Page 40 of Shifting Winds
“You’re the only one who’s threatened my life.”
Ben sighed loudly. “Evie, please withdraw your…”
“Super awesome vines?” Rowan supplied when Ben floundered.
“Poisonous weapons,” Ben said.
“When Lord Ethan stops being a dick, I’ll put my plants away.”
I could almost hear Ben’s teeth grinding.
“You are not helping,” Ben whispered to Rowan.
“She’s right.” Rowan didn’t bother to whisper back. “We’ve antagonized her for months now when we usually stay out of another Lord’s business.”
“She’s here to answer questions about Donovan,” Ben snapped.
“Then let’s all shut the fuck up and let her do that,” Rowan said, his eyes rolling with gold. I’d never seen Rowan truly pissed off before. His jaw turned to granite and claws had slid from his fingertips.
Thorvin rose and leaned over to murmur something low in Ethan’s ear. The other Lord froze before nodding once. He retook his seat, but I remained standing.
“Miss Quinn,” Thorvin said in a placating tone. “We apologize this meeting has turned so…acrimonious. If you’d please take your seat, we can resume.”
“No. I don’t think I will. You have two minutes to ask your questions. After that, you should think twice about summoning me like I’m a common peasant forced to live under your rule.”
Thorvin’s brow rose a hitch, and I waited for someone to leap over the table and go for my throat. Tension strummed tight like a drum before the Lord nodded once.
“Very well. Let’s revisit your comments about Donovan being a traitor.”
“He’d been working with Chimeras for months now.”
Ethan reared back like I slapped him. “Lies,” he hissed.
Thorvin, however, seemed more intrigued than shocked. “You’ve seen this?”
“He showed up to Caelan’s Keep with the one who usurped and killed your other Lord and another Chimera named Rhona.”
The Lords turned to confer quietly amongst themselves.
Rowan was the first to withdraw. “Did you have anything to do with his death?”
“Sadly, no.”
Rowan let out a bark of laughter. “You disliked the Lord, then?”
“So far I dislike everyone here but you, Lord Rowan.”
He grinned. “I’m apt to agree with you. Our behavior toward you today is appalling. Please accept my deepest apologies.”
I inclined my head. “You can make it up to me by bringing me some more of those wonderful apples from your territory.”
Rowan winked. “I’d be happy to as long as you give me one of those flytraps.”
“Only for you, Lord Rowan.”
“You are sleeping with two Lords?” Ethan snapped. “Typical.”
A red haze obscured my vision. The floor rumbled under my feet. Regular, thick vines, green with new growth, snapped from the ground underneath Ethan, tossing him off his feet with a startled yelp. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to pop him with those poisonous vines. With a wiggle of my finger, they wrapped around his knees and ankles before he could react, and lifted him into the sky, dumping him upside down.
