aimed his distaste at the Summer King.
“There isn’t much I can do up there,” Baron said. “Rydstrom and his goons have the situation under control. They’ve locked everyone in the trap rooms, trying to sift through the weeds and find out who’s responsible for the bombing.”
“Maybe we should go help him sift the weeds?” I asked hopefully.
“This is the Night King’s territory in the mortal realm,” Rowan said. “He doesn’t want our common enemies to know we’re working together. I agree, discretion is necessary.”
“The fucker claimed this was the safest place to train my Evie,” Baron grunted. “This club has become a target. We should move Evie to my safe house by the beach.”
My eyes sparkled for a second. I liked the beach. My siblings liked the beach.
“I don’t think so,” Rowan said. “It’s best Evie stays in my Winter castle. Only a few of my trusted servants and elite guards know about it.”
“Trusted?” Baron sneered. “We can’t trust anyone while there’s a bounty on Evie.”
They could argue all they wanted, but I had more important things to do. Ignoring a twinge of regret, I broke free from Rowan’s arms and headed toward the stairs. Instantly, both kings stalked on either side of me, each trying to pull me into their arms.
I slapped their hands away. “I’m just going to take a quick peek up there. I won’t let anyone spot me.”
Before they could grab me, I sprang up the staircase. I’d only gone a few steps before Drake, one of Rydstrom’s elite knights, slipped out of a shadow and blocked the upper stairs like a massive boulder. He must have merged into the shadows to eavesdrop while the Fae kings had been arguing.
I halted just in time before bumping into him. I’d learned about his strength the last time he’d forced me out the back door of Rydstrom’s office.
“Drake, are you spying on me?” I asked.
“My king said you’d pull this stunt,” he said. “So I’m standing guard right here to stop you from doing anything rash. It’s time we escort you out the back door and get you home.”
“I’ll just check on Indira really quick,” I told him.
Drake rolled his eyes. “The barmaid is tougher than you. And I was warned that you tend to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong. So no, lady, we’re getting out of here!”
I flashed him a cloying smile. “Try to bully me again and see how that works out for you.”
“They also said you were argumentative,” Drake sighed. “You wear people out quickly.”
Before I could retort, Baron mounted the stairs in a flash, planting himself between Drake and me. “Back off, guard. I’ll take Lady Evelina home.”
“As will I.” Rowan blew out icy steam from close behind me, menace rolling off him. “And be respectful, knight.”
The kings had a flair for drama, but I didn’t want any more fights breaking out in the club. One vortex was traumatic enough for a lifetime.
“My king also expected the Winter King and Summer King to say that,” Drake continued, unfazed. “The Night knights will join Your Majesties and your knights to escort Lady Evelina home. My men are familiar with the mortal realm. It doesn’t hurt to have extra security. But Lady Evelina has the last say on all this.” He looked at me, as if expecting me to do the right thing.
I called the shots, yet he wouldn’t even let me take a peek at the club’s ground floor? Fae and their contradictions.
I rolled my eyes. “Lead the way.”
As soon as I reached the top stair after Drake, with Baron at my side and Rowan at my back, knights from all three courts immediately formed walls around me, as if they’d rehearsed it. They placed me and the two kings in the center. From my angle, I caught a glimpse of trails of smoke twirling into the ceiling.
The club felt cooler than usual. Frost dotted everywhere, which meant Rowan must have helped contain the fire and smoke situation before he came down to the training room to fetch me.
A wave of relief washed over me as I spotted Indira behind the bar through the space between the giant Fae’s bodies. She had her palms planted on the edge of the ivory bar. The tattoo of a wolf’s paw jumped on the side of her face, and her amber eyes flashed in fury.
I craned my neck, trying to take in more of the club, but Rydstrom’s crew blocked my view to the dance floor