_Author’s POV_
Kaelen arrived at the Ashthorne estate that afternoon.
He came alone, which was either confidence or the understanding that bringing people would make the purpose of the visit harder to frame as something reasonable.
He drove himself, no pack escort, ad no second.
The security guard called up to the house.
Rowena was in the study with Celeste and two of the lawyers when Velvet knocked and came in and said the name.
The room went briefly quiet.
Celeste looked at Rowena.
Rowena looked at the document she had been reviewing. She set it down, aligned it with the edge of the desk, and said: “Show him into the east sitting room. Tell him I’ll be there in five minutes.”
It took seven minutes, because she finished reading the page she was on before she w
