“I see. I trust your judgment with the horses. That wasn’t why I came.” Her tone changed instantly to a cool, haughty sound designed especially to remind me with whom I was dealing.
“I appreciate that trust. I try to keep my owners informed.”
“You’re not going to do it, are you? Commit to being on the right side in this thing. It’s going to hurt, you know you. My enemies rest at nothing when they see what they want. Right now they think they want control of the humans. Social media, political scandals, lies and treachery, that’s within their domain. You know it’s true. You can’t escape.”
“Are you threatening a god?” I responded as cool as she. As much as I liked training her horses, I also refused to be manipulated.
Flora blinked. “No. I suppose not.” Even she knew the implications of what would happen if she did. Not just for her, but also for her court.
“Good. You know I dislike Callan as much as you do. I dislike his tactics with the horses, the people he allies himself to--everything. I’m also not letting one of his ilk close to the horses. You have nothing to fear there. My focus is on them, however. As soon as I track down this compound, perhaps even the supplier, then I’ll know what action to take.”
“Understood.” Flora stood. “The information was offered from one friend to another. No strings attached. I wouldn’t pull you into this, but I needed to know where you stand.”
With her words, I knew she’d pulled me exactly where she wanted me, and I’d walked into it. Willingly, perhaps, because by revealing that information to her--that I’d likely take her side in the event of a war--I’d cemented my position as an ally. “I’ll walk you out. The training plan will be in your inbox shortly.”
“Oh, there’s no need. I know the way.” She picked up her bag and moved to the doorway.
“It’s okay. I should get down to the barn office. I’ve got some calls to make.” I smiled.
From the way she grabbed the bag, I feared she might be wanting to place surveillance or magical tokens in my house. A breach of hospitality, if not outright protocol. It wouldn’t happen. Not here.
I walked her to the front door, and we passed through it together, with her in the lead. I accompanied her to her car, then waved as she backed out, and I continued to the barn. I sat down in my office and breathed in the calming smells of hay and horses. Closing my eyes, I counted to fifty to center my nerves. I’d left the flash drive on my desk in the house, not wanting to touch it or bring fae magic so close to the horses. Forti knew better than to mess with it, and no one else came into the office.
I unlocked the computer to find new emails waiting for me. One came from a friend I knew in the nutraceutical industry. Her dryad blood gave her an affection for plants, though her human part made her unwelcome in magical circles. She’d found the owner of the company, and her partner, a hacker, had traced it back to one of Callan’s shell companies. Whatever Dean put in his horses, it came from the Unseelie court.
Chapter 7
Forti found me in the barn. She entered my office, closing the door behind me. “I’m packed and ready to go. I’ll put my car in long term parking at the Lexington airport for a week. That should give you time for someone to come and get it. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”
I stood and pulled her into my arms, inhaling her gold and sunshine scent as if I might never experience it again. “Be careful. Be safe.” I squeezed my eyes closed, refusing to give into the weight of grief.
“I will,” she replied, releasing me and stepping back. “I’ve got to go. I’ve booked the first flight out. I’ll text you the parking information as soon as I get it. You know I wouldn’t go unless it was necessary.”
“I know.” I released her and picked up her suitcase, not quite sure how else I could help. I carried it to her car, a practical Subaru and put it in the passenger seat next to her. “Keep me posted. I know I won’t be able to reach you.” I held the door open for a moment longer, then when she started the engine, I closed it and stepped away.
I watched Forti drive off, knowing this was beyond any of our control. Yet, if she were still here, I’d feel better about confronting Dean or Callan or getting in the middle of a damned fae war. I turned and went to the barn.
Kel stopped me. She turned her phone to show it to me. “I thought you might want to see this.”
I stared at a text from someone--her friend, I guessed--that had just two words: they know.
“Thank you. I don’t want you looking any further into this. You don’t need to be involved.” I rested my hand on her shoulder. “You do excellent work. I’d hate to lose one of the best exercise riders I’ve ever known. If you wanted to move on to be a trainer you could. And you’d give me a run for my money. I don’t want to see your name mentioned in all of this.”
Kel laughed. “Flora forbid me from
