Page 3 of Power Shift
“Money really does buy happiness, though,” I mumbled against her shoulder.
She laughed. “Yes, but not at the risk of your health.” Moira gently pushed me away and held me by both arms. “But I still think you should take it.”
I stared. “That speech that just rolled off your tongue was all a lie, then?”
Moira sniffed and leaned against the bottom cabinets. “No. We don’t need the money. But that isn’t the reason you should take it.”
I put down my shears and crossed my arms. “Oh? This should be good. Why should I take his offer?”
Her eyes darkened. “You should go and show them who Evie Quinn is. No more hiding. No more staying in your shop and keeping your head down. The Chimera threat is hanging over Joy Springs, and we are the only ones who know.”
“Moira.” A hysterical laugh bubbled from me. “I can’t show anyone that I’m a Chimera. The Lords will string me up and feed me to the wolves.”
“You don’t have to show them the Chimera to show them who you are.” She sighed. “My best friend is powerful beyond all reason, and she hides herself behind her pretty flower arrangements. You are not only a Chimera, and you are not only a Floromancer. You are a frigging demi-god, Evie, the daughter of a powerful goddess. And you’re all the other things combined. If you don’t think you can kick the shit out of a Shifter Lord…” Moira laughed. “Then you haven’t been paying attention.”
My heart warmed even as fear flooded my veins. “I’ve been avoiding this my entire life.”
Her smile was sad. “Maybe it’s time to stop running.”
I mulled it over. “Caelanispaying an obscene amount of money for me to attend.”
Moira’s eyes glittered. “Every contract with him is negotiable. Ask him for another dress.” She shrugged. “Shit. Ask him for the damn moon. I’m sure he’d figure out a way to lasso it.”
“You think it’s the right step? Going into the Keep and showing everyone who I am?”
“I don’t think you need to plan on razing the place down, but if the opportunity presents itself or someone tries to dominate you…” Her voice trailed off. “Then I think you should kick some ass and take some names.”
The door opened. Ash poked his head in and grinned. “Seconded! We’ve been waiting for this moment for years.”
The dryad was tall and lean, his skin naturally golden brown due to his nature. His hair was a gorgeous mix of light and dark brown, and his eyes were a deep mossy green that changed to emerald when his magic rose. Tess trailed behind him, the banshee dressed in brighter colors than I’d ever seen.
She wore a soft pink dress and an emerald-green cardigan, her pale hair pulled into a messy bun. Bangles clinked on her wrist as she lifted her hand in a wave. “Thirded.” Her smile was soft and tentative. Tess was soft-spoken and quiet, but she was smart as a whip and powerful, though she kept the most powerful tool in her arsenal tightly leashed.
None of us had ever heard Tess’s wail or the mournful cry that signified a looming death. The cry wouldn’t harm us, but her scream might end us all if she failed to control her power.
“Guess I’m outvoted,” I said lightly.
Tess reached for me, taking both my hands in her pale, cool ones. She so rarely touched anyone that the gesture took me by surprise. “None of us is immortal,” she began. “Immortality is a myth. We can be killed at any moment of the day. Eternal life is a gift and not one to be squandered.”
Where was she going with this? I stayed silent and waited.
“If you walk through the world hiding yourself, eternal life becomes a chore, Evangeline. We love you. We love working with you and being your friend. But all of us see the sadness in your eyes.”
I blinked my tears away. “Tess?—”
Her eyes glowed pale silver. “You’re worried about us. Don’t be. We’ll be fine.” She smiled, a bright, unexpected gesture that made my lower lip wobble. “You might be the most powerful, but none of us are helpless.”
“I know you’re not helpless—” I protested.
Tess interrupted me. “And yet you still hold yourself back because you want to keep us safe.”
I closed my mouth and stared at her.
“Aww,” Moira said softly. “Our baby has grown up.”
Ash placed his hand on Tess’s shoulder. “She’s right, Evie. Stop rolling over.” He dropped a kiss atop the banshee’s head. “Hiding yourself only gives them power. They’re working behind the scenes to control you. Don’t let them.”
I put my hands on my hips and stared at them suspiciously. “Is this an intervention?”
