He tossed his drink back. "Gregory is going to watch her."
Wren snorted. "I bet he loved that assignment. Let's all watch the Imm—"
Roane was in her face before she finished. He grabbed her jaw in one hand and lifted her in the air. "You do not say that word. Ever."
Wren's eyes flashed in anger, but she managed a tight nod. She couldn't speak.
Roane placed her on her feet, but he didn't let go. "I get that you don't like her. I don't care. You will treat her with respect or you will be sent away. Let's not forget the last time you tangled with one of them. Talia wasn't as forgiving, was she?"
She shrugged of his touch. "That wasn't about you. Let's not forget that either or what I lost to be loyal to you."
He rolled his eyes and moved to refill his drink. "If that's how you think of this, you can leave. You made your choice long ago."
She growled, but didn't move. Her hands remained against her sides as she clenched and unclenched them into fists. With fevered eyes and a tight jaw, she struggled not to lash out and then gave up the fight. She burst out, "Tracey's coming here! She's marching with the new Roane hunter. I found out from some soldiers who defected to Gavin's Family. What are you going to do when they get here? We aren't ready for an entire army."
Roane glanced back. "Am I supposed to be surprised by this? We've known they would send an army. We've always known. They already captured you with a small clan, but Davy released your bonds. Did you know that?"
She froze for a second, and then shrugged. "So what?"
He turned back to the window and found Davy below; laughing with the girl who'd had a crush on him. Then he murmured as he sipped his drink, "I'm sorry that Tracey is coming here. I truly am. I know what she meant to you."
With those words, her anger was gone. She groaned. "Why do you do that? You make me so mad and then, nothing. It's all gone. You're a dick sometimes."
Roane grinned, but didn't look back. "We will deal with the army. Look around, Wren. Everybody here has come to join us. We're not powerless."
"She should be testing her powers. She should be figuring them out so she can control and use them. We will need her in the end. We won't win without her."
His jaw hardened. "She's living a normal life. That was the deal. We stay and hold this off as long as possible and she can be normal. It's what she's always wanted."
"We should be running."
He whirled back to her and pinned her against the wall. His face was inches from hers. "You didn't want to run before. You wanted to fight. Wish granted. This is what we're doing. Now you're going to bolt? Are you going to go to Tracey when she gets here?" He waited a beat. "Are you going to betray me, Wren?"
"NO—I—" She closed her mouth and looked away. "I don't think we'll win, Lucas."
His eyes softened and he let her go. "Trust me?"
With a sigh, she closed her eyes and hung her head. "I always have."
"Then please continue."
It broke her and she lifted her eyes back up. A renewed determination was in them. "Until I die."
Roane didn't respond, but clenched his jaw. It meant more than he had expressed to her, but he knew that Wren was terrified. She wanted to fight, even when the odds were against them. For her to come and request for them to run meant others were scared as well. Fear was dangerous. It was intoxicating and maddening. And he knew he'd have to do something to diffuse it.
"For the record, the reason why I don't like her isn't because she took Talia's place." Wren moved to the door.
He lifted piercing eyes to her and waited.
She finished, "Because you don't think clearly when it comes to her. And for god's sake, if you want to see her, just go! Make up some excuse."
Roane didn't tell her that he already had.
As Wren shoved through the door, it swung open and revealed an athletic looking vampire with golden curls. His blue eyes smirked in amusement. "You don't have to knock me unconscious, Wren. I'm yours for the taking."
She brushed past and growled, "Get lost!"
Gavin chuckled as he walked inside and helped himself to a drink. He cast a cursory glance over the vampire at the window. "Hope you don't mind, Lukey dear. I was a bit parched. I haven't fed in a long while with how fast we were urged to get here. Really, Luke. It was breakneck speed. I think I should earn some points for being the bestie I am to you. How many other complete armies have gotten here? What's that? Oh, right. One. Me."