Page 22 of Shift of Morals (Shifter Lords #2)

The Shifter Lord’s eyes went molten gold. I shifted uncomfortably and found my napkin to be of great interest.

He murmured something so low I was glad I didn’t hear it, as the room temp dipped several degrees.

I finally lifted my head, my eyes finding Rowan’s. “I’m pleased to see you again, Lord Rowan, but is there a reason both meetings have had the presence of different Lords?”

Rowan flashed a smile. “The Council wants reassurance that the festivities are staying on schedule.”

“Two months is extremely fast for such a wedding,” I remarked.

Rowan’s eyes glittered with amusement. “We’re all familiar with how quickly paranormals can end up shacking up. Marriage usually doesn’t follow too long after.”

Gianna twined her fingers into Caelan’s. My stomach tightened with jealousy. The vines on my dress moved, sliding over the fabric with a soft susurrus of sound.

Gianna grinned. “We’ve already taken all the compatibility tests. Things look wonderful for any future offspring.”

“Umm, congratulations.” I think. Weird flex, but some women did put a lot of stock in their fertility. It wasn’t easy for certain types of shifters to conceive, so bully for her, I guess.

I reached for the box and pulled out the first sample, realizing as I did that the reds didn’t match her candy cane hellscape.

“This is the first one I came up with based on the vision we spoke of last time. I can easily change the shades to match your preferred red.”

The arrangement was pretty but had zero soul.

The centerpiece was done with red lilies and white roses, complete with an opening for a small glass dome that held either a tea light or a battery-operated candle.

None of my regular suppliers kept these flowers stocked because they were overly sprayed and over planted, so I had to use a wholesaler.

All the life had been sucked from the blooms, and while they still looked fresh, even my Floromancer abilities weren’t enough to bring them up to my standards.

Gianna’s lips pursed. “Adequate.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “I created this one, keeping the color scheme in mind somewhat.”

This one had my stamp on it. I’d taken deep red anemones and placed them around the base of a creamy white vase and curved colorful Birds of Paradise around the top, resulting in a stunning abstract display.

Rowan’s eyes widened. “Evie. That’s stunning.”

Gianna flicked a hand. “Too modern.”

Caelan leaned forward and studied the display, reaching over to tug it closer. “This one would work, Gianna.”

Her eyes blazed with anger. “We can set it aside.”

And set it on fire , she said with her glare.

“I also have these,” I said as I pulled a couple more. None were red, but they had gorgeous jewel tones. The one with deep purple orchids was my favorite, but the white anemone display with the Calathea leaves was a close second.

I’d boosted both arrangements with my magic, and the leaves and buds slowly moved as if there was a phantom wind stirring the flora.

Caelan’s eyes lit up. “Amazing.”

Gianna’s jaw dropped. “This is…beautiful,” she grudgingly admitted. “But not what we’re looking for.”

As I expected. “Very well. The first one is more to your specifications?”

Gianna nodded. “Though the shade must match the rest of the room.”

Blood red. Right. “I can change the color, though I’ll need the hex code so I can make sure I get the shade correct.”

Her head incline was regal. “Simone will get it to you.”

“Then we’re agreed,” I said, just as the servers brought a round of meat and delicate cheeses.

“No,” Caelan said, dashing my hopes for an early exit, “we are not.”

Gianna froze. “Evie’s ideas are too modern, Caelan. Our wedding must smack of tradition.” A wheedling note in her voice made me grit my teeth.

“Must it?” He shook his head.

“Of course,” Gianna snapped. “The Lords have a long history of sticking with traditional values within their kingdoms?—”

“Joy Springs is not a kingdom. My reign is built on adapting to the current times. Perhaps that means our wedding must adopt, too.”

Rowan glanced at Caelan, an odd look on his face.

“Rowan,” Gianna demanded. “What is your opinion?”

The poor Lord looked like he’d swallowed an onion. “The Council does not attend these meetings to offer an opinion, only to ensure things are moving on schedule.”

I stifled my grin. That was the perfect Lordly response from Rowan.

Gianna’s eyes narrowed, almost like she knew Rowan was bullshitting her.

Which he definitely was. I’d never seen a Lord not offer an opinion, even when they weren’t asked.

Strange magic rose in the room, the smell of it a frigid winter’s wind, sharp and biting. Gianna’s magic. Interesting. I’d never scented or been around a swan shifter before.

Though if I hadn’t known what she was, I would have guessed bird of prey. The woman looked like she could swallow someone whole.

The vines on my dress shifted restlessly as I struggled to control my Floromancy, the rising Chimera magic in my blood flaring with it. It took a long moment, but I managed to get settled, keeping my breathing at a steady inhale and exhale.

My eyes met Gianna’s across the table, and I read the warning in them . Get in my way, and they’ll never find your body.

You can try it , I responded with my own eyes. But you might not like what happens if you do.

Gianna’s mouth tightened.

Caelan interrupted our silent staring contest. “There’s one more thing.”

What now? Another automaton built to the size of a small car?

Rowan straightened and watched me. My brow furrowed.

“Whenever a Shifter Lord is set to marry, the old magic responds. A bonding ceremony is necessary to ensure our union is blessed.”

A bonding ceremony? What the hell was that? I tried to stay in tune with current wedding trends and laws, but after Hazel’s visit and now this, I realized I wasn’t doing a great job at keeping up.

Gianna’s perfect complexion went white. “Caelan.”

My attention bounced back and forth between them. What was going on?

“A Floromancer is the perfect person to create the flowers for the bonding ceremony. Rowan will take care of the binding, and I’ve heard you have a powerful witch currently staying with you?”

I blinked. “Yes,” I said slowly. Why was I surprised that he knew who was at my house?

“I plan to ask her if she will attend the ceremony for the essence blending.”

My mouth fell open. “Uh. Essence blending. Right. Would you like her phone number?”

“Please leave it with Simone. I will call her first thing in the morning.”

“Of course.”

Gianna opened her mouth to protest. “Caelan, you can’t ask a stranger to design this ceremony! It should be someone close to us.”

“She’s not designing the ceremony. Only the flowers. Rowan is one of my closest friends. The vows are his to create.”

“And the witch?”

“I have no close witch friends. We would have had to hire a stranger, regardless.”

Gianna’s nostrils flared. Blood-red nails tapped against the table in agitation. “And what about me?”

“Evie has the skill level and magical instinct to ensure the ceremony is done right. Rowan and the witch will take care of the rest.”

Caelan didn’t trust Gianna. Interesting.

“Entrusting something so sacred to a Floromancer is madness, Caelan!” Gianna rose from the table and turned her back to us, hurrying out of the room, heels clicking a rapid beat against the stone floor. The door slammed behind her, plunging us into silence.

Rowan whistled low.

“She’s right,” I said. “Why in the world would you entrust something so sacred to me?”

The Shifter Lord poured himself another glass of wine from the carafe left on the table, refilling Rowan’s glass while he was at it. “Because I have a feeling,” he said.

Rowan’s lips twitched.

“A feeling,” I echoed. “That’s it? A feeling? What kind of answer is that?”

A flat look. “My entire reign is based around my feelings, Miss Quinn.”

“Evie,” I snapped. “Stop calling me, Miss Quinn.”

Rowan snickered.

“Shut up, you,” I snapped, the words only serving to make Rowan laugh harder.

I pressed my index finger against the space between my brows, rubbing the rapidly forming headache away. “What’s the deal with this ceremony? Why is it so important?”

“If I may,” Rowan interjected.

Caelan shot him an exasperated glare. “By all means.”

The other Lord took a sip of his wine and leaned forward, eagerness shining in his pretty eyes. “The bonding ceremony is the most important part of the wedding ceremony.”

“Is it only for Lords?”

Rowan shook his head. “Not necessarily, but it is reserved for those with higher thresholds of power, beings like Lords and Ladies?—”

“Wait, there are legit Ladies? Like female Lords?”

Rowan grinned. “There are. Though there are none in the U.S.”

I scoffed. “Of course there aren’t.”

“Anyhow,” he drawled after my interruption, “the old magic blesses their union. It’s an ancient ceremony, one of our most sacred traditions.”

“Does it always bless the couple?”

Caelan’s eyes flickered, though he held his tongue.

Rowan sobered. “There have only been two times in our histories where the union has not been blessed.”

“What does it mean when the couple doesn’t receive a blessing?” I had to ask Hazel about this ceremony. What in the world was I getting myself into?

Caelan spoke this time. “Usually, one or both parties stops the ceremony.”

My lips parted. “Even if they love each other?”

Sadness touched Rowan’s handsome face, and I wondered who’d broken the tender Lord’s heart. “Love doesn’t make a union work. The gods’ blessing is a precursor of what’s to come.”

I rubbed my hand over my face. “Why have I never heard of this?”

“It’s not normal in regular ceremonies, even for other paranormals. If you’ve never attended once either, it makes sense you’ve never heard of it.”

“Does every Lord hold this ceremony?”

Rowan’s quick glance had my stomach tightening. “No. Several Lords have chosen to forgo the bonding ceremony.”

“If the Lords want a marriage to happen and there is no blessing, what happens then?”

Rowan’s eyes sparkled with an emotion I couldn’t identify. “Then the Lord has an out, if you will.”

I leaned back in my chair and studied both Lords who were projecting such an air of innocence I was immediately suspicious. Realization struck me like a truck a few seconds later. “Oh,” I breathed. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Lord.”

Caelan’s eyes glittered. “No games, Evie. The ceremony is sacred, and Gianna believes she is destined to be my bride.” He tilted his glass up in a small salute. “We shall let the gods decide.”

After that, there wasn’t much more to say. I gathered the box up, leaving the last arrangement for Rowan when he asked if he could have it.

“I’ll see you out,” Caelan said.

My lips tightened. “No shenanigans.”

“I make no promises.”

Rowan’s soft laugh made me shake my head. “Fine. But I need to get home. I have a house guest.”

A question had been nagging at me for days now. I waited until we were almost at the door before I stopped, lowering my voice until it was barely a whisper. “Do you even like Gianna?”

Caelan stiffened. “Does it matter?”

I blinked. “I would think so. Hoping the gods will shun your bride on your wedding day is insane. What are you going to do if they bless your union with rainbows and butterflies?”

Caelan’s stare was so intense my breath caught. “I’ve never been a man of unshakeable faith in beings who appear as fickle as humans sometimes.”

“Better not let my mother hear you say that,” I muttered.

The Lord grinned and took my elbow, gently guiding me outside. “What I do have faith in is myself. My beliefs. My rule. I’ve never failed in my duty, and I think Joy Springs deserves a strong Lady, someone who believes in the rule of law, fairness, and ethics.”

“And Gianna doesn’t?”

“Gianna is old blood, Evie. They make their own rules. I can’t break my engagement without a political storm.”

I took in a deep breath, inhaling the fresh scent of all the fresh flowers and greenery around Caelan’s property. The man was batshit crazy. I had to appreciate madness like that. “Why’d you keep everything?”

“The new landscaping?” He chuckled. “I love plants, Evie. You should know that by now.”

“But it’s so wild,” I whispered. “I thought it’d make you angry.”

He turned and gripped me by the arms, looming above me like an ancient warrior. His eyes gleamed golden in the low light. “I like wild. I am wild. But more importantly, the woman who created it has a wild heart. How could I destroy something that came from the deepest parts of her?”

Gianna would destroy this the second she signed on the dotted line. “When you’re married and your new wife begins making changes, remind me to give you the name of a good landscaper. He’s much more sedate than me, but he uses only green methods for pest control.”

Caelan’s jaw ticked. “I bet my new wife won’t change a thing.”

I snorted. “Sure. The first thing that goes will be that mutant Jacaranda.”

“The Jacaranda stays,” Caelan growled.

I smiled and stepped away. “Take pictures if you don’t mind. I’d like to remember it this way.”

“The gods know, Evie.”

I stilled. “Know what?”

“My heart.” An invitation lingered on his face. If I took it, he’d take me inside and make me his, no matter the woman he was set to marry.

It was wrong. And terrible. And Gianna, as rude as she was to me, didn’t deserve it.

But there was something between us, and if things were different, I’d go to him, Gianna be damned. But I wasn’t just a woman, standing on a porch, begging Caelan not to cut his landscaping down. A beast prowled under my skin, wanting to consume me.

“I hope for your sake, they do.” I waved and turned to go, just as the valet pulled up with my vehicle.

Caelan’s eyes lingered on me until I turned the corner.