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I would never feel secure in a relationship with a man like him because I would be in constant fear of infidelity. Could a man like him settle down with one woman? Why would he want to?

I didn’t want to judge him because I didn’t think he was a bad guy, but after the case with the witches, I had forever placed him firmly in the friend-only category.

We walked through the hotel lobby and into one of the meeting rooms—remodeled after Evie had sent vines tearing through the room after Ethan pissed her off. I ducked my head to hide my smile, but I had no doubt everyone inside the room could smell my amusement.

I, on the other hand, sobered as soon as I smelled Ethan. His scent was off. The same, but where before there was a clean, crisp note, a sourness existed now. I fell in behind Evie, who walked behind Rowan. A single row of chairs was set up before the long table hosting every Shifter Lord still alive.

Caelan was there—Evie’s ex and one-time enemy. They were on better terms now, but his eyes still glowed every time she was around, and a hunger lingered there when he looked at her. He was still in love with her and still grieving her loss. As he should. He’d screwed that up so badly it should be in the manual of what not to do when you’re wooing someone.

Next to him sat Soren. Handsome beyond belief, his startling blue eyes drank me in. The Lord was taller than all the others, standing around six foot five. He towered over me, but strangely enough, I’d never feared him.

Soren, despite his faults, had a way about him that made others feel safe. I understood why women were so drawn to him. Not only was he a stunning physical specimen, he understood people. Though he wasn’t so good at understanding fidelity. Our eyes locked and held.

He knew what happened to me. Maybe not all the details, but he knew enough.

I averted my gaze first, sliding over to see Thorvin. I always thought Thorvin was a wild card. He was handsome as all the Lords were, but he downplayed his looks. Light brown hair and eyes, Thorvin sometimes chose to wear a pair of wire spectacles we all knew he didn’t need but served to make him look less dangerous.

I knew better. He was a crack shot with a rifle and damn near killed us when we trespassed on his land several months ago. But Thorvin’s real danger lay in his mind.

Half the time the dude has his head in the clouds, and in the past, I would have said he was something of an absent-minded scholar. Now, though, I’d bet most of the way he presented himself was a carefully designed act to make people let down their guard.

He offered me a grave nod and looked back down at the text he was reading.

Ethan was next. He was staring at me, a ring of gold and silver around his irises. Claws had slid from his fingertips, the lack of control shocking me. Ethan was the most controlled of all the Lords. Nothing could shake his unwavering discipline.

Except for the resurrection of his long-dead wife, it seemed. And poor Ethan had zero clue, though the cracks in his facade were beginning to show. He knew something big was up, but he hadn’t been able to put the pieces together yet.

I had faith he would and soon. And when he did…

I did not want to be in his path when it happened.

His nostrils flared, eyes narrowing as he watched me. I acknowledged him with a small nod and moved to Caelan—Evie’s one-time fiancé and the man who’d almost broken her.

Evie might have forgiven him, but I wasn’t sure I ever would. He’d torn out her heart, stomped on it, and tried to turn the remnants into ash.

I was still amazed Evie hadn’t killed him. Though it warmed the cold, dead cockles of my heart to know how close she came. Rowan was the only reason Caelan sat here today. He’d been the only thing standing between her and Caelan’s untimely death, and Evie had stayed her hand because of her mate.

I dipped my head. “Hello, Caelan.”

His lips twitched. The bastard knew I wanted his head. “Moira. Always a pleasure to see you again.”

I laughed. Caelan and I grinned at each other. One day we would tussle. Out of respect for Evie, I wouldn’t kill him.

But I sure would make him wish he were dead.

Ben was the last Lord seated. I liked Ben. Truly liked him. Granted, I thought he was an idiot for snubbing Evie, but it mollified me some to know Ben also thought he was an idiot for letting her go. I glanced over at Rowan to see the normally stoic Lord’s expression turn a touch self-satisfied.

I almost laughed. Apparently, Rowan also thought Ben was an idiot.

Ben’s gaze lingered a touch too long on Evie, regret and a host of other emotions playing on his face before he wiped his expression clean and focused on me.

“Moira,” he acknowledged.

“Ben. Nice to see you again.” I paused. “You should visit Rowan’s Keep sometime. It’s gorgeous out there.”

Evie coughed to cover up her laugh.

A slow smile crossed Ben’s face. “You know what? Maybe I’ll do that.”