“You speak highly of yourself, kin.”
Wade scowled and pointed at her. “Lay off. Riordan is with me.”
“He is kin. His people’s problems are not ours.”
“You’re all fae. Just because people call you lady doesn’t mean you’re better than them.”
“You forget your place,” Tadgh snapped.
Lady Caith’s eyes narrowed as she raised her hand in a gesture that had Tadgh staying put. She was pretty, Wade had to admit. Pretty in a cruel way. Definitely not someone he wanted to deal with beyond this not-so-friendly little talk, but he had a feeling that wouldn’t happen. Patrick’s kind of luck must have rubbed off on him before he left New York. In which case, Patrick could take it back any time now.
“I have it on good authority you got kicked out of the Seelie Court and Brigid hasn’t let you back in. Good on you for not throwing yourself in with Medb because wow, would that have been a dumb idea,” Wade said. Beside him, Riordan very politely palmed his face. Wade ignored him. “You didn’t fight with Brigid in the Battle of Samhain because you’re still pissed she won’t let you back home until you grovel. Which you won’t because you fae are all stubborn. So you took up space in Boston, which, honestly, I would want for the cannoli and clam chowder. Good choice. But now there’s some other fae creeping into yourterritory and making trouble. Niall wants this city, and if you think he won’t go through you to get it, then you really are dumber than even Medb was when she tried to throw down with Brigid.”
Lady Caith stared at him, never blinking. “You speak rather freely of our goddesses.”
“Your crappy hospitality offers aside, you’re a better host than Medb was.”
Riordan’s head snapped around to look at him. “You were taken to the Unseelie Court?”
“Patrick was taken. I tagged along.” It wasn’t his fault they’d gotten separated from the pack that one time, and he hadn’t been about to leave Patrick alone to make dumb decisions without backup. “He’s the one the gods favored. Even Brigid. But he’s stuck in DC right now; otherwise, he’d be here dealing with this mess, and trust me, you really don’t want that. Your city doesn’t want that. I’m the much better choice.”
Wade leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. For a few minutes, no one spoke, the garden quiet. What sounds he could hear came from within the house and the street beyond, but he could see the glitter of wards and glamour running along the property line if he squinted. He bet none of the others could hear the cars driving down the picturesque street they were on.
“You truly believe Niall would dare to strike against me?” Lady Caith finally asked.
Wade tilted his head in Riordan’s direction. “I’m betting you won’t step foot in the sea, so Niall went after the fae who does. Which means you’re the fae he would have to take down next to claim the rest of your people’s territory in Boston. He’s taken the alphas of the Boston god pack, and I don’t think I need to tell you how difficult doing something like that is. Taking them puts all the other packs at risk. I don’t know who else is a power playerin this city, but if there are any more, then they’d be targets as well.”
“The Faneuil Coven would be who he would need to eradicate if he wanted to break up the covens and set them at odds with each other. Their current high priestess is a mage who retired from the Mage Corps.”
“Anyone else?”
“Abhartach,” Riordan said.
Wade mouthed the name but didn’t try to pronounce it. “What’s that?”
“Not what. Who. He’s the master vampire of the Boston Night Court.”
Wade scowled. He absolutelyhatedvampires. It didn’t matter that these days, he could eat them and get rid of the problem in one easy bite. Wade would never find any redeeming qualities in them, no matter what Spencer said, because Spencer was always talking with his dick when he did. “Ugh, vampires. Why do they always have to be involved?”
“You have much history with them?” Lady Caith asked.
“You could say that.” He didn’t elaborate, letting her think whatever she wanted to fill in the gap. “So two fae, a mage, god pack alphas, and a master vampire. Anyone else?”
“None of the other communities who call Boston home have enough clout to be of any threat to our borders.”
Never let it be said the fae weren’t arrogant. “Do you know if the mage or master vampire are missing?”
“I would assume not.”
“Yeah, but you didn’t know Harper or Casey were missing or that Riordan’s clan had been targeted. You must’ve been treating Niall as a threat, though, if you were sending out patrols.” Wade let out a loud sigh. “I guess that means we have to make sure those other two are still in charge.”
The mage would be easy. Most magic users across the board were pretty friendly with his pack because of Patrick. With the Faneuil Coven being led by a mage from the Mage Corps, Wade figured it would be easy to knock on their door, get some answers, and hand out a warning if the high priestess was still around. If she wasn’t, it would be just another person he’d have to find.
It was the master vampire he didn’t want to deal with.
Lady Caith focused on Riordan. “Which skin did Niall steal?”
“You don’t have to answer that,” Wade said, doing his best impression of Sage.
