The woman sucked in a breath to respond when Gawain lifted a hand for silence.
"Enough, Emersyn," he said.
Unhappy, she closed her mouth, but that didn't take the sting out of her glower.
Gawain’s voice was mild as he addressed Roscoe. "And I'm not the only one with a reputation, now am I, Madness."
Roscoe's nostrils flared. He didn't speak, lifting his chin to give the clan leader an expressionless stare.
"How do we know one of yours didn't put that there?" Ghost said.
"If you have proof, show it," Gawain challenged. "Otherwise, you're nothing but a pair of yapping dogs your master hasn't brought to heel yet."
There was a cold light in Gawain's eyes that said he wasn't a stranger to accusations. That it had happened so often he'd developed a calloused exterior.
Something about that prideful look made Eva want to believe him. She could empathize with him. Sometimes even when you wanted to change, the expectations and perceptions of others wouldn't leave you room to.
"He's right." There was no trace of emotion in Caden's calm facade. His voice was flat. Even. As was his stare.
That was what made it so scary.
It didn't take a genius to see how tightly Caden was clinging to his control. As if a single crack would destroy the fragile house he'd built around himself.
Eva feared if the wall he kept erected ever fully toppled the consequences would be devastating—for everyone.
"We have no proof," Caden continued. "Yet."
"It could have been the army you were chasing over the last two days," Van pointed out.
Roscoe made a derisive sound. "You mean the army that hasn't been anywhere close to this valley and probably didn't even know it existed before tonight."
"Just because their main body is in one place doesn't mean the rest of them are. They could have sent scouts out," Van argued.
Gawain nodded. "It's what I'd do."
Van made a face. "Oh good. Rain agrees with me."
"Watch it," Gawain warned.
Van squared off with him. "Or what?"
Gawain started for Lion Clan's leader. Fiona and Buck moved to intercept.
Two objects fell out of the sky, hitting the ground with a heavy thump.
Gawain and Van forgot their argument as they unsheathed their blades, the rest of those present following suit.
Laughter came from above.
"Silly mice, you should really keep your eye on your enemy. Fighting among yourselves only makes you a tempting morsel for the real predators," a voice echoed from the darkness.
"Archers to the sky," Caden ordered.
"No need for that," the voice said again.
Dark shapes dropped from the sky, wings flared to brace themselves. The Tenrin straightened, arrogance in every line of their bodies.
"Great. Who invited the crows?"
"I didn't know we needed an invitation to visit our allies," a sardonic voice said as a lithe Tenrin sauntered into their midst.
Ajari’s approach was nearly silent except for the quiet rattle of beads that clattered against each other with every step he took. He was a wonder to behold with skin the color of deepest night. It carried an opalescent sheen that always reminded Eva of starlight.
It was beautiful—and eye catching.
Like all Tenrin, he had bony protrusions along his forearms that could be used to stab or eviscerate an opponent. He had blunt features and a nose that was a little flatter than a human's. Black hair brushed his shoulders, feathers interspersed throughout.
The only thing missing were his wings; he had none. Only two scars where they should be.
The human who'd called the Tenrin crows looked stubborn at Ajari's rebuke. To Eva's relief he held silent, not adding tinder to the fire his words had already lighted.
"Brother, you moved faster than I expected," Ajari said in a light voice, addressing the biggest of the Tenrin trio.
Since Ajari referred to the Tenrin as brother, it meant the man could only be one person. Covath, the flock's leader, and a major player in the battle for Wayfarer's Keep.
Unlike his brother, Covath's skin was a matte black that allowed him to blend seamlessly with the night. As nocturnal predators, Eva was sure that came in handy.
His large form dwarfed that of his guards and brother, and his features carried a cruel beauty.
His gaze was piercing as he studied the humans in front of him.
Eva could see why he was the flock's leader. The only other man who could match Covath for that same level of authority and intimidation was Fallon.
"I was curious to see what about these mice has attracted you so."
Ajari's expression tightened, the movement slight. If Eva hadn't spent so much time with him, she might have missed it.
Something about his brother being here wasn't within his plans, Eva realized.
There was a sense of discordance between the two that put Eva on edge. Almost like they were fighting, but not with words.
It was more like how her mother sometimes waged war. Guilt and expectation her mother’s weapons of choice.
To her surprise, she found dislike and anger in Covath's gaze when he glanced at her.
Eva bristled. What had she done to deserve that look?
She didn’t expect to be liked by everyone. Her personality could only be called prickly. Nor was she particularly lovable. Some days she was surprised she had as many friends as she did.
What was more, people confounded her. She didn't always understand why they did the things they did.
Still, none of these were reason enough to provoke that level of hostility from Covath. He didn't even know her.
"If you had told me of your interest, I would have been happy to facilitate a meeting." Ajari's smile held an edge Eva recognized. It was the smile Ajari gave those humans he found obnoxious. Half ridicule and half vicious.
Roscoe and Ghost paid rapt attention to the brewing drama.
Caden and Eva shared a look, his questioning, hers baffled. He tilted his head toward the two in a gesture meant to prod her to interfere.
Eva gave him big eyes. Was he crazy? Why would she throw herself voluntarily into that fire?
Caden's grin was wolfish as he bent down to her ear. "I take care of the humans. You the mythologicals, remember?"
Eva mouthed a curse. How had he found out what she said to Jason?
She glared as he straightened. This was a low blow, and he knew it. Unfortunately, his smile said he didn't care.
Making an angry sound in the back of her throat, Eva focused on the Tenrin with a feeling of dread. She really didn't want to get in the middle of a fight between siblings.
All she had for a reference point were the fights she used to have with Elis. Those had been knockdown, drag out battles and had a tendency to savage anyone stupid enough to interfere.
Sadly, Caden was right. She didn't have the luxury of letting them tangle. Not with so many eyes on them. Human—and Kyren.
Searching for inspiration—or a way to escape her fate—Eva's gaze dropped to the motionless objects at their feet.
She blinked. Were those—
No. They couldn't be.
One of the objects moaned.
Damn. She was right. The Tenrin had thrown a pair of bodies at the Trateri’s feet. Live ones.