Page 41 of Shift of Heart (Shifter Lords #1)

Chapter

Thirty-Five

M oira whistled low when she saw me a couple hours later. “Holy shit.”

Ash’s eyebrows rose to his hairline. “That dress…” He shook his head and swallowed hard. “I sense the life pulsing inside.” But Ash frowned. “Will Rowan sense it as well?”

“More than likely, but I believe he’s Caelan’s ally. I don’t think we will need to worry about him tonight.”

“Let’s hope,” Ash murmured.

Tess floated over, her pale eyes studying me. “You look like a deadly princess.”

She was right. The dress fit me like a glove. The train fell to the floor so I could get away with wearing slippers instead of heels. Easier to run in if I had to make a mad dash outside the Keep.

I’d styled my hair but left it loose, and it fell in thick curls all the way to the middle of my back. I wore a silver pendant in the shape of a poppy and simple diamond studs shaped like daisies.

Ash wore a brown suit with a forest green tie and matching shoes.

Tess wore a simple silver gown with matching shoes.

Moira wore a pair of high-waisted, black satin pants, four-inch silver heels, a silver sequined camisole, and a matching satin blazer.

She’d scooped her dark hair into a slicked back high ponytail and wore only mascara, a touch of blush, and crimson lipstick.

“We all look devastating,” I said with a grin.

Moira held a finger up. “Oh! Before I forget.” She dug through her purse and pulled out a small box. “Marnie and Twila made this for you, just in case things go wrong this evening.”

I opened the box and pulled out a tiny silver pin shaped like a rose. Moira plucked it from my fingers and pinned it to my skirt, disguising it between the embroidered flowers.

Faint magic beat from the pin. “What is it?”

“Healing spell,” Moira answered. “Designed to trigger automatically if you lose fifty percent of your energy.”

“Like an RPG!” Ash said.

Tess gave him a quizzical look. “How is a healing spell like a rocket-propelled grenade?”

All of us gaped at the banshee. Maybe one of us needed to step in and police her television habits.

Ash blinked in confusion before his expression cleared. “No, Tess.” His voice was gentle, and it warmed my heart that he didn’t laugh at her. “It can also mean role playing game. That’s the context I was using.”

The banshee tilted her head in curiosity. “What’s a role-playing game?”

Ash’s face lit up. “You’ve never played before?”

Tess shook her head. Ash draped an arm around her and led her off, babbling about clerics, warriors, and mages, as a bemused Moira and I watched.

“She’s in her twenties, right?” Moira whispered.

I nodded. “Sheltered, but yes.”

“Poor girl.” Moira laughed. “Ash is going to talk her ear off.”

But the banshee was watching Ash with rapt interest. “Somehow I don’t think she’s going to mind,” I said.

Moira dropped the keys into a shifter’s waiting palm as we exited the car.

I struggled not to laugh as we walked up the steps to the front door.

Caelan hadn’t changed a single thing about my “landscaping” services.

Dandelions still swayed in the gentle night wind, and the columns in the front of his house were still covered in blooming flowers.

I inhaled the heady floral scent surrounding the property and listened as hummingbird moths and other night creatures buzzed through the new and stunning native landscape.

The front doors opened, and we were escorted inside. Fairy lights hung throughout the main hall, giving the place a warm, cheery glow. A smile tipped my lips as I explored further, noting with some delight just how many plants Caelan actually had.

There’d been no sign of the healer since he’d disappeared during my mother’s visit.

While I was disappointed, it was best for his continued health if he stayed away from me.

Hundreds of shifters and local business owners mingled in the ballroom, the sound of soft, classical music playing through the speakers.

In the middle of the room sat a large basket of flowers and greenery next to a wooden structure.

I’d been told this was a symbolic gesture as well as a test of my abilities, basically a way of Lord Caelan welcoming me to town and for the town to see I was no threat.

It didn’t make a lick of sense to me because I’d been here for five years, but Rowan had lowered his voice and told me the Council had insisted because they were still sure I had something to do with the rogue magic pockets, and this was their way to see I was nothing more than a Floromancer.

Still didn’t make sense, but whatever. So, I agreed to put the full moon centerpiece together after dinner.

Once it was finished, the ceremony would begin.

Simone appeared before me. “Evie,” she said with a nod. “Caelan would like to speak with you before everything begins. May I escort you?”

My heart fluttered, but I nodded.

Neither of us spoke as Simone led me to an office away from the ballroom. She knocked once and opened the door.

I gasped when I saw Seymour. The flytrap perked up immediately once he sensed my energy and tried to scoot his pot closer.

“I’ll come to you,” I murmured happily.

“Nice to see you’re more excited about the plant than the Lord,” Caelan murmured.

I spun because I hadn’t even noticed him and smiled sheepishly.

His eyes widened and skimmed down my body, leaving a trail of heat everywhere he looked. “Stunning,” he murmured.

Color touched my cheeks.

Simone excused herself and shut the door. The sound of ceramic hitting wood made me laugh. I held up a finger. “Sorry. Let me take care of this first.”

Caelan’s eyebrows rose as I turned to the flytrap to murmur sweet nothings to him. Seymour made a happy little noise and butted my finger with his trap.

“That is quite disturbing,” Caelan said.

“Did you bite him?” I whispered to Seymour.

The carnivorous plant cooed happily.

“Good.” I gave him an extra scratch and turned to Caelan. “Thank you for the dress. It’s spectacular.”

He nodded. “I am a cautious man, which is the reason I called you in tonight.” Caelan gestured for me to sit, but I grimaced.

“It’s hard to sit down in this thing. I’d rather stand until dinner if possible.”

“Of course.” He leaned against his desk. “Rowan has professed his support for you. Ethan is still on the fence. Halvar is against you. Thorvin has made no move either way. Soren will support me, and Donovan wishes to meet you before he makes up his mind.”

I blinked. “Why does any of this matter?”

“Any threat to my territory is a threat to them.”

I sighed. “I’m not a threat to anyone.”

He grinned. “You’re such a lovely little liar, Evie Quinn.”

I threw my hands up. “I don’t even know why I try.”

“The ball will end outside once the centerpiece is complete, but you will be required to stay.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Why?”

“The Shifter Lords wish to test your magic.” Caelan’s jaw tightened.

“Do you test everyone’s magic? Or am I just special?”

He sighed. “There’s no need. Everyone in this town has a straightforward gift. Their lineage is easily traceable, but you’ve been secretive about yours. We can find no records of your birth parents.”

Ben hadn’t told Caelan about Cliona’s visit. My heart warmed. “That’s because it’s none of your business.”

His eyes darkened. “You know this could go much easier for everyone if you were a little more forthcoming about yourself.”

I snorted. “Like you are?”

“I am a Lord.”

“Yes,” I said bitterly, “thus allowing you to get away with anything you want.”

Caelan rose. “Evie.”

I held my hand up and turned to leave. “Don’t bother. Test me, don’t test me, I don’t care anymore. Just don’t expect me to fall at your feet when this is over.” If I survived, a negative voice inside my head said.

I hurried back to the ballroom, schooling my expression into mild neutrality. If the Shifter Lords were going to test me, so be it.

Gray rock, Evie. Be an uninteresting stone.

But even the blandest stones had interesting properties. I had to be gravel.

My life depended on it.