"Not nobility," Keir said as he dipped his head politely to the plant. "Evening, Spike."
The plants trailed a tendril across his arm as if petting him, and as a group, the rest of the guys made their way in. Wilder claimed the chair he'd made. Keir took the bed, sitting beside meand Aspen. Torian claimed the other chair, so Hawke sank down to sit on the floor between Wilder's knees.
"So can I see the crown?" Torian asked, but his words weren't for Aspen. They were to the plant.
Instantly, Spike curled up, pulling her long, spike-filled vines close around her pot. With one hand, Torian gestured at her as if that proved his point. Aspen rolled her eyes, but leaned toward the plant.
"Spike, it's ok. He just wants to see it."
So the vine lifted its root ball from the pot and revealed a very impressive, very jewel-covered crown at the bottom.
"You're doing an excellent job, Spike," Torian told her before looking back at me. "Rain, I'd like you to check on that every day."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because Nevaeh was attacked today," he said. "The victims are Winter users, every one. There's something going on, and I don't know what it is, but I do not want to get complacent and lose the Winter Crown."
"You can lose a crown?" I asked.
He tilted his head giving me a very unimpressed look. "The Mad Queen just lost it, so yes. Without a crown, there's no way for Aspen to prove her position."
"I'll check every night and morning," I told him. "Unless something else comes up."
"No," he growled.
"Yes," I said, cutting him off. "And by more important, I meant a fire, the Hunt, or a threat to our lives. I don't mean forgetting. I'm just being honest here, Torian, so deal with it."
"She has your number," Keir said, jerking his chin at Torian.
"Mhm," Torian said. "I'm also impressed, not offended, but - "
"Bitch!" Jack cawed, cutting him off.
Immediately, we all looked around in confusion, but a knock at the door proved what he meant. Grumbling, I pushed myself off the bed and headed that way, catching a whiff of the food the guys had brought but hadn't handed out yet.
"God, I'm starving," I said as I opened the door. Then I paused. "Ms. Rhodes?"
"Good, you're back," she said. "May I come in, Rain?"
I opened the door a little wider. "Um, I have company."
Her eyes scanned the group and a smile curled her mouth. "Then it seems I'm right on time. I need to talk to all of you."
"Come in," I said, making way. "Just watch the plant."
"Good evening, my lady," Ms. Rhodes said as she walked past Spike. "You look to be in impressive health."
Then she looked right at Torian while waiting for me to close the door. Once the latch clicked, Ms. Rhodes flicked her hand and all sounds from the hall vanished.
"Majesties, the latest attacker was also beholden to say nothing. This is the third one, and it seems we have a problem I don't know how to fix."
"Shit," I breathed.
"Exactly," Ms. Rhodes said.
Chapter Twenty-One
RAIN
