Page 81 of Elven Crown

That was something she couldn’t plan for, because she had no idea of either how capable Maxwell was of digging up others’ dirty laundry or how he would react if he ever discovered hers.

When every task was complete, and the team prepared to load up to head back for the night, Rebecca watched their interactions while somehow not noticing Leonard approach until he stood right beside her and opened his mouth.

“Boy,” he said. “That new elf, huh?”

She turned to see him watching Rowan and raised an eyebrow. “What about him?”

“He’s…something else.”

“Yeah. I’ll talk to him.”

“And hey, is it just me, or does Hannigan seem to just really hate the new guy’s guts?”

Rebecca sighed. “Honestly, I still can’t tell.”

“That’s kinda weird, right? Not like you need it or anything, but just my two cents. You might wanna keep an eye on him. Just in case.” Leonard scratched the back of his head and sucked in a sharp breath through gritted teeth, as if this conversation physically pained him. “Either he hates the new guy’s guts, or those two have some kinda weird history none of us know about. But if they don’t work it out soon, that’s gonna be more of a problem than any of us need right now, you know?”

“Trust me, I’m already aware.”

“I mean, we just got rid of Aldous and all the shit that came along withthatdumpster fire,” he continued. “We need things to go smoothly for a while. And I can’t tell if that’s gonna happen.”

“It already is.” Rebecca almost laughed at the confused look the mage gave her, then shrugged. “Comparatively.”

“Oh. Yeah, yeah, I know. I’m right there with you. This is already way better. I’m just not sure Hannigan’s totally onboard. It could turn out to be a big issue if everyone just leaves it alone.”

She almost laughed again but held her composure.

Leonard wasn’t particularly known for his ability to be subtle, but he did have a point. This weird competition—or pissing contest, or whatever it was—between Rowan and Maxwell could easily get out of hand if left unchecked.

It almost had in the back of the transport trailer, before Nyx snatched away the elf’s dagger and Rebecca fired a warning shot of battle magic into the gray wolf’s hide.

But Leonard wasn’t bringing it up just for fun, either. He was putting it in the ear of his commander, who had the means to do something about the issue before it ever became a real issue.

So she folded her arms and nodded. “I hear you. And I’ll talk to him too.”

No need to say who. The whole mission had, in one way or another, revolved around Maxwell versus Rowan. Rebecca didn’t want to stay out of it long enough to see how things would pan out on their own.

One way or another, she would have to have that uncomfortable conversation with Maxwell, and then she’d have to do the same with Rowan.

Just not here on the Port of Chicago docks in front of the entire team. Or on the ride back to the compound. Or anywhere that provided an audience for conversations like that.

This was something she had to approach with caution and a higher level of competent diplomacy than she’d previously thought necessary as a member of Shade.

She needed a private conversation with each of them, alone, the prospect of which didn’t particularly thrill her at the moment.

Until she made it happen, though, Rebecca could only hope she didn’t find those two at each other’s throats again before shehad the chance to lay down the law and make them play nice together. Or at least try to let them get a hold of themselves like grown-ass adults.

The tension between Rowan and Maxwell was palpable even when they’d split up in different vehicles, despite Rowan’s constant joking attitude and flippant disregard for certain rules established far before he’d ever made the journey through the Gateway and into Earth.

Hoping they didn’t tear each other apart was all Rebecca could do for now, though she remained acutely aware of the fact that everything and everyone always had been and always would be beyond her control.

That didn’t mean she would give up on either of them, though.

Not before they gave her a good reason to, and fortunately, that hadn’t happened yet.

So it definitely surprised her when Maxwell beat her to the passenger-side door of Shade’s van and opened it for her while half the team climbed into the back on their own.

She was about to thank him, but then a piercing whistle sounded from the other side of the docks.

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