Page 131 of Obsidian Throne
I glanced from my corner of the desk to his much neater side before shrugging.
“But I have so much more fun sharing yours,” I said innocently, batting my eyelashes up at him. “It can beourdesk now.”
He eyed the papers strewn across his normally pristine workspace and cleared his throat. “Yes, well, getting you your own would be so much more practical.”
I resisted the urge to laugh, opening my mouth to come up with a reason why it wouldn’t be practical, mostly just to irritate him.
But a knock on the door interrupted us.
“There’s someone here to see you both,” Taras called through the door.
I was the closest, so I rose to open it.
“Who is it?” I asked.
Taras looked between Evander and me, pitching his voice low when he spoke.
“It’s Lord Theodore.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE
ROWAN
Iexchanged a surprised glance with Evander.
“Korhonan?” Evander asked quietly, more to himself than to Taras.
“Bring him here?” I suggested.
Evander nodded, and Taras disappeared.
“Why do you think he’s here? Do you think he’s heard about what we’re doing?” I asked, and Evander shook his head.
“Unless Iiro has spies within the Unclanned, that wouldn’t be possible…” He trailed off, and I knew we were both thinking the same thing.
Isn’t that what Ava had done? Paid off the Unclanned for information on my whereabouts with a bonus for whoever brought her my head?
“No,” Evander said in answer to whatever he had been thinking. “No, Iiro is too prideful and clings to the old ways. He would neverlower himselfin that manner.”
I nodded as the door swung open once again, this time with Taras leading a hooded figure inside. Theo lowered his hood, dipping his head in greeting.
Whatever this was about, it was clearly important if he was willing to risk coming into Bear, let alone seeking us out to speak in person. I moved to the decanter and poured three glasses of vodka, placing an ice cube in each one.
Theo eyed his warily. “At the risk of giving offense, Rowan, I’m not sure I’ll be drinking anything you pour any time soon.”
“Technically,” I clarified, “I didn’t pour anything last time.”
Evander chuckled, taking a healthy swig from his glass. “If it makes you feel any better, she slapped me in front of my entire squadron.”
I was a little surprised by that show of camaraderie, but then, they had been friends once, and I knew that Evander was grateful for Theo’s warning...and his dubious assistance in getting me to safety.
Theo’s somewhat horrified gaze landed on me, and I shrugged.
“Let’s not pretend you didn’t both deserve what you got and more, but if it helps…” I took a healthy swig of the vodka before holding it out to him again.
He took the glass, but still didn’t drink from it. I didn’t really blame him, since I had pretended to drink before.
I gestured for Theo to take a seat on one of the plush sofas in front of the fireplace, sinking down onto the one opposite him.