Page 18 of Shift of Heart (Shifter Lords #1)

Chapter

Thirteen

T he weeks passed uneventfully, and we settled into an easy, familiar rhythm once again.

Normalcy was underrated, I decided, as I dug elbow deep into a trough of perfectly balanced potting soil.

I didn’t normally grow every single flower for our arrangements because it would tax my magic too much on a daily basis.

Or at least it used to. Before everything happened.

For this, I planned to dazzle the shit out of the Shifter Lord.

Simone had sent the plans over quickly. Caelan had requested arrangements for twenty round tables and the main showpiece for several rectangle tables pushed together in a long line.

I’d already finished the smaller arrangements and decided to go all out.

Every piece was a living, green automaton performing scenes from The Wolf and the Fox, a little-known fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm.

Each scene told the story of a greedy, evil wolf who abused the poor little fox living with him until the fox tricks the wolf and escapes, leaving him to die at the hands of the angry farmer who catches him.

I cackled the entire time I worked on it. Every arrangement was a living, breathing work of art. Ferns curled and uncurled, swaying and reshaping themselves into the forms I coaxed them into, greenery twisting and rolling, flowers unfurling and blooming before turning back into tightly held buds.

The spell was complicated, but simple. Each scene would play repeatedly until close to the end of Caelan’s event.

Except for the main centerpiece. That one was a little different.

While it was an automaton, I’d designed it to show one scene until 9:45, fifteen minutes until the end of his event—the fox betraying the wolf and the greedy wolf’s inevitable demise at the hands of the farmer.

Once the clock hit ten, that same automaton would shift into a graveyard scene with fog created by dandelion puffs and rain created by guttation from pothos vines. A headstone would pop out of the ground, the epitaph simple and heartfelt.

Here lies the Shifter Lord.

A male who never learned

A clever fox will always rule over an aggressive wolf.

Five minutes after that, just as people were beginning to leave, the entire piece would explode in a riot of blooms and petals like a Fourth of July fireworks display.

Caelan would murder me. Well. He would try at least.

I put the finishing touches on the spell.

The automatons wouldn’t begin until fifteen minutes after the start of the event.

To the untrained eye, my work appeared to be a stunning display of florals with a slight hum of magic.

Unless someone was a well-trained Floromancer, they’d assume the source of the hum was a preservation spell.

True. But not the entire truth.

Once the spell clicked into place, I stepped back, put my hands on my hips, and grinned.

One of Moira’s eyebrows lifted when I walked back into the main part of the shop.

“Everything ready?”

I nodded.

“Simone called earlier. They’ll be here in half an hour.”

I grabbed my purse. “Great. I’m running out to grab some lunch. Mind texting me when they’re done?”

Moira shook her head, a rueful smile on her lips. “You sure about this?”

“Yup! I want you, Ash, and Tess to leave early this evening. The banquet isn’t over until ten, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

Tess floated over and paused. “Powerful magic back there, Evie. It’s some of your best work.”

Surprised by the comment, it took me a moment to respond. No one knew exactly what I’d done, but even without the automaton magic, the floral displays by themselves were stunning. “Thank you, Tess. It was nice stretching my wings. The Shifter Lord gave me free rein, and I took it to heart.”

Ash wrung his hands together, his face drawn in a mask of concern. The dryad could be such a worrywart sometimes. “I don’t like this, Evie.”

I reached over and brought him into a one-armed hug. “What’s my motto on bullies?”

Ash sighed and rolled his eyes. “The only way to stop a bully is by standing up to them.”

Moira grinned.

I squeezed Ash. “Yes. Caelan is a bully.”

“And he’s the Shifter Lord.” He grunted and tried to wiggle away, but I held tight.

“Which means it’s even more important to impart this necessary lesson. We don’t put up with bullies or strong arm tactics.” I ruffled his hair. “Right?”

“This is not kindergarten,” Ash growled. He wiggled away and glared. “He will kill you. Caelan isn’t known for his soft heart, Evie. He is a predator.”

I didn’t speak for a long moment, but when I did, it was with conviction. “And you forget, Ash, so am I.”

Silence fell. Ash’s eyes widened, tears filling their mossy green depths. “Maybe,” he said softly. “But if you die, it will break our hearts.” He shook his head and wandered to the back of the shop.

Tess let out a little moan and floated after him. Moira plopped her chin on her hands and watched me. “I’m not going to ask you if you’re sure about this again.”

“Thanks,” I said dryly.

Moira laughed. “He’s not wrong. None of us understand why you’re trying to yank the shifter’s tail.”

“He’s the one who asked for a display of power.”

“Yes,” Moira drawled, “so do something bland and generic that still showcases your talent. Caelan doesn’t need to know how powerful you are.”

“He won’t. My Floromancy is completely separate from the other.”

“It is,” she agreed, “but I’ve been on this earth for many, many years and I’ve met quite a few Floromancers. None of them are like you.”

“It’s still flowers and not mauling men to death.”

Moira straightened and threw her hands up. “I can see you’re past reason on this one. If this is what you think is best, then I’m with you.” My friend didn’t sound angry, only resigned.

I wasn’t sure at all, but I wanted him to know I wasn’t someone to be trifled with. If he kept coming at me, I was afraid of what I might do.

“I don’t want him to pressure us again. We’re busy enough without wondering if the Shifter Lord is going to come and destroy our business.”

“He could do that any time he wanted to,” Moira said gently. She came out from behind the register and brought me into a hug. “But since you’ve given me the go ahead to leave early, I’ll leave you to it.” She grabbed her purse. “Try to stay alive.”

“I didn’t say you could leave this early!”

On her way to the door, Moira winked. “Oh, you didn’t? I couldn’t hear you over the sound of your own self-superiority.”

A surprised laugh bubbled from me. The bell over the door rang, and Moira slipped out. “Asshole!” I called.

Her cackling laugh trailed away.

Ash and Tess closed up shop, neither of them saying much before they left. Once the last light flipped off, Tess floated over and hugged me.

“Be careful,” she said in her high, ethereal voice.

“Always. Have fun tonight.”

Tess’s pale cheeks colored. “It’s just taco night,” she insisted.

“I know. But remember, where there are tacos, there are margaritas.”

Tess snorted and waved me away. Ash stopped by the front door and watched.

I lifted a hand in farewell, but he didn’t return it. Regret curdled in my stomach. “Ash, everything will be okay. I promise.”

He made a derisive sound in his throat. “Among all your other abilities, you’re suddenly psychic now?”

Hurt, I blinked away the tears stinging my eyes.

“Ash,” Tess said, a warning note in her voice.

He yanked the door open, the normally pleasant bell clanging discordantly. “Let’s go, Tess.”

The banshee shot me an apologetic look before hurrying out after Ash.

Ouch. His rejection stung, but I wasn’t the type to cower from someone like Caelan. While I preferred staying under the radar, Caelan was trying to force me into the spotlight. What he didn’t realize was that I’d grown up with a master manipulator.

I’d forced him to sign a contract for this particular order, and part of the contract involved keeping who created the flowers for him confidential.

To his detriment, he didn’t seem concerned.

Whether he figured I valued my privacy too much or didn’t want my name associated with him, Caelan seemed to take the clause in stride.

But it was for a specific reason. Tonight’s display may very well embarrass him, and I didn’t want people loyal to Caelan coming after me.

They may suspect because I’m the only Floromancer close to the Keep, but they’d never know for sure as this was the first and only display of its kind.

I had nothing like it in my store and didn’t plan to stock anything like it in the future.

No one knew I possessed this kind of power. Caelan would shortly. And I hoped he would think twice before exerting his will on me again.

I cleaned up the register area and made a fresh pot of coffee. On most days, I’d siphon my power once more before I left, but tonight magic hummed inside me, crackling against my skin.

Caelan’s event would begin soon. I had time to do some catch up before needing to be on guard. A possibility existed that Caelan would forgive this, but he was a proud man. I fully expected him to show up this evening.

My nerves buzzed, partly from all the caffeine I’d consumed, partly from anticipation mixed with a heavy dose of fear. He’d smell it on me if he came to my shop tonight. But I’d made preparations for his arrival. I would not die this night. Neither would Caelan if he were careful.

Floral fragrance hung heavy and sweet in the air tonight.

The temperature was cool but humid, a result of my magic and the plants waiting in preparation.

I’d brought some things from the back, plants I carefully tended but almost never used—my own creations, hybrids I’d brought to life when staying with Hazel when I felt like I was growing out of my skin.

These special flowers were deadly, dangerous things.

Perfect for the deadly, dangerous thing who might later come to call.

I could feel the plants’ anticipation in the quiver of their thorns, poison glistening from wickedly sharp tips.

These could never be allowed to grow wild, never be propagated.

I’d hesitated before bringing them out tonight, but Caelan had me in brute strength.

If he got a hold of me for too long, I might be dead by the end of the confrontation.

I’d made these when my magic was still settling after the attack, and some of the Chimera had bled through.

Six plants sat around the shop, two with crimson red leaves and purple vines.

Two more had fat, glossy green circular leaves, and an odd spotted yellow stem.

The other two looked like nothing more than a common pothos vine.

I called those my Chimera vines. Most of the magic I’d spilled had gone to those two plants, and they were the most dangerous of all.

Their poisons were unique and unknown to science.

Discovering exactly how deadly my creations were was a memory I didn’t like to think about, and after a few gruesome incidents, I’d sent a tiny amount of each anonymously to a lab because I was curious, and a few weeks later, my request for identification made the national news when the government asked for the person who sent them to come forward.

Whoops.

They wanted more samples and claimed they wanted to “contain” the poison for public safety.

My mother, cruel as she was, had taught me many lessons, but the most important knowledge she’d ever imparted was to never trust the government.

In her exact words, she’d said, “They make the fae look like benevolent puppies.”

It was an odd stance to take since pesky things like politicians couldn’t stop someone like my mother, but looking back, I genuinely believed she was trying to help me.

I was old enough at the time to know if I revealed myself, I’d either be dead or in a cage, and the plants I’d created would be used in secret and probably against other people.

Obviously, I never responded to the government’s plea, and I’d sequestered the plants at home in a specially designed suitcase Hazel made for me. A few years later, they were hale and happy and just as deadly as they always were.

And tonight, they might save my life.

Nine p.m. came, then ten. At ten fifteen, I set aside my shears and tools, slipping a wicked cursed dagger I used on my most troublesome plants into the sheath at my back.

I rarely wore it, but I thought it best to be prepared for anything tonight.

It wouldn’t do much to Caelan, but it might slow him down a bit.

Seconds could mean the difference between life and death.

In my left front pocket, I had a packet of Ash’s famous itching powder, potent as hell on a normal basis, but this one was charged by a Harvest moon. In my right, a pocket full of ground wolfsbane flowers.

Caelan was nothing if not meticulous. I expected him to come in, try to have a conversation with me, then threaten to kill me.

All very civilized.

But the Shifter Lord surprised me, and it almost ended before it ever began.