“I’d love a cup,” Andrea said, smiling at Sean.
Sean sat down. “You know where it is.”
Andrea remained seated. “So, are you going to tell us why you traveled all the way from Nevada to visit, Eric Warden? Especially one as high-up as you?”
Eric looked uncomfortable, also a little confused about Andrea’s role here. He’d have scented by now that she was half Fae and understand that she wasn’t an alpha female, but not why she didn’t defer to Sean or to him. Not that Andrea was going to bother to explain. This Eric might be telling the truth about his appointment with Dylan, but then again, he might be on Callum’s side. He might have other Shifters lying in wait for a chance to snatch the sword. Someone in this needed to be smart.
“I think I should wait for Dylan,” Eric said.
“How’s Callum?” Andrea asked.
Eric looked blank. “Who’s Callum?”
Sean said nothing, only sat back and watched.
“Handy that you’ve come to talk to a Shifter who hasn’t been around much lately,” Andrea said.
“I can’t help that. Dylan arranged to meet me here. We left the time vague—I didn’t know when I could get here to the minute.”
“How did you get here?” Andrea asked. “Hitchhike?”
“I have my ways.” Eric made a point of inhaling her scent. “I had no idea I was coming to be interrogated by a Fae.”
“Half Fae. To be exact, a half-Fae warrior princess.”
Andrea couldn’t help smiling when Sean tried to suppress his start. “Ah, is that why you’re such a smart-ass, love?” Sean asked.
“Could be.” Andrea fixed her gaze on Eric, meeting his green eyes without showing fear. It would be easy to fear Eric Warden, because he had power, as much power, Andrea sensed, as did the Morrisseys.
“Let me put it this way, Eric,” Andrea said. “If you’re involved in any way with gangs of human gunmen or Shifters who follow Callum, I’d advise you to stop now. This isn’t your territory, and when Sean and Liam put Callum in his place, you don’t want to be caught up in that.”
Eric’s eyes widened slightly. “Son of a bitch, what the hell is going on down here?”
“Internal problems,” Sean said. “Nothing to worry about.”
“I can see my timing is less than stellar.” Eric lifted his hands. “All right, I give you my word, Sean Morrissey, on the sun and moon, that I have nothing to do with whatever troubles you’re dealing with on your patch. I connected with Dylan on another business entirely and fixed this day to meet him.”
“He did.”
Dylan’s voice rumbled from the back door, and he walked in a moment later, hands stuffed into the pockets of his leather jacket. Eric rose to meet him, as did Sean. Andrea kept her seat.
Dylan clasped Eric’s hand and pulled the man into the brief embrace reserved for dominant males who didn’t know each other well. I welcome you, the embrace said, but don’t try anything involving my territory, mate, or cubs, or you’ll swiftly die.
Eric and Sean performed the same ritual, before Dylan moved to the kitchen and started making coffee.
“Warrior princess?” Dylan threw over his shoulder.
Andrea shrugged and didn’t answer. This was new to her, and delicate, and she didn’t relish spilling it all to Dylan.
“Andrea has a fine sense of humor,” Sean said. He sat down again, taking the seat next to Andrea’s. He rested his hand on her thigh, and Andrea suddenly felt a little less brittle.
Eric focused sudden attention on them. “Now I understand. You two are mated.”
“Not yet,” Andrea said. “Sean’s made the mate-claim, but I haven’t given him my final answer.”
Eric shook his head, grinning. “No. You’re mated.”
Even Dylan looked amused as he finished setting up the coffeepot and sat down.
“Are you mated?” Sean asked Eric.
Eric took on an empty look, the same one that Andrea’s stepfather always wore, the same one Dylan had when he talked about Sean’s mother. “Was,” Eric said. “She is gone. I have a son, Jace. He’s of age now and my third-in-command.”
Andrea heard the pride in his voice when he said the last. Not all children of alphas stayed high in the hierarchy. “Who’s your second?” Andrea asked.
“My sister.” More pride. Females didn’t always achieve such high status, not because they couldn’t be dominant, but because of archaic Shifter laws. Alpha females were rare, because alpha males were allowed to kill them.
“Cassidy lost her mate too,” Eric said. “A couple of years ago.”
Andrea felt a stab of sadness. She whispered a quick prayer, echoed by Sean and Dylan, then reached across the table and touched Eric’s strong hand. “Please send her blessings from me.”
“Thank you.” Eric’s face softened in his gratitude. “She’d appreciate that. It hit her hard.”
“Which is part of the reason you’re here,” Dylan said. “Sean knows, and Andrea ... well, she’ll know sooner or later.”
Eric nodded silently. He remained just as silent as Dylan rose to fetch the coffee that had finished brewing. Without complaint, Dylan poured four cups and brought them to the table. He didn’t offer cream or sugar since most Shifters drank it black, and Eric didn’t ask for anything.
“The Collars,” Dylan said. “That’s why Eric’s here. He heard about our ability to override the Collars, and he wants to learn it.”
“Andrea knows about it already.” Sean sent Andrea a quick glance.
“I saw a vivid demonstration by Sean,” Andrea said.
Dylan shot Sean a concerned look. “You all right?”
“Fine. I didn’t mind beating on Callum a little.”
Eric listened, brows raised. “You got a war going on?”
“Trying to prevent one,” Sean said.
“Using your half-Fae warrior princess?”
Sean gave him a little grin. “If necessary.”
Andrea took a gulp of coffee and got to her feet. “Obviously you all don’t need me here. I’ll just be going.” She took up the sword, which hummed in a muted way when she touched it, like a child singing under its breath. “Back to pancakes.”
Sean, of course, followed her out. Ronan remained in place on the porch, giving them another salute from the porch swing. He’d stay, Andrea knew. Ronan was still distrustful of this stranger.