“Very funny, Sean,” Andrea said. “You still haven’t asked what he’s doing here.”
“My business is with Dylan.” Eric’s quick recovery told Sean he wasn’t about to discuss it with anyone but Dylan.
Sean gestured to the Morrissey house. “Come in, and I’ll see if I can round up Dad and my brother.”
He led Eric to the front door, but as soon as they stepped inside, Andrea was there, following them in, the sword resting on her shoulder.
“Andy-love ...”
“If you think I’m letting you walk in here, alone, with an unknown Feline, you’re crazy.”
Sean gave up. “Andrea stays. Ronan, do you mind standing guard outside?”
“Hey, you make me another mountain of pancakes, and I’ll do anything for you, Sean.” He grinned at Eric. “Sometimes he puts mini chocolate chips in them. Culinary genius.” He gave them a casual salute and left, closing the front door behind him.
Sean led Eric and Andrea to the kitchen, where the table was littered with notebooks and textbooks Connor had left behind. Andrea pushed them neatly to one side, laid the naked sword on the tabletop, and sat down. “Why don’t you make us some coffee, Sean?”
That won her another irritated look, and Eric said quickly, “I don’t need coffee.”
“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.