“While that would be handsomely entertaining for the rest of us,” Selena said, grabbing Breanna’s other arm, “you really should have a bit more privacy the first time.”

“You’ll look after Gran?” Breanna said when she was mounted behind Falco.

“I’ll look after everything,” Fiona promised. “Just forget the world for one night.”

Falco urged his horse into a canter and headed for the woodland trail that would take them to the shining road. They disappeared into the trees just as a blond-haired girl walked out of the kitchen.

The strength of the need to change into a shadow hound and attack was the only thing that kept Selena from making the shift. One look at this girl, a complete stranger, and she wanted to rip flesh, taste blood.

“What do you want, Jean?” Fiona said.

“Where’s Breanna?” Jean demanded in a sulky voice.

“She’s gone for a few hours.”

“Where?”

“What do you want?”

The flash of hostility in the girl’s eyes made Selena snarl. She took a step toward the kitchen door, watched Jean’s eyes widen with apprehension. She took another step.

Jean dashed inside the kitchen and slammed the door.

Selena turned on Fiona, who paled. “Who is she?”

“She’s”—Fiona nervously cleared her throat—“she’s kin. She isn’t being pampered the way she thinks she’s entitled to be. And she’s jealous of Breanna.”

With effort, Selena leashed the shadow hound side of her nature.

Fiona shrugged. “It’s Jean’s nature to be petty and spiteful. She wants to be married to a wealthy gentry man or, barring that, have a Fae Lord who will shower her with lavish gifts. Since none of the men have shown interest in providing for her and some are now openly hostile after being entangled in one of her love charms, she’s even more resentful of Falco’s affection for Breanna.”

“There’s more than pettiness and spite in that one’s nature,” Selena said. She had to get away from here, had to get away from that girl before she did something that couldn’t be undone. “I’d better—” She looked over to where her escorts waited with the horses and saw Liam ride through the arch.

Fiona sighed. “Who’s going to tell him?”

“I’ll tell him.” There was something else she had to tell him now. Varden, too. They both needed to be watchful. She trusted her instincts, and those instincts were insisting that something inside that girl was wrong.

“Better you than me,” Fiona said. From the open kitchen window, they heard a crash followed by raised voices. “I’ll just go sort out the latest squabble.”

Selena nodded and walked toward Liam, giving Varden a signal on the way to tell him to accompany her. After she got done talking to him about Jean, she didn’t think Liam was going to put up much of a fuss about Breanna.