Donal wasn’t coming until tomorrow, he’d asked her to get everything organized.
He trusted her to do that and simply assumed she’d be working in the tent with him. The compliment was…everything.
“Hey, Margery.” Jody, accompanied by her three mates, was loaded down with firewood and heading for one of the firepits set up around the meadow. “Let’s practice some takedowns tomorrow before breakfast.”
“Sounds good.” Margery smiled back as the males all nodded to her. And okay, she was just a little grateful that Tynan and Donal didn’t have another littermate. Although Daonain triplets weren’t uncommon, most times the third littermate was female.
Three males as mates? Margery grinned. You go, Jody.
As she walked, Margery saw shifters loaded down with blankets emerge from the path to the road. By tomorrow morning—when the festival officially started—everything would be in place. She’d been pleased when Vicki and Angie asked her to come and help set up. Being part of the community…she loved it.
“By the Gods, I hoped to find you here, banfasa.” The ugly note in a male’s voice brought her to a halt a second before she recognized who was speaking.
Pete, the Cosantir from Rainier Territory.
Two older males stood beside him, a slight aura of power around each. They were all Cosantirs.
Angie had mentioned that the attending Cosantirs hoped to have a meeting. But, cat-scat, why did Pete have to be one of them?
Stomach tightening, she nodded politely to Pete. One was never rude to a Cosantir. “Cosantir.”
“Margery.” The werebear was big-boned, slightly pudgy, and his yellow-gray hair was receding. His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “How is North Cascades Territory treating you?”
“Everyone has been wonderful.” She took a sideways step. “I need to go and—”
“You need to return to my territory. North Cascades already has a healer, a powerful one. Skilled shifters should be spread out, especially banfasas and healers. Otherwise shifters die from lack of care. Some of our wounded can’t go to human hospitals, after all.”
She stiffened. “I won’t return to Rainier Territory. Ever.”
“You don’t have a choice. Calum can’t keep you if—”
“You treated me like a slave. After a decade as a captive, I won’t willingly enter another cage.”
The other two Cosantirs were frowning.
“A slave.” Pete’s face turned an angry dark red. “That’s no way to talk about free room and board.”
“You kept me penniless. Without transportation. With no choices in food or lodging. You told me I had to be a banfasa, wasn’t allowed to do anything else. My clothes were rags, with no way to replace them since I wasn’t allowed to earn any money.” She drew herself straight. “That’s a slave.”
When his hands fisted, she forced herself not to retreat. If he hit her, well, she’d find out what happened when a shifter fought a Cosantir.
Because she’d found her fangs.
Someone crowded Margery on the side, and she almost swung at them. But—it was Vicki beside her.
The petite brunette radiated anger, and her stance said she was ready to take on Pete all by herself.
Mother’s breath. The unbelievable sensation of not being alone shook Margery, and she looked down at her feet, fighting against tears.
Vicki bumped her shoulder against Margery’s to get her attention, then nodded at the Cosantirs.
Focus. Right. Margery lifted her chin. “When I escaped to the North Cascades, your shifters spread lies about my skills to try to keep me from being able to survive.”
“Lying? I’m appalled.” Pete shook his head. “Or perhaps they knew something we don’t?”
Even as he spoke, Margery realized she didn’t need revenge. His past manipulation didn’t matter. Being able to tell him how she felt, to confront him, this was enough.
As long as he couldn’t drag her back against her will. The thought made her fingers clench into fists.
“Her talent isn’t in question in my territory.” A deep laugh came from behind her, and the words had a slight British accent. “Margery is extremely skilled, and my clan is delighted to have her. Donal has already put her to work.”
Coming up behind her, Calum squeezed her shoulder and moved past. He motioned to the other Cosantirs. “Since Pete introduced the subject, perhaps we can discuss how to encourage skilled Daonain to settle in a territory.”
The other Cosantirs followed Calum like wolves after their alpha.
Pete’s hands opened and closed as he stared at her.
She stared back, unmoving. Her own hands were still in fists.
Huffing, he scowled. “Fine, stay here, then. You’re not worth my time or effort.” Turning on his heel, he stomped after the other Cosantirs.