Page 11 of Shift of Morals (Shifter Lords #2)

It took several minutes, but Tess finally nodded. “She should be good. You can help her up.”

Moira reached for me, helping me up. My legs felt wobbly, and my tattoo felt off, but other than that, I was unscathed.

“Close call,” Moira said as her eyes raked me from head to toe. “You alright?”

“A little shaky, but I’m okay.”

Moira tugged me closer. “Liar.”

Tess’s eyes glowed silver. “Your Chimera magic is growing, Evie. Every day you refuse to tame it is another day you might cause irreparable damage.”

My first instinct was to snap at Tess. She was a subordinate employee and far younger than I, but when I opened my mouth to do just that, I pressed my lips together. Since when had that mattered to me?

Right was right, and Tess had just saved all our asses. “I know,” I said, my voice hoarse.

Ash’s eyes narrowed as if he knew how I had almost reacted. “Use your mirror and contact Hazel tonight. She needs to be here soon.”

I nodded. “After the Keep meeting.”

“Right after,” Moira said, still holding onto my arm—a fact I was grateful for because I wasn’t sure I could stand on my own yet.

I rubbed my breastbone, the area sore for some reason. Moira frowned and moved my hand to peer at the area.

“It’s purple,” she murmured. “Like a bruise.”

“Evie had a ton of magic circulating through her body,” Ash said. “She’s lucky a bruise is all she ended up with.”

Tess’s nostrils flared. “Evie. I hate to ask this, but do you think you should talk to your mother?”

A bark of raspy laughter broke from me. “Absolutely not. I’d never summon her when I’m weak.

” Plus, she was acting weird these days and seemed to have something to do with those rogue magic pockets from several weeks ago.

They were divine in nature, and no other gods had suddenly popped into town. Cliona was the most likely suspect.

“She might be the only one who can help you,” Moira said quietly.

“Cliona is not a Floromancer or a Chimera,” I said, slowly testing my strength as I straightened. “I’d never trust her with any information about how my powers work.”

“But she’s your mother,” Tess said, her voice trailing off when she saw my expression. She dropped her gaze. “Sorry,” she whispered.

I could never invite my mother into my life. She’d be the death of me and everyone I loved.

“Evie,” Ash barked. “Your eyes.”

Moira dropped my arms, her mouth open in an oh of surprise. “They’re crimson,” she whispered. “Just like that freaky bird.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the rising Chimera magic to subside. Once I felt the power settle, I opened them to see my friends gathered around wearing identical expressions of concern. Better than horror, I guess.

“I think I should take the rest of the day off. Should we close up the shop?”

Ash shook his head. “No. Tess and I’ve got it. You were taking off early anyway because of the meeting. Stay here and get some rest so you’re ready to face the Shifter Lord this evening.”

I smiled gratefully and pushed the thyme away, so I wasn’t tempted to work on it anymore. “Guess I’ll find someone who can fix that glass, too.”

“Did you get Caelan’s handyman’s number?” Moira asked.

I frowned. “No, but I think I remember the name on his truck. Good idea, Moira.”

“That’s why they pay me the big bucks.” She winked and tugged on a lock of my hair. “I’ll swing by and grab you at six. Good?”

I nodded. “Do you mind grabbing the binder I put together? It’s under the register.”

“The one labeled Foxy?” Ash said, his lips twitching.

“That’s the one.” The automatons I made for one of Caelan’s meetings with the Lords went down in infamy.

I’d made several as table centerpieces, each depicting a scene from an old fairytale called The Wolf and the Fox.

The moral of the story was basically don’t be a dick, which didn’t sit well with Caelan, and he ended up destroying most of my shop as a result.

Good times.

To his credit, he was genuinely remorseful and paid for the repairs, but the dude was seriously scary when he wanted to be.

As a private joke, Rowan, my favorite Shifter Lord, had started calling me Foxy in our texts.

“I’ll bring it,” Moira said, “but I’d suggest you cover up the binder’s title. We’re trying to be professionals here.”

I stared at her. “Are you serious?”

She snorted. “No. You should make the font bigger and label it that way on both sides.”

“There you are. I thought you might have a fever.”

Moira grinned and waved as she exited the greenhouse. Tess floated after her, but Ash lingered, concern brimming in his mossy green eyes.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

I nodded. “Sorry to scare everyone. I’ve been doing a decent job of suppressing the newer power from whatever Finn did to me at that dinner, but the fluctuations are getting worse.”

“You really think Hazel can help?”

“She helped me last time and gave me several years of peace. If she can’t, I bet she’ll know who can.”

Ash nodded, though he didn’t look convinced. “Knock ’em dead tonight, Evie.”

“How about I succeed in not ruining our business or killing anyone?”

He laughed. “Acceptable.”

I waved and told them to be careful. When the greenhouse door shut, I sagged against the worktable and put my head in my hands.

Holding back the Chimera shift was becoming impossible. I was doing a good job of hiding it at work, but every night when I got home, I fought a grueling battle between myself and the beast.

A battle I was losing.