Page 43 of Power Shift
I stilled. “Oh Poe. He doesn’t love me. He wants to use me.”
He made a quarking noise. “Love Evie. Love Fee. Love Poe. Safe.”
“Fee?” I called.
The phoenix popped her head up and burbled.
“Do you want the chance to fly free? High in the sky?”
She flew over and settled by Poe, nudging him with her tail to move over. Poe croaked at her but shifted. I grinned at their antics.
Fee bobbed her head.
It was still early. “Are you truly sure about this, Poe? We can’t take it back.”
“Lord safe. Fee fly.”
I pulled my cell out and texted Caelan.
Chapter
Twelve
CAELAN
My cell beeped as Simone was leaving the room after a security brief. Garrett was in town trying to decipher the rumors swirling about Evie and the Chimeras.
Can you come over? I have a proposition and don’t want to discuss it over the telephone.
I froze. Was this about the marriage? Hope wrapped a fist around my heart and squeezed.
Have you eaten?I’d fed her once before and was dying to do it again.
I made tacos. There’s plenty left if you want them.
Evie was going to feed me? A dark sense of rage filled me as I thought about who else she might have fed over these last few months. I vowed to ensure I’d be the only one she offered food to in the future.
Shaking those possessive thoughts off, I checked the time.I’ll be there in twenty. Are the wards still keyed to me?
Yes. The front door is unlocked. Come inside.
I didn’t waste an extra minute. After I tossed Seymour some mealworms and patted him on the head and gave the turtle vine a little water, I got my shoes on and headed out the door without telling anyone where I was going.
Something about Evie’s property relaxed me as soon as I stepped onto the land. An intense peace had settled into the plants and soil, and the wind smelled of fresh, green life. The wolf inside me inhaled and curled into a tight ball, falling asleep. The Keep was my home, but it had never given me this much peace. Evie’s garden brimmed and overflowed with the gentle part of her power. On my land, some of her magic had aligned with mine, and the Keep grounds were much more relaxing than they used to be, but this was on another level.
Following Evie’s instructions, I knocked once and pushed my way inside.
Evie sat curled on the couch, her lower half covered by a blanket. Her dark hair was up in a messy bun, and her hands held a steaming mug. An e-reader sat on her lap next to a massive dark bird.
I blinked. This must be the one I saw her with all those months ago.
Resisting the urge to sink beside her and pull her into my arms, I waited.
“Lord.”
The bird’s deep voice startled a laugh from me.
“Hello,” I said.
