nature. He did try to use his glamour on you, but you fended him off like he was a buzzing insect. You held your ground, and I admire you for that.”
Baron growled at Rowan threateningly. “Do not interfere with my affairs, Rowan. This is between Lady Evie and me.” When he turned to me again, the charming smile was back. “As I said, Lady Evie, it was all a misunderstanding.” He moved the bunch of roses toward me, intentionally holding them to block my view of Rowan. “It would please me greatly if you accept my apologies.”
Rowan brushed aside the roses. “If Lady Evie wants roses, she can pluck plenty of them from her own yard.” He flapped his trench coat and pulled out an exquisitely packed box of chocolates.
I glanced at the chocolates and licked my lips. Chocolate was one of my weaknesses, and my siblings, especially Fawn, loved it. We couldn’t afford fine chocolates while we were on a budget, and the one in Rowan’s hand looked like one of the best kinds.
“My compliments, my lady,” Rowan said, pleased with how I eyed the chocolates. Then he turned to sneer at Baron, apparently satisfied to see the veins jump on his half-brother’s temple. “This is the correct courtship custom, Summer King,” he taunted. “Your advisors, your court, and you all need to keep up with the current fashion in the human world.”
They certainly had a strange way of talking. However, I wasn’t the kind of girl who would just accept anyone’s gift, no matter how much I wanted it. Mom had taught me better.
Before I could turn Rowan down, movement on the front lawn caught my eye. Six men wearing armor and longswords prowled across the grass. The new arrivals all looked like eye candy, and they all had pointed ears.
They were all Fae, then, and they marched toward the house like a pack of soldiers with kill orders.
Was Baron trying to stall me while he called for his backup thugs to subdue me? No wonder he called himself a king, like some mafia boss. Baron was the ringleader of a Fae gang!
“What the fuck?” I cried as I jumped back into the house to slam the door shut, planning to grab the AR-15.
We’d see if these Fae thugs’ skin was thicker than a Russian bear or not. And I’d bet my shotgun had more power than those swords.
Faster than sin, Rowan wedged a booted foot into the doorway to prevent the door from closing.
“Calm, Lady Evie,” he said. “No one dares to harm you as long as I’m with you. I can take out all Summer knights easily.”
Icy wind twirled around the front of the house and formed a shield before me.
Baron’s amber eyes flashed. “You thought I was sending my knights to harm you, Lady Evelina?”
“They carry swords,” I said. “But I’m not afraid of any of you. I’m perfectly capable of defending myself. I have two full loads of silver and iron bullets!”
Google had said the silver bullets could kill werewolves, and iron bullets were reserved for Fae. If you were zealous enough to take down a vampire, the best weapon was an ash wood stake. I made a mental note to acquire a few wooden stakes, just in case.
Baron hissed at Rowan. “You know as much as I that I’ll never hurt Lady Evie after I’ve learned what she is to me, yet you still encouraged her to distrust me. You’re playing dirty, like always, and I’ll remember that, Winter King.”
What she is to me?
Now he decided I wasn’t the dark one, but something else?
Rowan shrugged, his gaze icy.
Baron turned to me with a wounded expression. “You hurt my feelings, my lady.”
My heart fluttered at that hot, puppy look. I furiously ignored it.
“Sue me,” I told him.
Baron sighed, and Rowan grinned, his smile with icy fire caressing my every line. I had to hold myself still to not shiver.
“Put a smile on your face, knights of the Summer Court,” Baron snapped at the six dangerous men. “Soften your expression whenever you’re in Lady Evelina’s presence. Your images are important as you’ll represent me when I’m not around the great lady.”
His knights darted puzzled looks at me, as if they didn’t think I had the looks of a great lady. Then they grimaced, their version of a friendly smile.
“Drop it,” I said, waving a hand at them. You couldn’t force people to smile. “But don’t come any closer, or you’ll be sorry.”
Baron nodded at his