Page 10 of Power Shift
“This event does not count toward that number.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but Moira shoved me so hard I almost fell over. “Agreed!” she blurted.
Simone’s face fell in relief. “Thank the gods,” she muttered. The Omega took a moment to rummage through her bag, pulling out a familiar document a few moments later.
“You carry contracts for lunch dates?” I asked.
“Only when there’s a pain in the ass Floromancer my Shifter Lord loves to bargain with,” she muttered. Simone snapped the pen’s plunge, flipped to the second page and scribbled something down, muttering under her breath.
When she finished, she shoved the pen and paper at me. “Everything’s there. Read over everything, initial in the right blocks, and please sign on the damn line.”
Moira chuckled. “You really want that soup.”
“I’d stab someone in the jugular for that soup,” she huffed.
Much to Simone’s annoyance, I read over the entire contract again, not trusting that Caelan hadn’t changed something, and double-checked Simone’s harried scribbles. After I confirmed everything, I took a deep breath, initialed the proper areas, and signed the contract.
Once again, I was a subcontractor for the Shifter Lord. But after this, I’d only have to deal with him twice a year. It was a win all the way around.
I’d barely picked up the pen from the paper when Simone snatched it away, shoved it into her bag, and breezed toward the door. “Nice doing business with you!” she called out as the bell jingled.
“If wolves could have a heart attack, she’d be the first one to go,” Moira observed.
“Could you imagine working for Caelan?” I shuddered. “Twenty-four hours a day?”
Moira shook her head. “That’s why I’m so glad I work for an undemanding Floromancer who keeps me supplied with tea and coffee.”
Two hours later, right when everyone was gone, and I was walking over to lock the shop, a courier pushed the door open and poked her head in.
“Evie Quinn?” she asked, double checking the name on the box.
My heart sped up. The size was familiar. How in the world…
“That’s me.”
I signed for the box and the courier left in a hurry, plunging the shop into silence.
You already had this made, I accused Caelan via text.
Unveiling the mysteries behind my methods takes the magic away,came the response.
I smiled despite my annoyance.
Have you opened it?
No. I’m finishing up the arrangements and have to load them in the van. It will have to be a surprise until I’m ready to get dressed because I’m running low on time.
Hold that thought.
I frowned, but when he didn’t send anything else, I tucked my phone into my pocket and put the final touches on the last spell. All twelve arrangements sat snug in their boxes, their blooms and leaves waving in the breezeless room. A smile touched my lips as I stroked the petal of a deep yellow calendula. Caelan might be an ass sometimes, but he never forced me into a color palette or a design I hadn’t made. He always let me run with things as I saw fit.
With that disturbing thought in my head, I picked up the first box and went to prop open the door. Three massive men stood on the curb, right by my van.
Nerves flooded me, but I opened the door with my foot. “Can I help you?” I called.
The first one, a tall blond wolf with a fuzzy five o’clock shadow on his face, stepped forward. “Miss Quinn?”
I had a bad feeling about this. “Yes?”
