Unmoved, he looked away.
Maxim reappeared, his lips thin. “Again, Sire, I’m sorry that Ishtar—”
Cain waved off the unnecessary apology. “It’s fine, Maxim.” He stretched out his legs. “Tell me … where’s my new witch? The Priestess who insists she isn’t a Priestess.”
He blinked. “The Bloodrose coven moved into the cottage between the quarreling lycan packs, Sire. I heard …”
Cain arched a brow. “Yes?”
Maxim briefly averted his gaze. “Grouch has announced to one and all that she intends to hex his shop.”
“Hex his shop?”
“He refused to hire her, and she apparently made it clear that he would lose custom. I don’t believe she’d do as he claims, though,” Maxim quickly added.
“No, she’s smarter than that,” Cain agreed. A hex would have not only the berserkers turning on her but the town’s population reluctant to trust her. Wynter didn’t strike him as a person who’d recklessly make enemies or isolate her coven.
“She probably meant to do exactly what she’s done—rile him.”
“Perhaps.” Cain paused. “I wouldn’t have expected her to seek a job at a blacksmith’s shop.”
“Having spent twenty minutes with Wynter and her coven, I would say they’re the type of people who will do many things we won’t expect.”
“My gut would agree with you on that.” Cain pushed to his feet. “Bring her to me, Maxim.”
The aide stilled. “You’re not … you’re not going to discipline her, are you?”
“No, I don’t believe Grouch’s claims.” Cain felt a smile tug at his mouth. “Butshedoesn’t know that, does she?”
Nibbling on her lower lip, Anabel handed Wynter a box of vials. “Are yousureyou wouldn’t rather give them something lethal?”
“They’re being loud, not threatening,” said Wynter.
Anabel looked toward the living room window that gave them a clear view of their quarreling neighbors. “But they have claws and fangs and can shift into monstrous beasts.”
“What’s your point?”
“They could kill you. They couldkill us all.” She rubbed at her throat. “They’ve probably already planned our murders step by step. Being torn apart isnota fun way to die, trust me. I once died during a wolf attack. Lycans are even bigger and deadlier than full-blooded wolves.”
“You were attacked by a wolf?”
“It was rabid. My guards didn’t even do anything to help me. Personally, I think they let me die on purpose because they hated my father.” Anabel’s nose wrinkled. “He tended to fly into murderous rages. Even killed my brother while caught up in one. And launching the Massacre of Novgorod didn’t do his rep any favors.”
“The Massacre of—Wait, are you talking about Ivan the Terrible?”
“Well … I just called him Papa.”
Wynter gave her head a little shake. “Okay. Well. Thanks for sharing.” She tightened her grip on the box of vials. “I’ll be back in half an hour. Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”
Outside, Wynter casually walked down the path toward the gate. She was totally ignored by the two males yelling in each other’s face while several lycans fanned out behind each of them. She’d heard enough of their disputes to know that the tallest was Diego and the other was Elias. They were also both Alphas.
Wynter tutted. “Now boys, is all that shouting really necessary?”
Diego snarled at her, his fists clenched. “This ain’t your business. Go toddle back inside.”
“Now that wasn’t nice.”
“I’mnot nice.”