Mother’s tits. Where was Gwenn? She promised to be down as soon as she washed up a bit and changed into something borrowed from Elinore’s wardrobe.

Breanna brushed her fingers over the skirt and tunic she’d borrowed, certain Elinore would have been more offended if she’d sat in the parlor looking dusty and bedraggled while offering tea to an important guest than helping herself to the other woman’s clothes.

Sloane opened the door. As Selena walked into the room, Breanna decided a false, sick smile would be more insulting than a serious expression. Besides, she didn’t think her parlor skills were sufficient under these circumstances to produce even a sick smile.

Where was Gwenn?

“There’s tea and sandwiches,” Breanna said.

Selena barely glanced at the tray on the table. “It looks lovely.” She walked over to the windows half-covered by the heavy draperies that were usually pulled closed over the sheers at night. She stared out the window but didn’t push aside the sheers to get a clear view.

“Do no harm,” Selena said quietly. “That’s the creed. That’s the scale on which we balance all we do when we channel the power from the Great Mother. The Lady of the Moon is a wonderful dance, a celebration of the Mother’s sister. But I’m also the Huntress, the protector of witches. I am justice…and I am vengeance. Because of that, I can no longer balance what I do on the scale of our creed.”

And it hurts you, Breanna thought, studying the lovely woman who now wore a simple green gown. It hurts you that you can’t live by the creed. The quiet pain under Selena’s words tugged at her and she said the first thing that popped into her head. “You made a mess of Liam’s drive. It will take his men days to rake it smooth again.” She didn’t mention the men who were out there now, searching for any wounded, gathering up the dead.

Selena turned away from the window, her expression slightly puzzled.

Good. That was good.

“I thought Gwenn said Baron Liam was your brother. Isn’t it your drive, too?”

Breanna shook her head and poured tea into two cups. “Oh, no. This is Liam’s house. I don’t live here.”

“I see.”

It was like feeling the sharp blade of a winter wind cutting through a summer day.