King of the Damned (League of Guardians 2)

Something was at play, and Azaiel studied the women closely. All was not good news.

“I got that.”

Hannah rinsed out her cereal bowl and carefully dried it before she continued.

“She’s uh, not coming alone.”

Rowan swore. Loudly. “She better not bring her Canadian lumberjack. She knows better than that. Humans just get in the way.” Her eyes darted toward Frank. “No offense.”

The bartender nodded. “None taken.”

Hannah’s eyes glittered strangely, and she swallowed carefully before clearing her throat. “Ah, nope. Actually, they broke up. This whole freaking—she made quotation marks with her fingers—legions of doom thing, really worked out well for her . . .” Hannah’s voice trailed off. “I mean, timing-wise that is.”

“Really,” Rowan answered softly. “So who’s she bringing? Cousin Terre? Maybe Vicki?” There was a dangerous edge to her voice, and Azaiel glanced at her sharply.

“She was pretty upset last night when I told her about Auntie Cara, and she’s really scared for you.”

“That’s nice, so who’s she bringing?” Rowan wasn’t fooling around and glared at her cousin. The tension in the room was palpable, and all the men had come to their feet.

“Oh Lord.” Cedric sighed. “I knew this was coming.”

“Don’t be mad.” Hannah’s voice held a pleading note.

Rowan’s frown deepened, and the two women had the undivided attention of every male in the room. Even the orange tabby jumped from the kitchen counter and weaved its soft length between the two women, as if trying to calm them both.

“Hannah,” Rowan warned.

“Don’t be mad,” she said again.

“She called Kellen didn’t she?”

Hannah nodded and winced.

Azaiel’s ears perked up at the name, as did Priest’s and Nico’s. He watched Rowan closely, his muscles tensing at the look of . . . was that pain in her eyes? His jaw clenched tightly, and he narrowed his eyes. What did this man mean to her? Not that he should care . . . not that he did care, he just needed the witch focused.

Keep telling yourself that, my friend.

“He’s not going to stay away, Rowan. Not when your life is on the line. Just because the two of you . . .” Hannah cleared her throat and stopped abruptly, obviously uncomfortable. “Just because the last time you were together all hell broke loose. And, let’s be honest here Ro, you were a bitch.”

Rowan froze, and absolute silence ruled the kitchen.

“Hey, don’t get me wrong, Kellen was a total dick as well, but I don’t think he deserved . . .” Hannah bit her lip and cleared her throat. “You two belong together. You always have. Especially now.”

Azaiel’s eyes went flat as he stared at Rowan. Her back was rigid, her shoulders tucked in as if she were trying to gather what comfort she could. But it was no use. The woman was in pain, and he was pissed that he cared.

Rowan carefully closed a cupboard. She was silent for a good long while, her fingers absently running along the top of the tabby’s back as its small body purred furiously.

Hannah glanced over to Cedric, but the old man was busy with some invisible speck of dust in the corner. Frank’s face was white, which didn’t bode well as far as Azaiel could tell.

He couldn’t be quiet any longer. “Who the hell is this Kellen?” His words sounded a whole lot harsher than he’d meant them to. He ignored the sharp glance Priest sent his way, as well as the smug grin that lightened the jaguar’s craggy features. To hell with them.

Rowan exhaled and ran her fingers through the loose hair at her shoulders. She, too, glanced at Cedric, who’d turned back to them, his dark eyes wary.

“Kellen is . . .” She scooped up the cat and held on tightly, so tight that the small tabby squirmed, and she let her hop back onto the floor.

Azaiel leaned forward and found himself hanging on, wanting to know and afraid to hear her answer at the same time. He thought of the man who’d called the first night, Mason, and narrowed his eyes as he studied Rowan. Did the woman have lovers wherever she laid her head?

She glanced around the room once though her eyes skimmed them all as if she were searching for a place to hide. A shadow crossed her face, and she shrugged. “Kellen is a ghost from my past that I’m not sure I can face.”