Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
ETHAN
Idug through the pantry and the fridge and couldn’t find the container of cookies anywhere. Last night, I’d showered, inhaled a meal and went straight to bed, unable to muster up the energy for dessert.
But today, after a hearty lunch, I had a bit of a sweet tooth and went searching for them. After several minutes of fruitless searching, I called for the chef.
Vicki hurried over, wiping her hands off on a stained apron.
She didn’t love it when I rifled through the kitchen on my own, but she held her tongue after she saw I had no plans to listen to her complaints about it.
I purchased the groceries and sometimes I wanted a damn snack.
If I wanted to rummage through the pantry in search of something to munch on, I damned well would.
“Yes, Lord Ethan?”
“I had some cookies in a storage container. Sarah brought them in last night. Have you seen them?”
Her eyes flickered. She looked down at her feet. “She brought them in last night.”
“Alright.” I guess I did ask only that question. “Care to elaborate on where she might have put them?”
“No, Lord.”
I let out an exasperated laugh.
“Damn it, Vicki. Where the hell are those cookies?”
“We have others in the pantry. I think there’s some lemon and maybe even some leftover sugar cookies from the birthday party a few days ago.”
I was growing weary of everyone lying and tiptoeing around me. “Answer the question. Where are the cookies Sarah brought in?”
Vicki sighed. “The trash, Lord Ethan.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
Vicki looked up at me, her face wary. “They’re in the trash.”
“Why on earth would you throw them away?”
Vicki looked down at her feet again. “I didn’t.”
It took me a moment to understand what she was saying. “Ah. Alright then. Thank you.”
I turned on my heel and strode straight to my bedroom. Sarah was in the master bath, touching up her makeup.
She smiled when she saw me. “Hello, darling.”
The incandescent light made her hair look like morning sunlight, but I was too annoyed to remark on the sight. “Why did you throw those cookies out?”
That same ugliness flickered through her gaze. She sighed. “Honestly, darling, if it’s that important, I’ll bake you some cookies later.”
I stared at her. Sarah was a wonderful person, but she couldn’t bake for shit.
“I don’t understand why you’d throw them out.”
Sarah put down her blush and snapped it shut with an angry click. “Because you’re a Lord, Ethan, and people want your power. What if she’d put something in those cookies?” She turned and touched my chest. “What if she tried to take you away from me?”
“Moira wouldn’t do that.”
Sarah scoffed. “And you’re defending her now. What if she’s already started? She’s a vampire, isn’t she? Most possess persuasion powers. Sounds like they’re already working?”
Her words triggered something within me. Sarah didn’t sound like herself. She’d never been jealous before. Today, she sounded petty and vengeful. And Moira…she wouldn’t do that, would she?
Sarah reached up to touch my face. “Your eyes are glowing. So pretty.” She patted my cheek, an almost patronizing gesture. “If you insist on cookies, I’ll make you some this evening.”
“Don’t bother,” I growled. “I’ll ask Vicki.”
Without waiting for her response, I walked out of the room.
There were few places I could go in a Keep full of shifters capable of sniffing out emotions, so I headed straight into the forest surrounding the Keep. My people knew to leave me alone if they saw me headed this way.
I walked for miles, my thoughts whirling in confusion. This was not the way I remembered Sarah—not the way she was only a few days ago. Had I done something wrong? Was she angry at me?
Even worse was me. My feelings toward Sarah were changing, and I had no idea why. We weren’t mates, but that had never mattered to me. I considered her mine and planned to keep it that way forever.
But I hadn’t felt right in a few days now, and the feeling was only worsening. I kept walking until I reached an area that made me stop.
Layers of scent hit my nose. My wolves—Jace and at least two others—a darker, heavier scent of magic, Kinsley, and Moira. Why had Moira been here?
That magical scent was familiar. I walked closer and inhaled, closing my eyes to identify the layers.
When my eyes flew open in recognition, a beautiful woman stood before me, her eyes glowing like emeralds. The same woman I’d smelled when Moira took me to that abandoned cabin.
“Hello, Lord,” the woman purred. “You’re just the person I’m looking for.”