Page 40 of Shift of Morals (Shifter Lords #2)

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

I t had cost me an arm and a leg even without the rush fee, but the gown I’d ordered from Caelan’s tailor was at my doorstep when I arrived home later that evening. Gasping with delight, I snatched up the box and went inside, excited to see what she’d come up with.

I’d given her my measurements, told her why I wanted it, and given her free rein to come up with an appropriate ensemble.

The dress lay encased in a mountain of navy tissue paper.

With trembling fingers, I pushed the paper aside to reveal an emerald green dress, cut in a sharp A-line, embroidered with a belt of multi-colored flowers.

The bodice was off shoulder, with short cap sleeves.

Magic hummed from the satin fabric, but most of it came from the embroidery.

I ran my fingers over the belt, smiling as I felt multiple types of flowers sleeping inside the stitched pistils. The dress would showcase who I was and would also serve as appropriate attire for a formal wedding without upstaging the bride.

I slipped off my clothing and tried the dress on, marveling at the fit and how flattering it was on my body. Nude high heels completed the look.

Once I was dressed in normal clothing again, I carefully hung the dress up, keeping it in the cedar lined part of my closet. Not that there were bugs inside the house. I scanned every few days for any rogue strays and gently ushered them out when I found them. But better safe than sorry.

After I fixed a quick dinner and poured myself a tiny bit of the Scotch Neit had given me, I brought my laptop over to the couch and went through the checklist for tomorrow one more time.

The courier to help us transport everything was confirmed, and my van was all gassed up and ready to go.

I’d put all the flowers and arrangements back into the walk-in, but I’d taken Caelan’s boutonniere home with me because I had one more tweak to make.

As much as it pained me to force him to wear the candy cane colors of his wedding, I sucked it up and created him something with dark blue delphinium flowers and privet berries, along with the same blossoms I’d used in the bonding ceremony. Different, but still matching the bride and bridesmaids.

But when the ceremony and reception was over, I’d planned for the boutonniere to collapse into ash, the final link between us severed.

The bonding ceremony arrangement would do the same.

Those were the two pieces of Caelan’s wedding that held the most of me.

The other arrangements were just that…arrangements with no soul and no fire.

This wedding would definitively cut the bindings between us.

After tomorrow, we would no longer be Evie and Caelan.

He would be the Shifter Lord once more, and I would be the Floromancer who worked in town.

A knock on the door startled me.

With a curse, I slid everything off my lap and hurried to the door.

Simone, Caelan’s Omega, stood there. I stared through the peephole for an astonished moment before remembering I’d added her to my wards. Once upon a time, I thought we might be friends.

Then Caelan announced his nuptials, and our relationship had turned downright chilly, and I’m still not sure how it happened.

I opened the door and stared at her.

Simone had the grace to look uncomfortable. “Evie.”

“Simone.”

If she expected me to fling open the doors and invite her in for a girl’s night, she was sorely mistaken. When I said nothing else, Simone let out an annoyed breath.

“I had to,” she snapped.

“Had to what?”

Simone’s delicate nostrils flared. “Will you stop being an ass and invite me in? I can smell the wine on your breath.”

“Why should I?”

Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t grovel.”

“I’m not expecting you to grovel.”

“Fine. I’m sorry.”

I grinned. “Sorry for what?”

“I swear. How Caelan tolerates you is one of the world’s greatest mysteries.”

“I am a mysterious person,” I agreed.

Simone’s nails tapped on the back of her iPad case. “I’m sorry for ghosting you. Things have been…difficult in the Keep since Gianna arrived.”

I opened the door. “I might have some extra wine.”

“Thank the gods,” Simone breathed as she breezed past me.

It wasn’t until after a few glasses of wine that Simone brought up the reason she came by. Part of the reason was the flowers, but part of it was something more.

“There’s something off about her,” Simone said, her eyes focused on the old coffee table I used to replace the broken one.

“Off how?”

Our eyes met. “She’s always been cold, even when I knew her from a few years ago. But she’s never been such a…”

“Bitch?” I supplied.

Simone snorted. “Yes, but she’s also borderline cruel, too. I’m worried about what might happen if she becomes the Lady.”

“Is there any way you can stop it?” I plucked an olive off the small snack board I’d made after she’d arrived.

“Not if I want to keep my job,” she muttered gloomily.

“Then this is a venting session?”

She shifted and took a long sip of her wine. “There’s someone else who could stop it, though.”

“Like the Council?” They were the ones who put the order in place. Surely they were the ones who could halt the entire thing. But there were people flying in from all over, some who’d already arrived. If they had any plans to put a stop to this madness, they’d better do it soon.

“Not quite,” Simone murmured, picking up another cracker to munch.

I stared at her for a long moment before starting to laugh. “You cannot mean me. Are you insane?”

“I’m going to tell you something that can go no further than this couch. Do you understand?”

I straightened, my stomach twisting in knots. “Yes.”

“I’m serious. My job and my life will be on the line if you repeat this.”

“Understood. I’m a vault.”

“The Council has concerns about your power levels. They want you to sign a contract with them?—”

“What?” I blurted. “I’ve never had any trouble until your Shifter Lord came into my life!”

Her look was quelling. “Or,” she continued, “you marry a Lord of their choosing.”

The air went out of me. I gaped at her. “Excuse me?” I wheezed. “They want me to marry one of them ? That’s ludicrous.” The thought of marrying any of them set my teeth on edge. We lived in America, for crying out loud!

She lifted a delicate shoulder. “Not in terms of strategy. If you marry one of the Lords, you’ll fall under Council rules. They’ll be able to bring your power to heel.”

“The hell they will,” I grumbled. But I wondered why they wouldn’t have forced Caelan on me if they wanted to bring me to heel.

Simone saw the question on my face. “Caelan is the most powerful Lord in the country, even if no one on the Council wants to admit it. They’re afraid of what might happen if you and he get together.”

“Got it. Not only do they not want me to ally with Caelan, they want me out of his territory, too.” Damn. I thought it was bad getting picked last for group sports in school, but this was way worse.

Simone nodded. “And I suspect they don’t know the half of your power, do they?”

That wasn’t something I’d divulge to anyone but the three people in my shop. I gave her a tight smile that made her laugh.

“How long do I have before they try to strong arm me?”

Simone’s mouth tightened with sympathy. “They’re leaning more toward forcing a marriage than a contract.”

I closed my eyes. “To whom?”

“Rowan has offered.”

My eyes flew open. “Rowan…”

Something flickered in Simone’s eyes. “A good choice, though Ethan has his moments, too.”

“I’d consider Rowan a friend as much as I’d consider any Lord one,” I admitted. “But I refuse to be forced into a marriage I don’t want. We are not living in the Dark Ages.”

“We are living in the time where the Council holds power over the entire country,” Simone murmured. “What will you do if they revoke your stay here? You won’t be allowed to move to any of the other states.”

“What a bunch of bastards,” I hissed. “Maybe Europe could use a good Floromancer and her team. It’s been a while since we’ve had an overseas adventure.”

“You’d run into the same problem soon enough. Maybe right away if word of your shenanigans has made its way over there.”

“I’m going to stop refilling your wine glass if you don’t stop being so negative.”

Simone snatched the bottle. “Try and die.”

My eyes narrowed. “Did you sneak out of the Keep?”

A guilty look stole over her face. “Gianna is everywhere these days. I’ve been trying to sneak out for weeks. But tomorrow’s the wedding and she has tons of things left to do.” Her smile held a slight touch of evil.

“Hypothetically, how do you think I could stop the wedding? Not that I want to.” Lies. “But, if you think Gianna is so bad, maybe it’s the right path?”

Simone shrugged. “Do what you do so well?”

I gave her a flat look. “And what’s that?”

“Sow chaos and calamity?”

“Ha.” I poured myself a glass of wine. “That will only temporarily delay the inevitable.”

“A delay is a delay,” Simone sang.

I broached a delicate subject. “What about the bonding ceremony?”

Her face paled. “Don’t do anything to disrupt that.” A delicate shudder rolled over her small frame. “None of us wish to anger the gods.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” I said as I gave her the side-eye. “A little worrisome you think I’m that destructive, though. What I’m saying is what if the gods don’t bless the wedding?”

Simone went still for a long moment before she carefully set her wineglass down. “And why would that be on the options list?”

I blinked at her. “Um. Because the gods are fickle and unpredictable?”

“Uh huh. And why does it sound like you have personal experience with them?”

“Err.”

She closed her eyes and pinched the space between her eyebrows. “Right. Is there something you need to tell me?”

“What? No! I don’t make deals with gods. That’s crazy pants.”

She let out a sigh of relief. “Thank the gods. There have only been a couple of times where the gods refused a union, but both times, the couple was terribly wrong for each other. Gianna, as much as I hate to say it, has the necessary pedigree and bloodline. She’s politically savvy and ruthless. On paper, Caelan could do a lot worse.”

“Then there’s no reason for the gods to rebuff them.”

“Right. Unless they know something we don’t.”

“It’s possible.” We ate and drank a little more before Simone rose, clutching her ever trusty device to her chest. “It was worth a shot, I guess. But if you decide to cause a shitshow at the wedding, maybe give a girl a little advanced warning?”

I sucked my teeth. “Sorry. Shenanigans are rarely planned, but I’ll do my best.”

Simone rolled her eyes. “See you tomorrow.”

I waved. “If any of the Lords propose tomorrow, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

She laughed and headed out the door but stopped before she went out. “Evie?”

“Hmm?”

“I thought you should know that Caelan has never once planned a party or any event at the keep where flowers were involved until the day I dragged him into your shop.” Her smile was sad. “Every other time was at his suggestion.” She left before I could respond, plunging the house into silence.

I sat there for a long time pondering tomorrow and her words and wondering how Caelan’s marriage might affect my life. But I’d be damned if I let the Council swoop in and try to dictate who I decided to marry, if I ever married.

On that note, I cleaned up the dirty dishes and headed to bed. I had a long day tomorrow.