Page 18 of Power Shift
Soren snorted with disgust.
Caelan shot him a look tinged with violence. “And yet, one simple Floromancer continues to elude me.”
“I am not a quest, you asshat.”
“Aren’t you?”
I facepalmed myself. “Caelan, can you please use youralluring handsomenessto get this show on the road?”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “We still have five minutes before the gala is set to begin. Five more minutes for you to drink your fill of me.”
“For the gods’ sake,” I muttered. “If you want adoration, get it from your harem.”
“He’s bullshitting you, Evie,” Soren said from a few seats down. “The old bastard hasn’t wet his whistle with a woman in months.”
Caelan’s eyes flicked to Soren, the gold flecks in his irises glowing. “Soren,” he rumbled.
“Please, Caelan, I can see you’re besotted with the poor girl and have been since the second you met her. Can we all stop pretending?” Soren leaned back in his chair with a huff.
Caelan’s brow furrowed, a thoughtful look in his eyes as he studied the other Lord.
I clicked my tongue. “No harem, then? How sad for you.”
“Evie could have a harem if she wanted one,” Moira said helpfully.
Soren burst out laughing.
“Moira. A harem would be about as appealing as public speaking. No thank you.” I squirmed in my seat and discreetly checked my phone. Two minutes until whatever this was began.
“Just saying. You could, you know. All those men coming into your shop don’t give a damn about flowers. They’ve just heard about the pretty dark-haired witch who owns the place.”
Caelan’s chest rumbled.
Moira grinned. “You might have your alluring handsomeness, Lord, but most of your appeal comes from the power you hold over this town. Evie’s comes because she’s drop dead gorgeous, talented, and puts up with zero bullshit.” She winked at Caelan. “As evidenced by the pretty, pretty wild garden right outside these windows.”
“That Jacaranda is impressive as hell,” Soren murmured.
“Right?” Moira said. “Can you imagine how much she’ll save on her own wedding flowers once she finally picks the lucky man who gets to walk her down the aisle?”
Caelan abruptly rose and strode over to the podium set up with a mic and a small glass of water.
Soren shook his head. “Antagonizing him isn’t wise,” he said softly.
“Oh, but it’s so much fun,” Moira responded.
“This is already awful enough,” I whispered. “Can you stop picking at him? I don’t want him to drag this thing on longer than necessary.”
Soren chuckled.
“And why are you here, Lord?” I demanded. “We both know you don’t give a shit about flowers.”
Soren brushed an imaginary speck from his lapel. “I have my reasons.”
“None of them to do with flowers,” I muttered.
His gaze flicked to Moira before returning to me. “I go where I’m invited. Doing so allows me to take the pulse of a town.”
“You were just here a few months ago,” Moira said archly.
