“Yes,” Lily answered. Breakfast’s smile dissolved. “It’s pretty intense.”
“Okay, time out,” Una said, pulling on Tristan’s arm until he moved back enough to allow Rowan to stand. “I’m sure Rowan would never do anything to endanger Lily’s life, so why don’t you tell us what level of damage we’re talking about here. Bad-day-at-the-beach kind of burn, or meltdown-at-the-power-plant kind of burn?”
“She’ll be okay if you three are properly trained,” Rowan answered calmly. “Look, this isn’t going to happen tomorrow. Lily still needs to find my world.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Lily replied, looking away. She knew Lillian would guide her if she decided to worldjump. In fact, there was little chance Lily would be able to ignore Lillian once she entered the spirit world.
“How are you going to find Rowan’s world?” Breakfast asked.
“It’s called spirit walking. Your spirit leaves your body and you send it into parallel universes. It’s a talent that runs in certain families,” Lily answered, looking at Breakfast meaningfully. “My mom and your uncle do it all the time without even trying.”
Breakfast put a hand to his head. “Oh, no way,” he said slowly as understanding dawned on him. “My uncle’s actually in another world?”
“His spirit is,” Lily replied.
“Sweet,” Breakfast said appreciatively.
Rowan regarded Breakfast through calculating eyes for a moment, and then looked out the window. “The sun’s almost down,” he said. “As soon as Juliet gets here we can go to the beach and get back to combat training.” Something caught his eye. He went to the window and moved the curtain. “There’s someone sitting in the car parked across the street.”
Tristan was by Rowan’s side in a moment. “That’s Scot’s car,” he said. “I’ll handle him.”
Una’s arm shot out and she stopped Tristan. “Breakfast. Why don’t you go out and have a chat with dear old Scot?”
Breakfast hurried outside and crouched over the driver’s-side window. After a few minutes, the car drove off and he returned with a troubled look on his face.
“What’d he say?” Lily asked.
“He really wanted to talk to you, Lily. He looked pretty strung out,” Breakfast replied.
“He’s not going to stop,” Rowan said darkly. “The farther you push him away, the more desperate he’ll become.”
“Well, what can I do about it?” Lily asked, frustrated. “Let him sit with us at lunch?”
“Claim him,” Rowan replied.
A short, surprised laugh burst out of her. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
“Do you have any idea what he tried to do to Lily?” Tristan asked angrily.
Rowan glared at Tristan, silencing him, and then looked at Lily. “Unclaimed, Scot’s a wild card. Claimed, you can do whatever you want with him.”
Lily stared at Rowan with her mouth open. “That’s why she claimed Carrick,” she whispered.
Rowan nodded slowly. “And Gideon before him,” he added. “You have to start thinking tactically, Lily. Claiming isn’t just about surrounding yourself with loving people who adore you. It’s about keeping your enemies in check. You need to claim Scot as soon as possible. Today.”
Lily’s stomach turned at the thought of being inside Scot’s mind. “I can’t, Rowan.”
Rowan backed off, but he looked at Tristan. Lily was miffed to see understanding pass between the two of them. Somehow, Rowan always seemed to end up with Tristan on his side.
Juliet arrived, shedding books and winter layers as she made her way from the garage to the living room. She paused when she sensed the tense atmosphere. “What’d I miss?” she asked.
While her mechanics explained the whole sordid mess with Scot to Juliet over dinner, Lily and Rowan stayed quiet. She could feel Rowan’s mind constantly brushing against hers, asking for entry, until she snapped.
Stop it, Rowan. I don’t want you in my head right now.