Page 69 of Shift of Morals
“I love surprises,” I said dryly.
Hazel patted my hand. “One more thing.”
I eyed my wineglass and sighed.
“The suppression spell I put on the tattoo is fading. I’ll spend tomorrow back here rebuilding the spell for another tattoo. Still want a thistle?”
“Might as well stay with the classics.”
A knock on the door came and Moira poked her head in a moment later. “Thought I’d stop by and check on Evie.” She came in holding a large bag of popcorn.
“Are you serious right now?” I asked.
She shook the bag at me. “You’re always entertaining, but I like my movies with snacks.”
“Ass.”
She blew a kiss my way.
“On that note, I think you should practice shifting.” Hazel rose and took the wine with her. She grabbed two more glasses and jerked her head toward the back door. “I noticed a wide-open space at the back of the greenhouse. Let’s go out there.”
We followed Hazel outside, and I was glad I’d brought a shawl. A chill had settled in the air this evening, and a strange wind blew through the trees, a moaning whine as it whistled through Joy Springs.
A precursor of things to come, I was sure.
And we hadn’t even gotten to the warning from my mother about Neit.
There was a small pond at the back of the greenhouse, tucked behind a small alcove of trees. “Here,” Hazel said. “Stand right there.” She pointed to one of the few open spots by the pond.
Obeying, I turned and spread my arms out. “Command me, oh wise one.”
Hazel reached over and tweaked my nose. “Don’t sass your elders.”
Moira perched atop a rock and munched on popcorn, giving me a little wave when she caught my eye. Then the jerk pulled out her cell and snapped a picture of me standing there looking like an idiot.
“You wait,” I groused. “Revenge is a dish best served icy.”
She flashed me a grin.
“Put your arms down at your sides. You aren’t Jesus.”
“If only,” I muttered. “They’d never subject him to this nonsense.”
Hazel shook her head. “No, my child. Only the horrible death via stoning.”
Moira laughed.
“Now stop talking out of your ass, close your eyes, and think about what you would like to become.”
I did and immediately cracked an eye open. “Anything?”
“Anything living,” Hazel amended.
“Even a plant or a tree?”
Moira sucked in a breath. “You’d be the perfect spy. Imagine the possibilities. You could even break into the Keep and spy on Caelan!”
“Why ever would I want to do that? I like my head on my shoulders.”
