, in more ways than one.
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Live a little. I’mverywarm.”
Damn it. I was tempted. Too tempted.
“I can see that brain of yours working overtime,” he chided, his eyes softening. “You’re safe with me. We’re still inside the boundaries of my territory, and I am its Lord. No one will harm you.”
“I’m more worried about you dropping me,” I grumbled, uncomfortable with his kindness.
He clicked his tongue. “Have you seen me? I’m positively massive.”
“Arrogant ass,” I muttered.
