Page 37 of Shift of Heart (Shifter Lords #1)

Chapter

Thirty-Two

T he next day proved just as weird as the day before. I peeked in at the egg March had given me, but Poe was there, faithfully pulling dad duty. After a scratch on the back of his head, I nudged him out of the way just to take a peek, but nothing had changed.

“Soon?” I asked the raven.

“Soon,” Poe agreed.

“Come get me if you need me. I’d like to be there when the egg hatches, so the baby feels safe.”

Poe gave me a disapproving look, and I laughed. “I know you can keep it safe, but I need to know the breed so I can know what kind of food to buy. You know I trust you implicitly.”

My flattery soothed the raven’s ruffled feathers, and he settled back atop the egg and fell silent.

It was a slow day at the shop. Mondays usually were, so we spent those days doing inventory and placing our orders for the next week.

We ordered more than normal. With the Shifter Lord’s patronage, curious and nosy customers started coming in, but when they were confronted with the shop’s charm and Moira’s pretty face, they usually didn’t leave empty-handed.

I’d grown complacent with the lazy day and found myself unprepared for my next visitors. The bell over the door rang, and before the first person stepped in, a blast of incredible power washed over the store.

Moira and Tess, joking around about their prowess in the kitchen, fell silent. Ash came out from the back, a look of concern on his handsome face.

I knew who it was before he stepped in, but what I didn’t expect were the two others behind him.

“Lord Ethan,” I greeted without my usual smile. Moira reached under the desk and gripped my hand in warning. Tess went still. Her form shimmered as she fought to control her fear, but I could smell it. Just like the Lords could.

“Miss Quinn.” He held the door for two others. Both were tall, but not as massive as Ben. Well-muscled and fit, the first had shaggy brown hair and light hazel eyes. He had a friendly face and winked at me as he brushed past Ethan.

The last Lord made my palms go slick with sweat.

Power sluiced through the air when he stepped inside my shop, his pale gaze sweeping through the main area, stopping on me.

He didn’t drop his gaze, and I knew I should drop mine as proper deference to the Shifter Lord, but there was something about him so unnerving I couldn’t look away if I tried.

My stomach dropped to my toes, and fear, unlike any I’d ever known, cut through my veins like a hot knife.

Moira squeezed my hand tighter.

“How can I help you today?” I tugged my hand from Moira’s and stepped around the desk. “Are you shopping for you or a loved one?”

“Neither I’m afraid.” Ethan’s’ tone wasn’t friendly, but it wasn’t cold, either. Neutral was the best way to describe it.

“Oh? Then I’m at a loss.” I offered a polite smile and waited.

“Rowan,” the friendlier Lord said. He offered his hand, and I took it.

His palm was rough in mine, but he didn’t squeeze too hard.

A nice firm, professional handshake and a smile with a hint of something.

Did he have a little bit of plant mage blood?

When some of my pothos shivered and moved their vines closer, I decided I liked him.

I hitched a thumb over my shoulder. “Tess is on the right. Moira is on the left. Ash is by the door, there. I couldn’t run the shop without them.”

Rowan nodded. “This is a great place you have here.” He walked over to the pothos and touched a few of their leaves. “It’s nice to see a florist have more life in her shop than just cut flowers.” He inhaled deeply. “It smells of green things and fresh life here. I could live in here, I think.”

Color touched my cheeks. I put a hand over my chest. “Extremely kind words, Lord Rowan.”

“Just Rowan, please.”

“Thank you. Rowan,” I added.

The last Shifter Lord let the door close behind him. “My name is Halvar Aster. I rule the Midwestern territory.”

His voice scratched against my brain. Although his tone was melodic with an accent I couldn’t quite place, the sound of it made me itchy. I didn’t like him here and wanted him to leave as soon as possible. I tilted my head in acknowledgment. “Lord Aster. Welcome.”

All three Lords sucked all the air from the shop. Their combined power sizzled over my skin, making me itch to release some of my own. “Would you like to browse for a little while?” I asked.

Rowan spoke before anyone else. “We would. Thank you, Evie.”

I nodded and went back behind the desk, grabbing my notepad and a pen while the Lords investigated or “browsed.” I wasn’t dumb enough to believe they were actually browsing.

Well, maybe for Rowan I could believe it, but the other two looked like they were searching for something.

I scrawled a note across a blank piece of paper and pushed it to Moira.

Say nothing. Their hearing is far sharper than a normal shifter’s.

Moira scrawled a note back. Do we need to worry?

I’m not sure yet.

Tess floated away from the register toward the Shifter Lords.

“Tess!” I hissed.

She sent me a reassuring smile back, but it was anything but reassuring.

“How long will you be here?” Tess asked Ethan.

The Lord flicked a glance at her. “As long as we need to be.”

“That’s a cryptic answer,” Tess mused. “Did you know one of the first signs of declining cognitive ability is giving people answers that don’t make sense?”

Moira let out a horrified gasp.

Rowan’s eyebrows went up, and he shot Tess a darkly amused look. “Is that true, banshee?”

“I read it on the internet, so it must be.”

Ethan’s brow furrowed. Halvar stared at Tess. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

I hated Halvar’s voice.

“No,” Tess said cheerily. “The only place I have to go is to the grave, but I have quite a while before that happens.”

I closed my eyes and whispered a prayer.

“Perhaps not, girl,” Halvar snapped. “Be gone with you.”

“I’m a banshee,” Tess said. “I know exactly when I’m going to die, but I don’t think you know your date of death.” A terrifying smile curled her lips. “Would you like me to tell you?”

The shop grew so quiet, we could hear the clock above the door ticking.

Even the terrifying Halvar looked unnerved. Rowan broke into a cheerful laugh. “You’re the first banshee I’ve ever met. I didn’t know your kind could do that.”

Tess shrugged. “It’s one of many gifts our queen has bestowed upon us.” She tilted her head and studied him. “Would you like to know?”

Rowan blinked. “Absolutely not.” He leaned closer. “I’m quite the cad, you see. If I knew when I was going to die, I’d spend the rest of my days chasing women and drinking the finest whiskey so I could die a happy man.”

“Happiness is only a construct. Nothing matters once you cross the waters into the mist.”

Rowan winked. “Right. But thank you for the offer, dear banshee.”

Tess nodded. “You are welcome.” She leaned forward and stage whispered into Rowan’s ear.

“Rest assured, you have far more time than your counterparts. Especially the one who keeps staring at Evie like he wants to eat her.” Her gaze flicked to Halvar, and her form flickered in and out of existence.

“Your time draws near. Perhaps you have affairs you need to settle?”

Halvar’s snarl echoed off the walls. I hurried over to Tess and took her by the arm, firmly leading her away from the stunned Lords. Once I had her back behind the register and in Moira’s firm grip, I smiled apologetically.

“Sorry about that. Tess normally doesn’t offer to show that particular gift to strangers.”

Rowan laughed. “No worries, Miss Quinn.”

“Evie, please.”

“Evie, then. I find your banshee delightful.” His gaze slid to Halvar. “Though I admit to some concern about Halvar’s fate. Perhaps I should take a taxi back to the Keep.”

Even Ethan was having trouble keeping a straight face.

A hysterical laugh bubbled from my throat. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary.”

Rowan glanced over to the desk. “Tess? What say you?”

Tess pinned Halvar with her silvery stare. “He will live through the night.”

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. My smile froze. “Well. Then it’s settled,” I said in a strained voice. “Your transportation home is safe.”

“That’s not as comforting as you might think,” Rowan said, giving Halvar an odd look. “We’re sharing a rental car.”

“Umm. Well, please look around. We won’t interrupt again.” I headed back to the desk, giving Tess a wide-eyed WTF look. She looked mighty pleased with herself.

Rowan pulled a few plants and brought them over to the register. “These are for sale, right?”

“Yes. I can send you home with a bag of special fertilizer as a welcome to town gift if you like.”

His eyebrows rose. “It’s what you’ve been using?”

I nodded.

“Are you willing to part with the recipe?”

I studied him. “Do you have the gift, Rowan?”

“Not quite like you do, my dear, but I do have nature magic. I’d love to talk shop one day.”

His energy was calm and friendly. I felt confident he wasn’t here to kill me. Just wasn’t sure about the other two. “I’d like that too.”

“Good.” Rowan walked away to continue browsing.

Halvar and Ethan’s heads were together, whispering in hushed voices. Ethan shook his head and stepped away.

“Not here, Halvar.” The command in his voice was absolute, but none of the Lords ruled over each other. They ruled over us.

Power rumbled in the room. I steeled myself and slowly spooled magic, preparing for a strike if I had to make one. I had to ensure Moira, Tess, and Ash got out of here alive if things went sideways.

I glanced over at the dryad. He stood stock still, but he felt the same thing I did.

Ash’s eyes glowed amber. He was not built for extended battle, but he could defend himself if need be.

If Tess was forced to fight, her scream would destroy every piece of merchandise in the store, so I had to keep her from engaging.

Moira’s eyes flashed the bright green of her vampiric and witch nature. Claws slid from the edges of her fingers.