Page 16 of Power Shift
Simone sniffed. “Fine. Seven?”
“Bring a snack.”
Her lips pulled into a smile. “You know one day someone’s going to get hurt with this, don’t you?”
“Sure do. You know it will probably be Caelan?”
Simone snorted. “Go have a seat, weirdo. And please try to act civilized tonight.”
“I make no promises.”
She shook her head and closed her eyes, dragging in a long breath. “Okay. Turn it on, Simone.”
A second later, she wore a dazzling smile and strolled to the door to greet the Shifter Lord’s guests.
“I wish I could turn it on like that,” Moira murmured.
“She has years of experience working for a Lord. Everyone here is gifted at hiding their emotions.” I took her by the arm. “We’re seated at the head table.”
Moira grimaced. “Seriously?”
“Oh yes. I’m the guest of honor, remember?”
Moira let me lead her over. “How could I forget you’re the very special sparkle princess tonight?”
“Never say that to me again.”
Moira bent into a dramatic bow as she pulled my chair out. “My liege,” she said in a terrible English accent.
I swatted her hand away and took my seat. “Idiot.”
“Mmm. You love me.”
I eyed her as magic pooled in the palm of my hand. The centerpiece for the head table was the prettiest one, and since Caelan was sitting here, there was less chance of someone overhearing what was about to happen. Stifling my grin, I finished the alterations and snuffed my power before Simone could notice.
“Unfortunately, I do. Also, you look super-hot tonight. Where are you finding all these amazing dresses?”
She wore a sleek black sheath dress topped with a sparkling belt. Her hair was scooped into a slick bob, and she wore minimal jewelry, just a pair of juicy red rubies dangling from her earlobes and a delicate ruby bracelet. Her feet were encased in heels the same color as her earrings. Moira rarely wore much makeup. She didn’t need it.
I’d never met an ugly vampire, and Moira was no exception. She reminded me a little of a fairytale princess. With her shiny, long black hair, dark eyes, and pale, creamy skin, Moira looked like a runway model. She was long and leanly muscled and had the type of elegant style I could never match.
“This old thing,” she said lightly.
“The only old thing here is you.”
“True.” A server came over and filled our glasses, then breezed away like he was never there. “There’s a great little boutique right at the edge of the downtown strip of shops. The proprietor is a stitching witch.” Moira’s face lit up with a smile. “I’ve never seen such talent. She could be in New York or Milan or working for one of the larger fashion houses, but she’s here. There’s a story there, Evie. I can feel it.”
Moira was rarely wrong about people. She’d been wrong once, a long time ago in her youth, and it changed her on a fundamental level. After that, she’d developed an almost uncanny sense when it came to others. “Maybe we should pop by her shop again so I can check it out.”
“Yeah?”
“Of course. It’s about time I get back into the world, isn’t it?”
Moira patted my knee. “It’s a trip down the road. You’ll be fine. And who knows? Maybe we’ll make a new friend.”
A punch of power boomed through the room. Soren walked in first, a handsome, smooth-talking Shifter Lord who ruled over the Deep Southern territories. Moira sucked in a soft breath when she saw him. Their gazes clashed and held for a long moment before Soren sauntered toward our table and took his seat. “Moira,” he drawled.
“Lord,” Moira said, inclining her head.
