Rowan’s fingers tightened in my ruff as I took a step back.
“Leave,” Rowan commanded. “Do not return to my territory again. You know the laws as well as I do. If you come back here, you do so at your own peril.”
Caelan, defiant to the end, snorted with disgust.
“Do not mistake my youth for weakness,” Rowan said, his face stoic even in the face of Caelan’s derision. “I knew the moment you stepped onto my territory, and you are here at my own sufferance. You mean something to Evie, and Evie is important to me.”
We made our way back through Rowan’s wards, and when the wards reformed, we turned to face Caelan once more.
I was having trouble walking. Shifting like this so soon after the siphoning had gone so wrong was a mistake. But I would not collapse with Caelan watching.
“Go home,” Rowan said. “Evie will return in her own time.”
Caelan rose, dusting the dirt and grass from his clothing. He speared me with a golden-eyed look. “She returns in three days, or I’ll have her shop shut down.”
I froze, resisting the urge to leap forward and bite his face off.
“Do you really think in the face of everything, that will endear you to her?”
“She exists and thrives due to my influence. Imagine what will happen if I withdraw that support.” Caelan stuck his hands in his pockets. “Three days, Evie. Then we will talk without Rowan’s influence.”
I showed him my teeth.
Caelan smiled at me, rage glittering in his golden eyes. “There is much unsaid between us. Come home, Evangeline.”
He turned and walked away, eventually fading into the heavy layer of fog that lay over Rowan’s land.
Rowan exhaled. “I’m sorry, Evie.” He stroked an absent-minded hand over my fur. “Come. We have things to discuss as well.”
I took a step toward the house and swayed, bumping against Rowan’s thigh.
He bent and scooped me into his arms, chuckling as I swatted him with a massive paw. “Pretty little deadly kitty,” he cooed.
Rowan fetcheda robe and walked out of the kitchen to give me time to shift and dress. I’d just finished tying the sash in a knot when he knocked on the door frame, his face turned away.
“I’m decent.” Not that he hadn’t already seen me in all my glory more than once.
He strode in, a wary look on his face. Instead of asking me if I was alright, he went straight to one of the cabinets and pulled two rocks glasses down. “Want a drink?”
I sank into a kitchen chair. “Gods yes.”
He flashed a smile and poured us both a large glug of something strong and brown. I took the glass from his outstretched fingers and tossed the entire drink down in one swallow. Rowan poured me another and brought the bottle with him to the table.
“Funny how fast a buzz can wear off when trouble arrives.” He took the seat opposite and watched me, long fingers swirling the rim of his glass.
I didn’t want to talk about that. Not yet. “You shared something with me earlier.”
Our eyes met. “I did.”
“Is your mother still alive?”
He smiled. “She is. Mom is full fae.”
A bad feeling churned in my gut. “Where is she?”
“She lives in one of the other realms.”
“Rowan,” I breathed. “The bridge is gone.”
