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I studied him for a long moment. Soren really was a handsome bastard, but when he was standing here like this with his dark hair ruffling in the breeze and soft eyes, saying all the right words, I knew how he’d lured all those women into his bed.

“I’m immune to your charms, buster,” I growled.

Soren laughed. “I swear to you, Moira, I am being sincere. There will be no funny business on my end. I’m many things, but I am a male who takes loyalty, fidelity, and integrity seriously when I pledge myself to it.”

His smile turned sad. “Plus, I’d like to be there when you put your mother’s head on a spike. We’ll get a really tall one, and I can lift you up so you can reach. It will be grand.” He tilted his head. “Maybe we can convince Evie to buy you a castle with a moat so we can make it look especially medieval.”

I smiled. “You’re an idiot.”

“Yes,” he agreed, “but I’m an idiot who will stand by your side for as long as it takes to finish this.”

“Ethan really did this before…” My voice trailed off. Soren might think he was responsible for what my mother did to me. If that were true, then I was definitely responsible for what happened to Ethan.

“He convened the Council the first time your mother showed up. The bastard has always had an uncanny sixth sense for when things are about to go sideways. Somehow, he knew he’d be affected.”

Soren looked away and sighed. “He loves you, you know.”

“No,” I said softly. “Not anymore.”

Soren frowned.

“Maybe he did before this. But right now, he loves a dead woman.”

I shook off the fingers of horror walking down my spine and pulled a couple of potions out of my bag. “Are you ready to see your new digs?” I asked.

Evie and Rowan walked outside then.

“No need to waste those,” she said, gesturing us over. “I’ll get us all back.”

She held out her hands. “You know the drill.”

In an instant, we were gone.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

“Sorry,” Soren said with a smile that said he wasn’t even a little bit sorry. “I am required to stay in the same residence as Moira until this is over. Staying in the main Keep house will break my vow.”

“You overdramatic man whore,” Evie growled.

From somewhere inside the kitchen, Rowan laughed out loud.

Soren laid a hand over his chest. “How you wound me, woman.”

Evie scoffed. “Up to you, Moira.”

I squinted up at Soren. “What happens if I agree with Evie and force you to stay here with them?”

Something flickered in Soren’s eyes, but his expression stayed amiable. He spread his hands out. “Then I’m afraid I will explode into ash, true dead once I am unable to complete my vow.”

I laughed. “Ass.”

Soren’s expression didn’t change, though his smile took on a pained edge.

Evie’s brow furrowed. She chewed on her lip for a moment and stepped toward Soren, her eyes narrowing.

Heat rose in her face. “Sonofabitch,” she whispered. “You didn’t.”