Page 33 of Shift of Heart (Shifter Lords #1)

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

E very time Cernunnos visited me in my dreams, I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a truck.

What that told me was his visits were not dreams at all.

I walked to the coffee pot like a zombie and made twice as much as usual, not doing anything at all until I’d downed two cups.

Only then was I ready to check my email and make some notes about inventory for next week.

Hattie’s order was coming due, so I added as much cheery color as I could to my notes.

I’d work on the bouquet when I got back to the shop.

After a couple hours of admin work, I rose and changed into some outdoor clothing.

My property was on the outskirts of town, secluded from other neighbors because of the nature of my magic, and surrounded by eight additional acres of uncleared land.

The greenhouse was set toward the back side of the house and had seen better days.

I’d meant to restore it over the years, but I’d gotten busy with other projects and had neglected to do anything other than bolster the foundation so it wouldn’t fall down around my ears when I worked inside.

But it had been quite a while since I’d grown anything inside, and I wasn’t sure why other than my own neglect, so I went outside with my sketchbook I used to draw up arrangement ideas and studied the greenhouse from every angle, trying to figure out how I could best utilize the space.

I needed a functional and comfortable space to work in during the summer, and that was easier said than done in Joy Springs. After I’d sketched out the ideal greenhouse with notes about hydroponics and a heating and cooling system, I forced open the creaky doors and went inside.

The greenhouse was empty except for several old pots and some gardening tools that had seen better days. I’d bought the place because of the privacy it offered and this greenhouse, but my magic had grown by leaps and bounds since then, and I needed something more than a simple growing setup.

But I’d just written Caelan a huge check, and it would be awhile before my bank account replenished itself.

While I could afford an electrician and a carpenter, I always kept a large chunk of cash just in case I needed to start over.

With my behavior over the last couple of weeks, that likelihood was looking more like an inevitability than a slight chance.

Grimacing at my own stupidity, I grabbed the lone shovel sitting against the wall to put in my shed, and stepped back outside, only to see two black SUVs pulling into my driveway. I watched way too much television to be calm about their appearance.

Vehicles like that could mean only a few things.

I was about to be the victim of heavy gunfire.

The mob was about to make me a deal I couldn’t refuse.

The cartel was about to make me the same deal, but with a handsome drug lord garnering the deal I couldn’t help but fall in love with.

Or the Shifter Lords had arrived at my doorstep.

When Caelan stepped out from the first vehicle wearing a suit and a grim expression, I had a moment of deep regret that it wasn’t the cartel. They’d be easier to deal with.

A lean man with silver at the edge of his temples and an air of violence surrounding him slid from the driver’s seat of the same vehicle Caelan had just exited.

I began funneling magic up through my feet, spooling it through my veins in anticipation of violence. Caelan gave me a warning look as the second Lord approached me.

Several other males exited the second vehicle and followed behind Caelan and the other one, a Lord, I presumed.

The lean man stopped before me. He was smaller than Caelan, but not weak. Magic snapped around his aura, different from Caelan’s. His eyes were dark and flat, and he studied me like I was prey, which pissed me off.

Cernunnos’ and Moira’s warnings rang in my mind.

Gray rock. Be the most uninteresting thing in the room.

My fingers gripped the shovel I held. “Can I help you?”

The shifter’s eyes flickered with displeasure. He wanted to be the one to speak first, and he didn’t like that I had usurped him. “Are you Evie Quinn?”

I nodded. Only answer their questions. Never give more information than they ask for.

“My name is Ethan Flint. I control the Rocky Mountain territory. We’re here to address some concerns about rogue magic. Unfortunately, your name has come up in our investigation more than once.”

I tilted my head and studied him. “Mr. Flint, I’m merely a Floromancer. There’s nothing rogue about my magic.”

“Be that as it may, we are required to investigate all loose ends, and you are something of an anomaly in town.”

“I’m a florist. We’re always anomalies when people realize we like plants more than them.” I offered him a tight smile.

Ethan’s eyes flashed with anger. “Perhaps we could take this conversation inside?”

Not a chance, buddy. “Sorry. I’m right in the middle of an outdoor project. I don’t take much time off, and I’ve neglected my greenhouse for far too long. I’m sure this won’t take long, will it?”

Caelan’s lips twitched.

Shit. Stop being interesting, Evie.

The other shifters behind Caelan shifted uneasily. Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. We’ve seen evidence of your work on Caelan’s property. Care to explain?”

My gaze flicked to Caelan who stood there still as a statue. No help there, then.

“Sure. The Shifter Lord expressed interest in bringing more color to his property when he hired me to provide floral arrangements for a funeral. I’m always looking to bring in more funds and build my landscaping portfolio, so I offered to provide the work for free.”

Caelan’s eyes positively sparkled.

“Interesting. The Shifter Lord does not have any paperwork supporting this.” A cold smile tipped his lips. “I find it hard to believe a professional business woman performed such a stunning amount of work with no contract.”

I laughed. Ethan froze, anger flashing over his face.

“Insisting on a contract would assume the Shifter Lord would not make good on his word. He authorized me to enter his property at my leisure and gave me free rein to do what I wished. As an experiment.” I shrugged.

“I took him up on it, trusting someone as honorable as a Shifter Lord would keep up their end of the bargain.”

I could almost hear Ethan’s teeth grinding. If he responded in the negative, he would imply Caelan was untrustworthy. But he recovered faster than I expected. “And yet, you had one for the funeral job you did.”

I lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “My business partner insisted on one. She is a stickler for paperwork, no matter who you are. The Lord dealt only with me the next time, and we did a handshake deal. It’s a small town.

They’re much more common around here than in northern territories.

Southern hospitality and all that, you know. ”

“And you were happy with the work you did?” Ethan said, thinking he had me. I’d basically vomited flowers all over the place.

“The first time was a trial run. Floromancy is a complicated magic, Mr. Flint. His soil was in deep need of nurturing and restoration. Planting native grass and wildflowers was only the first step. Once those run their course, I will follow up for the next step.”

Tension hung in the air, heavy and thick. Ethan’s fury smothered me like a coat. “And the Jacaranda tree?”

“Pretty, but an accident.” My gaze flicked to Caelan, who remained silent. “Though I have assurances the Shifter Lord is quite enamored with the purple blossoms.”

Caelan’s lips twitched.

My eyes slid away and back to Ethan. “But, if he wishes, I’ll be happy to take the Jacaranda with me the next time I visit the property. I aim to please all my customers.”

“Unnecessary,” Caelan said, his voice rumbling with amusement. “It’s a real conversation starter.”

“I suppose I can see how the state of Caelan’s property would contribute to rumors of rogue magic, but I have to stress that most people do not know how to properly care for a native landscape.

The amusing but true concept of a lawn care obsessed human has been devastating to our natural ecosystem.

No one should have a lawn. We should all be doing our part to nurture the earth and all its wonderful gifts.

This means ensuring we plant native grasses and flowers and staying away from chemicals that kill ‘pests’ and weeds.

A weed is a plant, and every weed has its place within our ecosystem.

As awful as mosquitoes and wasps are, they are also pollinators.

With the way the world has decimated the bee population, we need every pollinator we can get our hands on before our food supply is wiped out. I’m sure you understand.”

I was not doing a good job at being a gray rock. Dammit.

Ethan blinked several times. “Uh.”

Caelan rubbed a hand over his mouth and looked at his feet.

“I will say that I have also heard the rumors of rogue magic, though I was unaware at the time I was a suspect. The only magic I’ve done is boost the natural cycle and beautify the land.

It’s my nature, Mr. Flint. A Floromancer is born to heal the land.

If that is a crime, I must insist you lock me up. ”

Ethan said nothing for a long moment, but he studied me, his dark gaze missing nothing. “Perhaps I will seek out your services one day, Miss Quinn. You seem to have quite the talent for beautifying spaces.”

I pushed magic through my veins to keep my heart rate steady. The absolute last thing I wanted was more attention from the Shifter Lords. “Most people hate dandelions, Mr. Flint. If you’re willing to put up with the weeds and overabundance of natives for a while, I’ll be happy to help you.”

“Sans contract,” Ethan said.

I lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I’m sure you and the other Shifter Lords are as honorable and trustworthy as ours is.”

Caelan made a choking noise.

Ethan dipped his head in acknowledgment. “I’m sure we will see you around soon, Miss Quinn.”

I certainly hoped not, but I slapped a friendly smile on my face. “Follow the dandelions.”

Ethan spun on his heel and returned to the SUV. As if on cue, the other shifters, except Caelan, did the same.

Our eyes met. “Be careful, Evie,” he said, his voice so low it was almost a whisper. “The other Shifter Lords are not like me.”

I wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. “Do you like that Jacaranda?” I whispered back.

“I like the woman who gave it to me.” Caelan winked and turned to follow the others.

Oof.

That did not go so well.

Shit.