“You don’t need to come for me about it,” I say. “Shifters are the ones who started that rivalry. Not Moon Casters.”
“Like hell.”
“You don’t seriously believe that.”
“Listen, I’m not like those two,” the guy says. “I was born in a coven. I grew up in a coven. I know about Moon Casters. You might be pulling the wool over their eyes with thisoh we’re secretly humble nice guysbullshit, but I know what you are. You kill shifters forexisting.You kill shifters who aren’t even trying to hurt you.”
“That’s what you think?” I ask. “That I’m taking her to be killed?”
“I have no idea,” he says, folding his arms across his chest. “I know you like to fuck around with people before you eventually kill them. I’m sure this is some kind of elaborate trick. I just want you to know that even if Emlyn’s falling for it, I’m not.”
“What did you say your name was?”
“Milo.”
“Milo, you have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say. “I don’t mean her any harm. And if she doesn’t want to come with me, she doesn’t have to.
Actually, that’s not entirely true. I do need her to come. Regine is going to be pissed if I have to go back there and tell her the hybrid is refusing to see her after all.
But it’s not like I canmakeEmlyn go.
Milo looks at me, clearly sizing me up.
“She wants to come,” I say.
“I know that,” he says.
“Are you going to force her not to?”
“I don’t tell her what to do.” He laughs. “Nobody tells Emlyn what to do. I hope you don’t thinkyou’regoing to.”
“I’m not going to try to tell her what to do,” I say. “We’re going to get a lot farther if you’ll just accept that my intentions are harmless here. I saved your lives twice. Do you remember that?”
“It’s the only reason we’re here at all,” Milo says. “I don’t trust you, but I can’t pretend there isn’t something…oddabout you.”
“Odd, huh?”
“Odd is good. If you were like other Moon Casters—if you were like I expected you to be—I would say you were completegarbageand not worth my time.”
“You really do hate Moon Casters, don’t you?” I say. “You said you grew up in a coven? What did they do to you?”
“None of your business,” he growls.
I shrug. If he isn’t going to tell me, it’s not like I can make him.
“You’re taking her to see your High Sorcerer,” Milo said. “That’s right, isn’t it?”
I nod. “I’m guessing you know what a High Sorcerer—”
“I know what it is,” he says. He swallows hard. “My father was one.”
“Oh?”
“Listen,” Milo says. He looks me in the eyes. “I’m going to be very honest with you here.”
“Okay?”
“I am not someone you want as an enemy.”