Page 8 of Kings of Sherwood

“Anyway,” I say pointedly, hoping to get us back on track and off the subject of my delicates, “no, I haven’t noticed anything else gone.”

Rob nods and sets down his mug. “Welp, then that’s that. We should obviously tackle the outer things first—windows, broken glass, any busted equipment—”

“Wait, wait, wait.” I drop my fork and wave my hands, and four pairs of eyes meet mine. “So no one’s gonna say it?”

“Say what?” LJ asks.

I can’t believe they’re being this obtuse. “Guy! He’s—hewas,” I correct myself. “a shifter. He was one of you.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Rob says, “let’s not get carried away. He was nothing like us.”

There’s an edge to his voice that has me backing down. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Okay, fair enough. But still, like...”

I glance around at each of them in turn, at Tuck’s patient face, LJ’s burning gaze, Will’s sidelong glance, and Rob’s intent-but-curious stare. Then Will turns to Rob, and the other two do too.

Rob sighs and hunches over the table. “What do you want me to say, Maren?”

Irritation bubbles up inside. “I don’t know—something? Anything?” I dart looks at the other three. “How can you not be worried about this? Or curious, at least?”

“I’mcurious,” Tuck says softly. LJ just grunts.

“Rob here,” Will interjects, leaning forward again, “appears to be taking his usual live-and-let-live attitude about the matter. Or live-and-let-die, as the case may be.”

Rob glowers at him. Will tips his head just slightly as if to sayam I wrong?

I get the sense there’s a bigger discussion these two have been having.

“I just reckon, why look a gift horse in the mouth?” Rob says, shrugging. “We’re back here, we’re together, we’re safe. You, pretty lady, are safe. What else is there to consider for the time being?”

My head is spinning. “I mean...everything?” I start ticking off fingers. “Guy is—was—a shifter and we had no idea. He killed his own mother point-blank in front of a crowd of party guests.Wekilledhimin dramatic fucking fashion—”

“You didn’t kill him,” LJ interrupts. “Don’t take that on yourself, Princess.”

I blow out a breath. “Fine.You all killed him. So—”

“So problem solved,” Rob finishes for me. “Right, fellas? We wait for the dust to settle and then we get back to business.”

This time, the other three don’t quite meet Rob’s eyes. The lazy morning air, scented with coffee and bacon fat and melted butter, turns charged around us.

Tuck’s the first to speak. “Maren’s right,” he says. “At the very least, we’ve seen the tip of an iceberg now, haven’t we? All the things Guy knew, and wejustfound out—we don’t even really knowwhatwe don’t know.”

Will nods, folding his arms. “We can’t even say the threat is neutralized, either,” he says, with a pointed look at Rob, “given that the threat turned out to be much different than we thought.”

“Aw, c’mon,” Rob says, looking slightly deflated. “That’s no fun.”

“It’s notaboutfun,” LJ growls, and Rob straightens up slightly.

“Besides,” Tuck adds, gentler, “I think if Maren wants to find out more, then we should find out more.” He throws me a small, sweet smile—one that also stirs a flicker of heat in my belly.

The other three pause, then nod. Even Rob.

And they all look at me.

I clutch my coffee mug for strength. “Look, I’m not saying we mastermind a plan or anything,” I say. “I’m just saying...well, at the very least, that was some crazy shit that went down at Guy’s fundraiser. Surely people are talking about it, right?” I think of all the old biddies who shop at Jack’s boutique. “Nottingham can’t resist some gossip.”

“Intel would be useful,” Will says, rubbing his jaw. “Do you think if we asked—”

But he stops short, and I instantly know why.

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