“Santorina,” Willox answered, his stare flitting to Lancaster and instantly hardening. “We hadn’t expected you for a few weeks at least.”
“Yes, well,” I said, biting my lip as I glanced at the male beside me, “my traveling companion has a knack for speed.”
“I see.”
He knows he’s fae.
Perhaps I should have written and given Willox and the human commander a warning, but I’d been worried what they’d say. And we didn’t have a choice. If we wanted to prepare humans for the coming waranddiscover any more Bounties, Lancaster was the best option.
I assumed the authority I’d seen Ophelia don as Revered numerous times, attempting to strike a balance between friendly and stern. “Many things have changed since I was last here. I’d love to explain everything.” I lowered my chin, pointedly adding, “Inside.”
Willox chewed over those words for a moment then inclined his head, the long braids piled atop it shifting. “My partner and our children are still sleeping. Wait in the kitchen, and I’ll send a quick missive to Commander Lislee to let her know you’re here.”
Relief washed through me. “Thank you.” I exhaled.
As Lancaster and I traipsed down a narrow hall lined with paintings clearly illustrated by tiny hands, I cast him a warning glare.Do not say anything until I tell you.
He squinted at me but didn’t argue.
We each took a seat at the small round table that occupied the majority of the open floor in the cramped kitchen. With Lancaster’s inhuman presence swarming the air—and that damn scent of roses—I was grateful for the window propped open above the sink.
“She’ll be here in a minute,” Willox said when he entered only a few moments later. I supposed humans were comfortable with Mystique ink if Lislee had already written back. Or at least the leaders of the camp were. “Can I get you anything?”
“Tea would be lovely, thank you,” I said just as Lancaster commented, “No, thank you.”
I shot him a sharp look.
“We’ll both have tea,” I told Willox without looking away from Lancaster.
The male’s dark eyes tunneled into me, and for a brief moment, I was captivated. The soft scent of musk and florals coated my mind, forming a barrier around us. Something in my chest hummed, like a harp’s string being plucked. Lancaster’s jaw ticked as if in pain, and my attention zeroed in on the slight motion.
But I blinked away the distraction and gave him a look that said,It’s polite. Drink the damn tea.
I don’t like tea, his glare said back, and he seemed rattled.
I don’t care what you like, I shot at him, my thoughts humming like that string.
And I swore one corner of his lips twitched up in amusement, as if he truly heard those words and felt the ire burning in them. At least, I hoped it was ire.
“Here you are,” Willox said, setting a tray between us with four cups. I gave Lancaster a smug grin.
The back door opened, and Lislee rushed in, her angular brown eyes as bright as the morning sun. She appeared to be in her early forties, and I was almost taken aback at the difference between a human and a warrior of that age. I’d spent so much time with the latter lately, I forgot how early my own kind began getting fine lines around our eyes and streaks of gray in our hair.
Unlike Willox, she’d dressed in a casual leather vest over her tunic, complete with a thick weapons belt, boots, and pants. Armor for a human making their way in the warrior world.
“Sorry, it took me a moment to get out the door,” she said. “The kids were just waking.”
“Not a problem,” I answered, rising to shake her hand. “I’m Santorina Cordelian. We only met briefly last time I was here. I believe it was the week you arrived.”
“Yes, Miss Cordelian.” She claimed the last seat at the table, her sharp black hair swaying around her chin. “You were here with Jezebel Alabath and a few others, correct?”
Lislee showed no visible reaction to Lancaster, so I assumed she was not a Bounty. Nerves twisted through me at the stark reminder of how difficult it was going to be to seek out any—if they even existed. I hadn’t even fully acknowledged the sense within myself until Echnid returned, and an entire host of magic washed over our land.
I nodded. “And it’s on business concerning them—concerning all of us—that I’ve returned.”
“Is this an explanation for those ominous letters last week?” Lislee asked, a note of disapproval for the lack of explanation staining her tone. She was direct—I liked her.
“It is,” I said, and reluctantly turned to Willox. “Lieutenant, did you or your warriors feel any sort of power surge last month?It would have been early in the morning; many might have slept through it.”
