Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
In total, the United States was supposed to have seven Shifter Lords, their territory divided somewhat equally.
With our marriage, Rowan held the most territory as I'd taken Donovan's when he died.
The former Lord ruled over the Great Plains area, territory that bumped against Ethan's.
Now, with our grip on Donovan's land, Ethan was our closest ally.
It was him on the other line.
Rowan put the phone on speaker and set it on the coffee table. Hope and Declan had come inside and sat on the floor while Ethan briefed us.
“Fae are surrounding all Keep properties,” Ethan's crisp, deep voice sounded serious but not too concerned.
“Yours as well?” Rowan asked.
Ethan made an affirmative grunt. “We are unable to leave without getting into a conflict.”
Magic versus shifters never ends well. Every Lord retained mages, but a human mage would never be able to perform the same feats of magic a fae could.
The uneasy peace held between shifters and fae was on the brink of collapse, and I didn't understand why. Was this just a small population of fae pissed off they couldn't have it all?
I said as much. Dad cleared his throat and gave me a mild look of disapproval. “Over the years, the Lords have pushed against their set boundaries and expanded their territories without seeking the approval of the fae.”
Rowan's brows went up at that. “Recently?”
Dad shook his head. “You are a relatively young Lord and peaceable. Other Lords who've come before you have not been so content with what they've been given.”
Declan swore under his breath. “So we're being punished for the mistakes of our fathers.”
“In some regards,” Dad said. “There are other matters at hand.”
He leaned over closer to the phone. I hid my smile. Thousands of years old and still not great with technology. “Tell me, Lord,” Dad said. “Have they tried to breach the lines?”
Ethan's low chuckle sent a shiver down my spine.
Sometimes I really could see (or in this case hear) why he revved Moira's engine.
“They've all tried. If Evie hadn't circled our land with her power, I suspect we'd be having a very different conversation right now. None of them have been able to get through.” He paused.
“But on the other hand, it's keeping us in as well. All the Lords should have plans for long-term occupation in an emergency, but after a few weeks, this could become a problem.”
“This won't stretch into weeks,” I assured him. “But Caelan's lands could be a problem.”
“Ah yes. We all know you've taken pity on the poor bastard.” Amusement colored his tone. “We aren't sure if you did it because you have a tender heart or you decided to throw him to the metaphorical wolves.”
Rowan snorted. “Evie warned him multiple times. The stubborn mule decided to take his chances.”
Ethan sighed. “I suspect if Caelan doesn't already have a problem, he will very soon.”
Danu was playing with him right now, giving Caelan just enough rope to hang himself with.
I could take his land. I had taken his land.
But I knew if I did, we would shatter the tentative peace between us.
I couldn't do that to him. Convincing myself not to pop over there and take it anyway felt like an angel on one side and the devil on the other riding on my shoulders and whispering in my ear.
“You've spoken to all the other Lords?” I asked.
“We've either talked or texted. Your Ben is well equipped to hold out for longer than any of us.”
Rowan stiffened at Ethan's words.
My dad tried unsuccessfully to hide his smile.
“You know,” I drawled. “A single snap of my fingers and I could give your land right back to you, Ethan.”
The bastard had the gall to chuckle. “But you wouldn't. I am not as prideful as Caelan. I, unlike some of my brethren, appreciate a strong and powerful woman. Emasculation is a made up term for men who feel women are a lesser species. I adore women,” Ethan purred.
“Especially those whose magic can make the world tremble.”
“Quit flirting with my wife,” Rowan growled.
“I hope you appreciate what you have,” Ethan responded.
“Six months ago you couldn't stand me!” I almost never heard Ethan joking around, and now here he was about to make Rowan teleport through the phone to kick his ass.
Ethan laughed. “What can I say? Being around your crew has lightened me up a little.” The teasing note dropped from his voice. “Relax, Rowan. I'm yanking your chain. Regardless, Evie's claim is the only thing keeping us from a full scale invasion. None of us will squander that protection.”
I chewed on the edge of my thumb. “Dad? Should I go out there and boost the magic?”
Dad frowned. “Might not be a bad idea. Rowan should be able to help as well.”
Rowan blinked. “Excuse me?”
Dad rolled his eyes. “I know you've noticed some odd things happening with your magic.
You will never be able to do the same things Evie can, but you can tap into some of her magic—at least enough to boost the claim she's made. Divide and conquer is the best way until we figure out a way to move Danu off the board.”
“Ethan?” He was closest. Easier to start with him and move east.
“I'm not going anywhere.” He paused. “Bring the vampire. Ask her if she has any more cookies.”
I grinned and decided to tweak his nose a little. “I'll ask, but I think she has a date tonight.”
Rowan's eyes widened with delight.
“I see,” Ethan said. Was his voice a touch rougher? “Then just bring the cookies.”
Rowan's cell beeped as Ethan disconnected.
Dad clicked his tongue. “You're poking the bear with that one.”
“He started it.”
Hope and Declan groaned. “Are you leaving tonight?” Rowan's Omega asked. She was a gorgeous redhead with a mane of wild curly hair and eyes the color of jadeite. We'd struck up a fast friendship during the months I'd been here, and I liked her a lot.
Declan, Rowan's Second, was massive; his arms the size of my waist. He had a good sense of humor and emotional intelligence, and I suspected he had a crush on Hope. The Omega, though, kept Declan at arm's length, though they still shared a warm friendship.
“Want to come?” I asked.
Hope slowly shook her head. “Ethan is too intense for me. Plus, I don't want Moira to claw my face off.”
I laughed. “Moira? She wouldn't do that.”
Declan snorted. “Yeah. I dunno about that. Have you seen the way she looks at him?”
Moira would be absolutely mortified if she knew everyone noticed her intensity around Ethan. “Never, ever tease her about it,” I warned.
Declan blinked. “I wouldn't, but now I'll be extra on guard.”
Hope chuckled. “She shouldn't be ashamed about it. Ethan looks at her the exact same way.”
Declan nodded. “Dude has it bad.”
Rowan grinned. “Alright, you two. The gossip session is over. If you're not coming with us, then get out.” He waved a careless hand at them. “Tell the others we'll be back later tonight.”
Rowan glanced at Dad. “At least I think so. Boosting the magic shouldn't take too long, should it?”
“No. The first property Evie claimed will take the longest, but even that one shouldn't need more than fifteen to twenty minutes. Pack extra food for you both.”
“I'll run and get Moira.” I slid my shoes back on and stood.
“No date tonight?” Rowan said with a grin.
I snickered. “I wish I could have seen his face.”
“Oh, he's pissed,” Rowan said. “Moira will hear it tonight, if she goes.”
“She'll go,” Hope and Declan said at the same time.
The three of us walked together for a little while. I split from them when they headed toward their dorm, and I took the left toward Moira's apartment. The lights were on when I knocked.
She would have sensed me coming onto her step, and sure enough, her door was already cracked open by the time I reached the first step.
“Come in!” she called. “I'm taking some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies out of the oven.”
I slipped my shoes off in her entryway and padded into the kitchen. Her house always smelled like baking. Sometimes it was cinnamon, sometimes it was herbal; today, the kitchen smelled like melted milk chocolate. “I hope you saved me two dozen of those.”
Moira grinned and passed over two still warm cookies on a paper towel. “Careful. They're hot.”
I didn't listen and promptly popped a bite in my mouth, only to do the “ha hoo ha ha hoo” thing when it burned the hell out of my tongue. She snorted and pointed to the fridge. “Milk is in there.”
She snapped a lid on a blue glass bowl and pushed it over a bowl. “Mind sticking this in the fridge? I made too much dough.”
I obliged and pulled out a glass bottle of milk. “Where'd you get this?”
“There's a cute little shop downtown that sells to consumers straight from local farms. Their milk is grassfed and tastes way better than the stuff we got in Texas. Plus it's not sold in plastic.”
I grinned at her. “What you're saying is I've influenced you. Just a teeny tiny bit.”
Moira was also wearing a stunning off-shoulder cashmere sweater, a deep blue color that brought out the pale cream of her skin. She waved her cookie spatula at me. “I'll admit no such thing.”
I poured us both a small glass of milk and pushed hers over. “I need to head out to Ethan's.”
Her hand froze in the act of scooping a cookie from the pan, but she caught herself. Not in time for me to miss her tell-tale reaction, but I didn't call her out on it. As I explained what was happening, Moira frowned.
“And Caelan's land is still free?”
“Maybe they're saving the best for last.”
We both laughed. “When are you leaving?” she asked.
“In a few minutes. Want to come?”
Moira's head snapped up. “Why would I want to go?”
I didn't bother to answer her, just lifted one eyebrow and watched her.
She huffed a laugh. “Fine. He's an insufferable bastard, and yet I want to see him.”
I leaned forward. “If it helps, he asked for you. And for your cookies.”
Pink touched Moira's cheeks.
“But I told him I wasn't sure you were free because you had a date tonight.”
Moira gasped and then let out a wicked chuckle. “You are savage sometimes. How'd he take it?”
I shrugged. “Not sure. I couldn't see his face. Rowan suspected he was furious. Ethan still asked for your cookies, though.”
Moira grinned. “I do make excellent cookies,” she admitted.
“Yes, yes you do.”
We ate in silence for a little while. “Be careful with him, Moira.
I know you're an adult and can make your own decisions, but when your heart is broken, mine is too.
The Lords are not like regular supernaturals.
Caelan was driven by power and status, and it consumed us both in the end.
I don't know Ethan well enough to gauge him, but I know there's something brewing between you two.”
I reached over and took her hand. “Soren might be the safer choice.”
Moira sighed. “He's definitely the safer choice. But Soren is a teenage boy when it comes to matters of the heart.”
And Ethan was a man. The unspoken words lay between us. “Rowan wonders if Ethan will ever seriously date someone again after what happened.”
Moira nodded. “I know. And maybe whatever this is will burn out.” Her nostrils flared. “But when I'm around him, I feel alive, Evie.”
My heart ached for her. I knew what that felt like. “Then I assume you're coming with me?”
Moira nodded. “If I'm going to be a fool, I might as well go all in, right?”
I didn't answer her. “It's cold where he is, and I'm not sure Ethan will allow us inside. You might want to bring a heavy coat and put some boots on.”
Moira looked down at herself. “The leggings are lined wool, and the top is Cashmere. I have some warm boots. Give me a minute.”
She hurried off to the back, so I grabbed another cookie.
When she came back, she was bundled in a heavy jacket and wore a pair of calf-high waterproof boots. She'd taken her hair down from its ponytail and swiped on some berry colored lip gloss and mascara. “Ready?”
“Dad is at the main house. Rowan is coming with us, but Dad will take him to Ben's territory. You have a few hours to spare?”
Moira looked around her apartment. “I'll have to cancel tonight's cocktail party, but sure.”
“Ass,” I grumbled. “Just for that I'm taking another cookie.”
Moira grinned and reached for a glass storage container. She filled it with at least a dozen cookies and tucked the container into one of the enormous jacket pockets.
“Ready when you are.”
Moira always happily tagged along on my trips, but this one made her edgy.
As we walked, her eyes kept darting around, and she was fidgeting way more than usual.
So much so, I gave her a side glance. “You're twitching like you're an addict needing a fix.
Ethan's going to spot your nerves from a mile away.”
Moira swore and made her fingers stop tapping against her thigh. “Thanks. I don't know what's gotten into me.”
We stopped right before the back door. I dropped my voice into a whisper the others couldn't hear. “Moira. You're intelligent, gorgeous, and bake like Martha Stewart on speed. Anyone would be beyond lucky to have a chance with you. Remember that when you're in front of Ethan.”
Moira stared at me for a long moment. “You're a good friend, Evie.”
“You too. If he hurts you, I'll kill him with a poisoned rose bush. No one will ever know.”
“Thank you,” Moira said with a straight face. “I'll take your secret to the grave.”
The door opened, and Dad stepped out. He looked between the two of us, one of his eyebrows rising. “Do I want to know what you two are plotting?”
“Murder and mayhem,” I said sweetly.
“That's my girl,” Dad said. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Already dropped your mate off at Ben's. I expect boosting the magic will take him a little longer than it will for you.”
“Alright. We'll hit Ethan's first, then Thorvin's?”
Dad nodded. He glanced at Moira. “You good with this?”
Moira smiled. “You old softie. Yes, I know where we're headed.”
“Alright then. You know the drill.”
Moira slid her fingers into mine. Dad touched me on the arm and away we went.