Page 62 of Shift of Morals
I’d been waiting for this day since that evening in the field, knowing someone would find out too much about me and turn away, unable to meet my eyes.
“Can I take your vitals?” Ben asked.
“I’m fine, Ben. Fit as a fiddle.”
He met my eyes then, wariness that had never been there before all over his face. “I doubt that very much.” Ben gestured to the couch. “Please. It will take only a moment.”
Hazel motioned me away. “Go let the healer do his thing.” She flipped open the pastry box, her eyes lighting up at the array of goodies. “I’ll be right here, drowning my annoyance in chocolate donuts.”
I settled myself on the couch. Ben sat on the coffee table facing me and held his hands out. “Take my hands.”
I slid my palms over his. Gentle, calloused fingers closed over my hands. Ben’s power brushed over my skin, his eyes turning an unholy blue. I felt his magic sweep through my body, gently touching every cell.
It was over in less than a minute. Ben extricated himself and rose.
“How’s our patient?” Hazel asked, her mouth full of donut.
“Healthy as a horse,” Ben said, lips turning up in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Ben?” I said quietly.
“Step outside with me, Evie,” he murmured.
My heart thudding, Ben said goodbye to Hazel, taking my elbow to lead me outside. It was still morning time in JoySprings and there was a bite of cold in the air. A few shop owners had already arrived, waving as they unloaded their goods for the day.
“What’s the verdict, doc?”
Ben sighed. “Evie, your entire body is different. Something is raging through your metabolism. If you haven’t already felt it, your appetite will increase exponentially.”
I’d already noticed the second Ben brought those donuts in. The urge to snatch the box out of his hands nearly overwhelmed me. I already had to restrain myself from gnawing on raw steak every time I went grocery shopping.
“Whether the change is permanent is unknown.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Evie.” Ben hesitated.
“Spit it out.”
“You seem like a shifter. Sort of.”
“But you’ve never examined a Floromancer before.” I had to cut this off at the pass.
Ben’s brow furrowed. “No, but?—”
“Then there’s no way to know what I was like before then, right?”
“Evie.” Ben’s voice was a growl. “You’re hiding something.”
“Someone came onto the property looking to rob me. That’s all. He was some sort of magic practitioner.” The lie came too easily, rolling off my tongue like water. “I’m fine, Ben. Really.”
“A thief does not violate you like that, Evie!” Ben’s nostrils flared. He held up a hand and stepped away. “You know what? Fine. Lie to me if that’s what you want. But don’t expect me to keep coming around hoping for a kernel of anything from you.”
I reached out. “Ben. I’m sorry. I—I can’t.”
“You won’t. Big difference.”
We stared at each other for a long moment before Ben nodded and turned away.
My heart cracked as I watched him walk away. He didn’t deserve this, my lies and deceit. Ben could never know me, not like he’d let me know him.
I did not go after him.
