Page 38 of Shift of Morals
“If you agree to hosting rules, yes.”
Anger rolled over her face. Her jaw tightened with annoyance. “And what would you have me agree to?”
“Once you step onto the premises of my shop, you are a guest. No harm shall come to you as long as you agree to bring no harm to any living things inside. Mammal, paranormal, animal, plant, anything that has any sentience must be left alone. You also agree to leave everything inside alone. Anything inside is my property and is to be left alone. You’ll have twenty minutes inside, and then you must leave. You are to cast no spells, murmur no incantation, take nothing even if you consider it yours, or try to coerce anyone or anything inside to join you or come work for you.”
Mom sighed. “Honestly, Evie. You make me sound like a common thief.”
She wasn’t, but I can remember a few times where she got sticky fingers, and a couple of those were at my house. She’d stolen a couple of my treasures, nothing I couldn’t replace, but annoying, nonetheless.
“Do you agree?”
“Fine,” she snapped. “I agree to your rules. Do you have good tea at least?”
“I keep your favorite blend in the fridge.” With a mental nudge, I loosened the wards to allow my mother inside.
She stepped over the threshold and brushed past, her familiar scent of fresh sea and florals washing over me, bringing with it an aching wave of sadness.
Ash and Moira hadn’t retreated, much to my surprise. The dryad already had a cup of tea prepared for my mother and held it out. “Would you like cream and sugar?” he asked.
My mother’s lips curved in approval. “Ash. I’d forgotten what a gentleman you are. Thank you. I would love both, please.”
Ash inclined his head and went back to the fridge. Mom settled onto one of the seats, smoothing her skirts out.
“Moira,” she said when her eyes found the vampire. “Always a pleasure.”
“Cliona.” Moira hated my mother. With good reason, but it always made me afraid for her whenever Cliona deigned to show her face. Though the vampire knew when to hold her tongue, Moira loved me like family, and I wondered if there would come a day when she lost her temper with my mother.
That day might mean Moira’s death.
While Mom was under guest rules, she’d be on her best behavior, but she’d try to push my buttons and get me to violate them first. That way, anything that happens would be on me.
I had a lot more to lose than I used to.
And…we had a magical bird roosting in the office, one who’d shown up unexpectedly and threatened to upend my life.
It started with an egg and ended with a Phoenix hatching in the middle of my office, delighting my raven, Poe, and horrifying the rest of us. Mom had three magical birds capable of resurrecting the dead, and one of them was the mom of our brand-new baby bird.
If Cliona found out we had her baby, she’d lose her ever-loving mind.
Tess had placed a magical damper on the bird’s presence, but I hadn’t asked her if she’d refreshed the spell lately. In my defense, I hadn’t expected my mother to show up so soon after her last visit.
Mom sniffed. “I smell the banshee. Where is she?”
“Tess is off today. I’ll tell her you stopped by.”
Mom gave me a tight smile. “Must it always be so antagonistic between us?”
Ash pressed a cup of coffee in my hand. Goddess bless the dryad. I sent him a thankful look and focused on my mother. “Why don’t we get to the point? You never visit just to visit, Mom. You’re obviously here for something.” I checked the clock on the wall. “You have seventeen minutes left.”
“Evie, honestly,” Mom said with a huff. “I am your mother.”
I set my mug down and crossed my arms. “Sixteen minutes.”
“Fine.” Mom exhaled. “There’s someone in town you should know about.”
“Alright.” I waited. Mom liked to draw things out. Our relationship was nothing but antagonistic. I thought sometimes I’d crawled out of the womb with the urge to argue with my mother.
“A god walks this town, Evie. A dangerous one.”
