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

“Are we just going to stare at it and hope it does something?” Tess said in the silence.

Ash laughed. “Evie was in deep thought.”

“Probably wondering how to break a shifter engagement,” Moira said, laughing when I swatted at her.

“I’ll take this over to the worktable in the back, just in case it gets rowdy. In the meantime, what else do we have going on today?”

Moira checked the schedule. “Normal business, but Hattie called yesterday and asked for her order a day earlier than normal.”

“Any special requests?” I tucked the bouquet back into the dampening bag, careful not to disturb the weakest parts.

“She asked for oranges and yellows.” Moira shrugged. “Normal seasonal flowers.”

“It’s a little early for fall colors, but we’re edging closer to autumn, so I’ll see what I can do.

” Hattie had been a customer for a while now and ordered a weekly, seasonally appropriate bouquet.

I’d helped her out with some landscaping not too long ago and didn’t charge her, so she’d called and requested I bump the size of her bouquets up by 25%.

After that, we’d gotten a few more similar orders like Hattie’s, though most people chose biweekly instead of weekly.

“Tess, can you check the main fridge first for orange and yellow flowers? If we don’t have enough, can you run over to the greenhouse and see what’s ready?”

To keep my mind off Caelan, I’d thrown myself into restoring my greenhouse, a project I’d neglected for far too long. With a little elbow grease from me and Caelan’s handsome healer, Ben, the place was back in fighting shape, with brand new hydroponics to prove it.

A small smile tugged at my lips when I thought of Ben. He was wildly different from Caelan—gentle, caring, communicative, and careful with my feelings. He never pushed or tried to coerce me into giving more than I could, and he respected my boundaries.

Maybe a little too much. We’d done nothing more than kiss, and that was fine, but something was holding him back. Something always held me back, but I was used to being the problem.

Ben and I were both the problem in this relationship. Or whatever it was.

Tess cleared her throat. “Lost in your thoughts again, Evie?”

Shit. “No. Yes.” I waved a hand. “There’s a lot to think about. Fridge first. Greenhouse second. Got it?”

Tess nodded and glanced at Ash. “Want to come with me?”

“To the walk-in?” Moira asked, rolling her eyes at young love.

Tess let out a soulful moan. “To the greenhouse, vampire.”

Ash’s lips twitched. “Of course. You may need some help carrying the flowers back.”

It wasn’t that big of a bouquet, but I let it go.

“Moira, you man the front. Ash, can you check on the deliveries and make sure we have enough stock to last a few weeks?”

The dryad nodded. “Of course. Don’t forget I’m leaving in a few weeks to return to ground.”

I snapped my fingers. “Right. Almost forgot. We need to make a family calendar.” Turning to Moira, I opened my mouth, but she cut me off.

“Got it. Make a calendar. Electronic or hard copy?”

“Hard copy,” all of us said at the same time.

Technology might be awesome, but we were all pretty old school. I liked to look at my schedule on a wall, not down at my phone. “Make it big and monthly, with large enough space to write in the blocks. Also, make sure there’s a side area to write upcoming shop events.”

Moira nodded. “Will do. There’s a good spot in your office to hang it. But everyone has to remember to update their schedule.”

“I won’t forget,” Tess said. “We’re still keeping the digital work schedule though, right?”

“Yep. That won’t change.” Something niggled at the back of my mind. “Ward it from prying eyes, would you, Ash?”

His eyes widened. “Good idea. Once it’s up, I’ll take care of it.”

No one needed to know any of our personal business. Not with Finn still roaming around. A shiver went down my spine when I thought about our last encounter.

Posing as Halvar, one of the Shifter Lords, Finn had infiltrated Caelan’s stronghold and accosted me at one of the events Caelan had hired me for.

No one saw what happened because I’d encaged us to keep my secrets, but I’d wounded Finn and he’d escaped before I could finish the job.

But not before he almost took me down with him.

He and I weren’t done with each other. I felt the knowledge in my bones as strongly as I did that extra power he’d fed into me that night.

Even now, I felt Finn’s presence inside and outside, all around me.

His and the Chimera’s magic seeping into my bones, preparing me for…

I had no idea. But I’d noticed odd things happening with my Floromancy and more urges than normal.

More hunger, physical and emotional. And the urges…

Well, let’s just say it’s a good thing Ben doesn’t come around all the time, because I might have him laid out like my own personal buffet.

And he seemed way too proper for that.

Once the bouquet was on the worktable and everyone had dispersed to go about their assignments, I cleared my thoughts and turned on streaming music. I preferred the worktable in the front, given to me by Ash’s uncle, a powerful dryad named Septimus, but this one was safer.

If something went awry during the preservation process, no customers would be in the blast radius. All the magic would stay contained to this area thanks to the wards I’d just activated around me and the table, pushed out in a four-foot radius.

Of course, I might get blown to smithereens, but everyone else would be safe.

Chris Stapleton’s bluesy, soulful voice came through the speakers, and peace settled over my shoulders. I took a few deep inhales, steadied my magic, and opened the pouch.