Page 72

I froze. “Soren…”

Cernunnos rose, magic swirling around the crown of his head until antlers formed so high they brushed my ceiling. “You think you can win Moira?”

“Uh…” My confused gaze swung back and forth between the two males having a pissing contest.

“No one wins Moira,” Soren said quietly. “And I think you know it, which is why you’re trying to force her into a deal over my fate.”

I blinked. “Cernunnos?”

He looked at me. Remember what I said.

The god disappeared in a fine mist of light.

Soren snorted and went to the kitchen to help himself to my vodka.

“Why would you chain yourself like this to me, Soren? It makes no sense.”

He took his time making his drink. When he came over, he kicked off his shoes. “Maybe I needed a vacation.”

“You ass,” I said with a laugh. “You don’t currently have any territory!”

Soren shrugged. “Kinda do. Kinda don’t. It’s complicated.”

“Hmm. Yes, you are a complicated man.”

“I try.” He stretched out next to me. “So what’s on the agenda for tomorrow?”

I’d been thinking about that. “You ever read tea leaves?”

Soren blinked. “Err, no.” He gave me an odd look. “Have you?”

I shrugged. “Used to do it all the time when I was younger, but I stopped when I ran away. Tea leaves use witch magic, and I always thought Mom could spy on me that way. Not see what I could see but see where I was. I couldn’t risk it.”

Soren looked intrigued. “Can she?”

I smiled. “Doesn’t matter anymore. She knows exactly where I am and wouldn’t dare try to break into this Keep. Evie would turn her into plant food.”

Soren’s smile showed too many teeth. “Excellent. Then let’s give it a whirl. Consider me here for moral support.”

My cell beeped.

Where the hell is Soren?

“You slipped away without telling Evie where you were going?”

Soren tapped his chest. “Compulsion,” he said without a note of apology.

“Right.”

The oaf is sitting next to me, I typed back.

Idiot, Evie replied.

Yep.

Come over in an hour for dinner. The cottage will be ready soon.

Will do.