Page 16 of Shift of Heart (Shifter Lords #1)

I blinked. “Excuse me?” My power rumbled through the air. Simone jerked her hand away and stood, an apologetic look flashing over her face. “Are you threatening me?”

Garrett took a step toward me. “I don’t need to threaten you. If I wanted to kill you, you’d never see me coming.”

I grinned, letting a little of the Evie who was not a Floromancer out, my mother’s daughter and enough Chimera to make him stop and blink. “I’d like to see you try, dog.”

Simone sucked in a breath.

“Garrett!” Caelan barked. “Stand down.”

The Shifter Lord got between us, his back facing me. “Peace, Garrett.”

“She’s a tainted bitch,” he spat.

My stomach dropped. What did he mean by that? My magic was mixed, yes, but my tattoo protected the truth of my tainted blood. Had it failed?

“Garrett,” Simone said softly. She walked over to him and touched his arm. I saw no magic coming from her, but his aggression rapidly cooled until it was almost completely gone. “Evie is not harmful.”

He scoffed. “If you could see how she looks at me, you’d rethink that statement.”

“I didn’t come into your house and insult you multiple times,” I snapped.

Caelan turned to face me. “My apologies, Evie. My Beta meant no harm.”

I laughed. “The hell he didn’t.”

His jaw tightened. “I’m asking for your patience.”

“I’m still standing here with my magic leashed, Shifter Lord. Today, it’s all the patience you deserve.” I glanced at Simone. “Besides her. Simone is cool. Maybe just send her next time.”

Simone closed her eyes as if she were asking for patience, and I almost laughed.

“I’ll remember that,” Caelan said, a touch of exasperation in his voice, before he turned to me. “We need your services, Evie.”

“And I told you I was booked.” I had no idea if I was or not, but the odds were good we’d have something on the books. If not, I’d find something to occupy us to keep from working with him again.

“Do you not want to work with the Pack?” he asked.

“I have no quarrel with the Pack. There are two other florists in the local area. Perhaps one of them might be available.”

Gold flashed in Caelan’s eyes. His jaw tightened. “There are no other Floromancers in this area.” A short pause. “As I’m sure you know.”

“One doesn’t need to be a Floromancer to provide flowers for an event.” My tone was polite but firm. “If that’s all, I have several orders I need to fill. I’m happy to show you out.”

Garrett snarled and turned on his heel, storming out of my office. Simone gave me an imploring look. I really did like her but having Caelan in my shop wasn’t great for business.

Everyone just assumed I was in trouble or worse. Looky loos had already started peeking through my windows after his first visit. I couldn’t imagine what would happen after this one.

“Simone, please give us a moment.”

The Omega’s face went white. “Of course.” She hurried out of the room, leaving only me and the Shifter Lord.

He took a couple of steps until he was less than a foot away. His crackling power sparked against my skin. My heart beat like a frightened deer, but I stood my ground. Caelan’s proximity bothered me more than this confrontation, and I was having trouble focusing my thoughts with him so close to me.

“While my Beta’s reaction was regrettable,” Caelan said, the timbre of his voice deeper than before, “it is in your best interest to accept this job.”

“Oh?”

“You will find being in the good graces of one of the Shifter Lords will open doors.”

“I have all the doors I can stand,” I said through gritted teeth.

His storm gray eyes were clear and calm. “Perhaps. But you will find rebuffing one of the Lords comes with consequences.”

My lips pulled away from my teeth in an angry snarl. “Are you threatening me, Lord?” Chimera power swirled in my veins begging to be used. I slowed my breath and calmed my beating heart. Giving any secret away to him would be deadly.

Caelan’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you spurn me so, Evie?” His gaze flicked over my face before he took a step and walked a circle around me.

“You stand there appearing as nothing more than a woman. A Floromancer as you say. Someone with the power to command plant life. A simple magic compared to mine. And yet, you stand before me and defy my will.”

Defy his will? This arrogant, chauvinistic …

“Do you have a death wish?” My skin tingled everywhere he looked as he walked around me. When he faced me again, there was genuine curiosity on his face.

“Few people have death wishes.”

“Then why won’t you take this job?”

I studied him for a long moment. Caelan was angry, but he was also genuinely curious. He couldn’t fathom why I didn’t want to work with him. “Most people may fall at your feet to do your bidding, but my shop does well enough on its own.”

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Lovely Evie, you did not answer my question.”

He called me lovely. I swallowed hard. “Why don’t you want to use one of the other florists?”

“Again with the non-answer. Fine. One answer in exchange for yours. Fair?”

My nod was short.

“Simple. They are not you.”

“They are talented and have good reviews. They’d fall all over themselves to do a job for you.”

Caelan’s scoff dripped with derision. “Everyone does.”

“Humble,” I remarked, my mouth too fast for my brain.

He grinned. “And that is why I want you. Because you don’t want me. Do you know how refreshing that is?”

“Can’t say that I do.” I shook my head. “People who have power don’t understand how it affects others. I don’t want the extra scrutiny on my shop. I don’t want to answer questions about you or have people try to cozy up to me because they think I have sway with you.”

The entire thing bugged the hell out of me. “I also don’t like the Pack coming into my shop and trying to strong arm me into doing your bidding.”

Caelan’s eyebrow went up. “You don’t seem to understand how royalty works. I ask and I receive.”

“You receive because people are afraid to refuse.”

He took a step closer. Too close. “Are you afraid?”

I was already in it. Might as well say what I mean. “I’m more pissed off at your arrogance than anything.”

His teeth flashed in a quick grin. Caelan reached out and tilted my chin up with his index finger. Our eyes met. “Your eyes remind me of the sea,” he murmured.

“The sea is the most dangerous place on the planet.”

His lips twitched. “Are you dangerous, flower girl?”

Caelan’s thumb caressed my chin. Desire and awareness of his proximity rolled down my spine. He could snap my neck if he wanted to. I’d live, but if he thought I was pissed off now…

“Force me to do your event and you’ll find out,” I said breathily.

His chuckle danced along my skin. Warm and sensual, it held a promise. “How do I convince you to take this job? A promise of wealth? Prestige? A favor perhaps, saved for a rainy day?” His thumb brushed across my lips, lighting all my nerve endings on fire. “Tell me, and I will make it so.”

Why didn’t it feel like we were talking about flowers anymore? “I want for nothing.”

“Liar,” he whispered. “I sense something lying in wait deep inside you. Like an eye cracking open after a long period of rest. What awakens within you, little Floromancer?”

I tugged my chin out of his hand and changed the subject. “Simone forgot her plants.”

He took my arm when I turned to get the box. “Leave it. I will get it for her.”

“A Lord carrying an underling’s things?”

“She is not an underling, Evie. Nor is Garrett.”

“A friend then?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

“Family,” Caelan said.

“A Shifter Lord claims family not of his blood?”

“We are not like the other regions. You think me a brute. I see it in your eyes. Is this why you won’t allow me to hire you?”

“I am not attracted to power, Lord.”

“Caelan.”

I held up my hand. “Absolutely not.” A crack of laughter escaped me. “That right there is what I mean.” I pointed at him and wiggled my finger in a circle. “You attempt to disarm me through warm familiarity. If I call you by your first name, I will feel special, included . More biddable.”

Caelan’s eyes crinkled at the edges before he let out a delighted laugh. “Biddable is the last word I’d use to describe you.” He stepped closer, invading my personal space once more. “Tell me what I must do to secure your time and effort. It is only flowers, Evie.”

We both knew it wasn’t, but I felt myself caving. “You’ll pay triple my fees and the cost of supplies.”

“Done.” Zero hesitation.

Dammit, Evie. Know when to reach for the stars .

“You’ll provide a truck and send a representative to pick up the arrangement when I’m finished. I’ll allot one employee to set up your displays, and you will pay whomever I choose double overtime.”

“Done.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “With a caveat.”

“You aren’t in the best bargaining position here, Lord.”

Caelan’s eyes glittered. This bastard was having a grand time.

“You’ll create one showpiece for the center of my table.

I’ll provide exact measurements when I return to the Keep but expect it to be at least two feet wide by four feet long.

It should be a showcase of your talents, both mundane and magical. ”

I blinked. “You want a magical centerpiece.”

“I do.”

“It’s—I can’t. It’s against the law. You know this.

” Joy Springs had quite a lot of flexibility when it came to practicing magic around humans because most dismissed what they were seeing as sleight of hand or trickery rather than the real thing.

But if I created a floral centerpiece showcasing my Floromancy, everyone would realize it was real.

“Yes, if humans were there to witness it. This is a gathering solely for Joy Springs paranormals which means it is allowed.”

I stared at him for a beat. On one hand, I loved the idea. Floromancers were one of the most dismissed types of mages. But on the other hand, my Floromancy was different from others, probably due to my demi-god heritage. My eyes narrowed. “A centerpiece that size is going to be astronomical.”