Page 1 of Power Shift
Chapter
One
The Shifter Lord and I were at war. Not literal war—think psychological warfare mixed with a hefty dose of passive aggression. Like most great wars, it started innocently enough.
A few months ago, Caelan sent Simone over with a request to hire me to make twelve table centerpieces for an event at the Keep.
Fair enough. I rarely turned down good money, even though I had a ‘no travel to the Keep’ clause in all my contracts now. Caelan either had to pick up any arrangements he ordered from the shop, or I sent Moira or Ash to deliver them, and occasionally a trusted courier.
It had worked well for the last three months, even though everyone knew Caelan was trying to get me to break and talk to him. No one needed that many centerpieces in ninety days, and now that I knew Caelan had rarely planned events at the Keep until after I came into his life, I realized this was a poorly veiled attempt to wiggle his way back in.
That was not going to happen.
Simone’s warning rang in my ears once more, the same way it had for the last several months. The Shifter Lords hadbeen quiet, too quiet, lately, and I’d been on edge since the moment I’d stepped out of Caelan’s home after the debacle of his wedding.
He’d reached out to me multiple times since then, and I’d rebuffed him every time.
I would have softened toward him eventually, I think. And then I found out he’d nominated Ben for the open Shifter Lord position, replacing Halvard, effectively forcing the Healer to move to a new territory, far away from here.
Not that we were dating. We weren’t. Ben and I had started the engine. It sputtered a few times, and then the vehicle died before ever moving forward. I hoped to find a good mechanic and get it working again, but thanks to Caelan, that engine was now across the country.
Convenient for Caelan. Bad for me and Ben. Just the way the Shifter Lord wanted things.
So now, the Lord could rot in hell for all I cared.
I’d keep taking his money, but I’d die before I let him into my life again.
I wasn’t thrilled when Simone showed up, but she wasn’t the one I was angry at. Her request is what pissed me off.
Twelve table centerpieces was a normal order—if I were making them for anyone other than a Shifter Lord. What pissed me off waswhyhe wanted them.
The event’s name was a nod to my burgeoning power, and Caelan’s request for themed centerpieces felt oddlyspecific.
He requested three centerpieces per table, four tables in total. I muttered a running commentary on the tiny size of Caelan’s assets while pressing fresh blooms into wet floral foam.
Moira breezed into the shop, holding two cups, one full of tea and the other blessed java.
“Lir gave you an extra shot of espresso on the house,” she said as she set the coffee down. “He said he saw you bikingaggressively on the way home last night and thought maybe you could use a little boost of love.”
Brewtide Beans was Joy Springs’ local merfolk-owned coffee shop. Their offerings ranged from the unusual to the mundane, and so far, I hadn’t had a single thing from there I disliked.
“Thank the gods,” I muttered, setting down my floral shears and picking up the cup.
Moira picked up the contract Simone had brought over. I hadn’t read it all the way through yet, but the price we agreed on was insane, even for me.
“Blooming Wild: Celebrating the Magical Diversity and Rare Gifts of Joy Springs through the Lens of Local Flora.” Moira’s nose wrinkled. “Gross.” She flipped through the contract, pale brow wrinkling as she skimmed the contents. A low whistle pierced the air.
“Holy shit,” she murmured, her gaze flying to mine. “This price is highway robbery.” A slow grin curved her lips. “Always knew you had it in you, girl.” Moira wiggled her hips. “Vegas, here I come.”
I shuddered. “Vegas? That’s where you’d go?” The thought of being pressed against all those strangers made my throat tighten.
“Hell yeah.” Moira tapped a bright nail on the worktable. “All those lights and the noise, and those handsome men with deep pockets. The free booze.” Her nostrils flared. “Vegas makes me feel alive.”
I shook my head. “I think I may go visit Rowan soon. It’d be nice to visit home again and explore his Keep.”
Moira wiggled her eyebrows. “Plus, he is super-hot.”
“Yes, but all the Lords are hot. And I’m not in the market for a Lord or a shifter or anything with a penis.”
