The laugh was a release. The rest of my anger drained away, and with it came a realization. The man before me had walked a rough path. Splitting from his Lord, and losing his pack, to becoming the guardian of a reluctant fae queen, the wolf before me had risked it all to do what was right. “Garrett, would you consider becoming my Third?”
Surprise lit his face, followed by immediate wariness. “Is this how you earn my loyalty, Lord?”
I shook my head ruefully. “The decision is yours. Having you as my Third would be an honor, Garrett. You’ve served Evie well, and Caelan before her.”
At the mention of his former Lord’s name, Garrett grimaced. “It’s no easy decision leaving a Pack, but I could not serve a man who would treat someone he supposedly loved so horrifically. There were other factors, and I certainly had no love lost for Evie in the beginning, but there comes a time when a man must do right by himself and his honor or face his lack of courage in the mirror.”
I’d made the right choice. The position of Third had never been filled inside my Keep. Plenty wanted the role, but I was looking for someone who offered more than the minimum. The man sitting before me possessed all the qualities I wanted and needed in a Third.
“Serving a fae queen is interesting, but I do not know if any oath you offer me is binding since I’m already sworn to her.”
“You swore to protect the people she loves, correct?”
A small smile played over his lips. “I did.”
“Evie loves me. She loves this land. She loves my people. Our people now. Any binding you have with me would require the same.”
A ring of gold outlined his eyes. I nodded to myself. “You could be Lord one day, Garrett. Is that something you’d want?”
Garrett’s eyebrows flicked up. “I’ve never been offered the opportunity.”
“They offered it to that shit Dario.”
Garrett’s bark of laughter made me grin. “He was far too pretty to make it as a Lord.”
I leaned forward. “What if there was an opportunity to run a Keep. Would you want it?”
A silence fell over the room. “I don’t know that I would. A comfortable prison is still a prison.”
I wasn’t surprised by his words. “You’ve spent far too long in Caelan’s company. Speak to Evie. See what she thinks of my proposal. Get her blessing if need be. If she agrees, I’d like you to spend some time with Declan. He will show you what it means to be in a truly free Keep.”
Garrett inclined his head in a nod and rose. “I’ll bring your cup back later. Evie will find you when she’s ready, Lord. Don’t make me find you again.”
I snorted and waved him away.
As difficult as it was to admit, Garrett was right. Evie needed time to process.
I wasn’t Caelan. She’d have all the time she needed.
My phone rang with a video call. I swore under my breath when I saw who was calling.
“Ethan,” I growled. “What do you want?”
“Permission to enter your territory.”
I did not want to deal with Ethan tonight. “State your case,” I barked.
At least this would keep my mind off of Evie for a while.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Mom’s booze proved popular with the locals. Hours later, Moira and I had claimed a table toward the back of one of the downtown pubs, our glasses filled with her newest brew, some type of delicious berry ale.
I was half-drunk already, idly munching on a handful of spiced nuts. Moira was a little drunker and flirting outrageously with every shifter in the bar.
“Hey!” she called to a devastatingly handsome one who’d been eyeing her all night. “Come over here and sit on my lap, and I’ll tell you a story!”
