Carrie shook her head. Sophia and Vera laughed. “They asked us for protection. Sophia and Vera found them not far away, in a tent, naked together. A week later—last week, like I said, the day after Sophia and Vera and the Momeyer witches got here—the Doveners came. We refused all their demands. That’s when they attacked. We weren’t ready; ten of our people died. Now Cooper Roaders are angry and scared. They want to kill all the Doveners. They say fairies and witches should use all their magic to destroy them. Irons, all the guns we have. I demanded they wait until you two came,” she said, turning to Gavin and Torin. “You’re the leaders they will listen to. I know neither of you want it, but you are.”
“No,” Torin said, taking Gavin’s hand. We can’t be like the Doveners. It will be making a
