Page 38 of Shift of Heart (Shifter Lords #1)

Halvar turned to face me. “Attack me at your own peril.” Violence shivered through his body as he watched us.

“No one is going to attack unless you do, Lord.” It shocked me that my voice was so steady.

“You are not what you seem, Evie Quinn.” His eyes pinned me in place.

There was something about him that sent fear bleating through my veins.

Every one of the Lords was terrifying, but none of them attacked with impunity.

They were leaders first and enforced justice.

But Halvar...he had violence etched on his bones.

I inclined my head. “No one is ever what another assumes they are, though I venture to guess I am not the only one, Lord. Joy Springs is full of magical talent and mixed blood.”

Halvar’s eyes flashed, a thin sheen of crimson rolling across his iris. The sight made me freeze. My eyes narrowed. A second later, his eyes were back to their normal icy pale color. Had I imagined it?

Chimera power rose within me, and I squashed it down so tight I had trouble breathing. Halvar was a threat to me. All the Shifter Lords were threats, but this one had chosen to antagonize me.

He’s trying to get you to react , I told myself . If you do, it will be a death sentence.

“Halvar,” Rowan snapped. “Tone it down.”

One side of the Lord’s lips tipped into a cruel smile. “One day, Evie Quinn, you and I will meet alone.”

My heart stopped. “Oh?” I smiled. “Is this your weird way of asking me out on a date?”

“Evie,” Rowan warned.

Fury snapped in Halvar’s eyes. He lifted his hand, and the bell over the door rang, announcing the presence of another Lord. This time, a familiar one.

Halvar dropped his hand and turned to greet the new arrival.

Caelan was a sight for sore eyes. Dressed in grey athletic pants and a fitted t-shirt that emphasized every muscle in his chest, he looked like sex on a stick.

His eyes swept over me first, then the shop, before turning to the other Lords.

“I came to see how it was going.” He frowned.

“From the magic saturating the air, I don’t think we’re all going to be friends. ”

Rowan snorted, the look on his face knowing. “Halvar and Evie are a little at odds for some reason, but Ethan and I are just fine.” The Lord looked down at his full hands. “Though my wallet won’t be by the time we get out of here.”

“Shop all you want,” I said, relief making my shoulders drop as Halvar stalked out of the shop.

No one spoke until the door closed behind him.

“Don’t take it personally. He hasn’t had a girlfriend in years.” Rowan winked and made one more trip to the register to set his next round of goods down.

But Caelan had turned and watched Halvar as he walked to the vehicle. “What happened?”

Rowan sighed. “Not sure.”

Ethan spoke. “Your Floromancer’s banshee scared the shit out of everyone, and Halvar was just being himself.”

I almost laughed. Ethan sounded so over it.

“She’s not my banshee. Tess is her own person.”

The banshee gave us a cheery wave.

“Is she always like that?” Ethan muttered.

“Depends. I’ve never seen her quite that feisty, but Halvar wasn’t exactly friendly to any of us.”

“Lords don’t need to be friendly,” Ethan said, his eyes resting on my face.

“Ah,” I said lightly. “There you are. For a moment, you seemed to be somewhat human.”

Moira snorted.

Ethan bared his teeth at me and turned away.

Caelan’s stormy gray eyes held a touch of worry. “Did anything else happen?”

The question was directed at me.

“No. Halvar isn’t a fan of Floromancers or maybe just me,” I said tightly. I wanted to tell him how relieved I was to see him, but that would make it weird. Caelan had saved me. From what, I didn’t know, but I’d come within inches of battling a Shifter Lord in my shop, I could feel it in my bones.

And that tinge of red …

I had to be imagining it.

Rowan plunked two more plants and a massive bouquet of seasonal flowers next to the register. “This is it. I swear.”

Moira’s eyes went a little wide, but she rang him up. Before she gave him the total, I went over and added a twenty percent discount. Rowan grinned when I told him the total.

“Nice! I got the friends and family discount?”

Caelan growled. “I’ve never received a discount.”

I shrugged. “Rowan didn’t come in here demanding anything nor has he thrown his weight around.”

Rowan’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, Caelan. I am a polite and demur customer. Not an oaf. You should try it sometime.”

Caelan smacked the back of Rowan’s head, which only served to make the other Lord laugh.

He leaned over the register desk. “Do you want me to be nice to you, Evie? Is that what you like? A kind and gentle man?” His eyes flashed with impotent rage, and I knew he wasn’t speaking in generic terms.

I handed Rowan his receipt and smiled. “Being kind and gentle isn’t a weakness, Caelan. Women always respond more to inner strength than outer physicality, no matter how good that outer shell looks.”

His lips pulled back in a savage smile. “So you’re saying you think I’m pretty.”

I laughed. “I’m saying Ben is kind and gentle and pretty.”

Rowan’s brows hitched up, and he took a step back.

Moira and Tess edged from behind the register. “We’re going to grab a box to pack up Rowan’s stuff,” the vampire murmured quietly.

“I should kill him for that,” Caelan whispered, his eyes flaring gold.

I blinked. “For what? Ben has the right to pursue whomever he wishes.”

“Not you,” Caelan snarled.

I leaned forward, so close our noses were almost touching. “I am allowed to do the same. We’ve done nothing but antagonize each other, and you piss me off even when I think you’re trying to be nice.”

“I’m never nice.”

“I know that now!”

“Go out with me.”

I scoffed even as my heart thudded like a drum inside my chest. “No.”

“You like Ben better?” Muscle corded through his arms as he leaned forward. His eyes glowed with magic, and power limned his entire frame.

“Ben is certainly nicer than you are,” I snapped.

“Nice will not protect you!” Caelan roared.

“You think Ben is weak?”

“I think you don’t want nice. You seek safety. Protection. Peace. I can give all of that to you.”

I threw my hands up in the air. “Where in the world is this coming from? A week ago, you tried to kill me!”

Rowan huffed a laugh. At Caelan’s snarl, the other Lord winced and slipped to the back where Moira and Tess were.

When we were alone, I took a couple steps back.

“This is getting awkward. You aren’t interested in me.

All you are is curious.” I offered him a tight smile.

“And you know what they say about curiosity.”

His eyes gleamed. “Curiosity killed the cat. But do you know what brought him back, flower girl?”

My blood heated.

A slow smile curved his generous lips. “Satisfaction.”

An annoyed huff burst from me. “Regardless, this—” I pointed between me and him, “is not happening.”

“And neither are you and Ben.”

“I never said anything was happening there either.” I started to turn away, but Caelan reached over and grabbed my arm.

“Then why did he come home smelling like you, Evie?” He leapt over the desk and took two steps. My back bumped into the wall. Caelan boxed me in with both his arms on either side of my head.

My heartbeat leapt in my throat.

Caelan buried his nose in my neck and inhaled. “You smell like deep magic and mysteries.” He nipped my throat, a burst of pain before pleasure flooded my veins. “Like a gift I have yet to unwrap.”

I pushed against his chest. “Stop.”

His wicked chuckle against my skin did terrible things to my willpower. “Admit you don’t want nice, flower girl.”

“I don’t want anything,” I whispered. His proximity scrambled my thoughts.

I wanted to pull him to me, but I also wanted to push him away.

Caelan smelled like wild forests and the full moon, a hint of something not wolf sparkling in his blood.

My fingers itched to run through his thick hair and bring him against me.

“Everyone wants something.” He dipped his head and pressed a searing kiss to the top of my collarbone.

A gasp escaped my throat, and the overwhelming urge to surrender to him flooded my brain.

The bell rang, announcing a new visitor. My eyes fluttered closed with relief.

“Go away, Garrett,” Caelan growled. Gold light flared over our bodies.

The shifter cleared his throat. “Lord, I...apologize for the interruption, but there’s been a disturbance at the Keep.” Disapproval echoed with every word Garrett spoke.

Caelan inhaled and closed his eyes. “I’ll be there in a minute. Wait for me outside.”

The door closed.

“This isn’t over, Evie.” The Shifter Lord straightened and adjusted his shirt, then ran a hand through his dark hair.

“It never started,” I said, my voice hoarse with desire.

One side of his mouth quirked up. “I’m going to find out what you are.”

Fear made my throat click. “You’ll be sorely disappointed to know I’m merely a Floromancer.”

“We both know that is a lie, flower girl.”

He still stood far too close. Caelan leaned in, his breath warm against my mouth. “Stay away from my healer, Evie. You are far too dangerous for his heart.”

Without another word, Caelen leaped over the desk and headed outside, the bell jingling against the oppressive silence of the room.

Rowan, Moira, and Tess came back out a minute later, silent and with their heads down. The Lord carried a large box. Moira took it from him and carefully wrapped and packed his plants up.

When it was finished, Rowan picked up the box and gave me a sympathetic look before walking to the door where he stopped and turned toward me.

“Evie, for what it’s worth, and you may not want to hear this right now…

” He trailed off for a moment. “Caelan is a good man. Quick to anger, slow to love, slow to trust, and even slower to commit. He sees something in you he wants, and if you don’t want it too, I suggest you run.

Go now, go far, and never seek him out again.

” He shook his head. “Caelan always gets what he wants, and I’m afraid he has his eyes on you.

” The Lord pushed the door open. “He’s right, you know. ”

“Oh?” My heartbeat sounded like an ocean in my ears.

“There is something off about you. We all sense it.” He gave me a sad smile.

“But he’s also right about you not wanting someone nice.

You’re a deadly thing wrapped in an innocent package.

Take care you don’t endanger everyone around you when that package finally unwraps and exposes your secrets.

” He stepped outside and let the door close behind him.

No one said anything for a long time.

“Fuck,” I whispered when I could catch my breath again.