Page 82 of Shift of Morals
“Your place looks a bit like a frat house.”
Evie turned to me, her eyes widening at my shirtless state. I didn’t miss her gaze sliding from my face to my torso, her cheeks coloring when she snapped her eyes back up to my face.
“Where’s your shirt?” she croaked.
“In the trash. Hopefully incinerated soon.” The Floromancer looked disheveled and tired and gorgeous.
Her dark hair tumbled around her shoulders, covering the remnants of her ripped and scored tank top. She’d tucked her dirty bare feet under her body and sat cross-legged as she peered up at me with too bright eyes.
I loved her eyes. They looked like a crystal-clear sea on a sunny day.
I loved her hair and itched to run my fingers through it.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Her voice sounded hoarse.
“You healed me again.”
Evie nodded, her blue eyes wide in her pale face.
“Are you hungry?” I asked.
She nodded again.
“How about we clean this up and get something to eat?”
“I’ll clean it up later. You should be fine to go home.” Evie rose, wobbling as she stood.
I was by her side in an instant, my palm around her arm to steady her. “I’m not going home until I know you’re okay. We also have some things we need to talk about.”
She moved away, extricating herself from my grip. “There’s nothing to talk about. Something with venom attacked you. I found you on my porch and pulled you inside.”
My eyebrows went up. “Evie. I weigh over 250 pounds. There’s no way you got me inside by yourself.”
She scoffed, anger snapping in her eyes. “I might be smaller than you, but I am not helpless. I got you inside just fine.”
I held both my hands up. “Alright. Let’s say I believe you. Then what happened?”
Her jaw tightened. “Don’t make me punch you.”
My lips tugged in a smile. “And then what happened?”
She blew out an annoyed breath. “Then I catalogued your injuries and realized you weren’t healing. So I tried to figure out why.”
My gaze skimmed over the floor. “It was vomit then.”
“Whoever attacked you poisoned you. I wasn’t able to identify what it was, but it overrode your body’s natural healing ability.” Our eyes locked. “If I hadn’t found you last night, you would have died on my porch.”
Her somber tone sent a chill through my body. “This is the second time you’ve healed me.”
Evie nodded. “And the second time you’ve managed to destroy my property.”
I winced. “Apologies. I’ll send a check over via courier.”
“Don’t worry about it. The floor is special. I’ll have to find another source. The original is out of business. I don’t want just anyone working on my place. It’s…” Her voice trailed off.
“Special,” I supplied. “Being in your home feels like being in the woods. I understand. But I still plan to pay for the damages.” My gaze landed on the spot where she’d risen. “When you heal, you become one with the earth. How—” I paused.
A hesitant smile crossed her face. “It feels like I am unique and nothing, all at the same time. I can feel the heartbeat of the world when I’m cradled in Her arms.”
