Page 44 of Power Shift
Evie’s fingers stroked the back of the raven’s neck. “This is Poe.”
“Poe. I’m Caelan.”
The raven bobbed its head.
Evie pointed to the kitchen. “Everything is in there if you want to make yourself a plate. There’s a bottle of red wine on the counter. It doesn’t go with tacos, technically, but it’s good wine and the tacos are good, so…” Her voice trailed off.
“Thank you.” I went into the kitchen and made several tacos, my shoulders relaxing at the domestic task. Living in the Keep meant being catered to. Doing this small thing for myself andnot having Evie scrape and bow at my feet was nice. Wonderful, actually.
I might be making my own plate, but Evie’s essence had sunk into every part of the meal.
She didn’t speak until I had settled into the chair across from her with a glass of wine and a heaping plate.
“You could have taken the rest if you wanted it. I know how much shifters eat.”
“I had dinner earlier.” Simone had brought a plate into the study before the security meeting and waited until I’d eaten every bite. The Keep had a chef, a great one, but I’d always preferred home cooking, simple meals that were filling and flavorful, and showed the effort someone had gone to.
“Go ahead and eat. We can talk afterward if you like.” She wore an odd expression, one of worry and concern.
“Everything alright?” I picked up the first taco and bit into it. Flavor exploded in my mouth as I chewed. Cumin and chili powder, garlic and onion, the salsa Verde I’d spooned out of a pretty, chipped china bowl decorated with multi-colored flowers around its edge.
“Fine,” she assured me. “I have a situation I need assistance with.”
My eyebrows rose. “Evie Quinn asking for help? I can’t believe it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t make me regret this.”
“Where did you get this meat? It’s fantastic.” And it was. Flavorful and tender and possessed of a wild note, there was no way this was grocery store meat.
“I have a good relationship with a lot of farms. One of them ships me a box every month filled with grass-fed and finished beef, heritage pork, and chickens.” Evie smiled as she watched me devour the tacos. “I’ll send you home with a few packs if you like.”
“I like,” I said with my mouth full. Every single bite on this plate would go in my mouth because Evie had made it.
She snorted. “I have an extra dozen duck eggs in the fridge too, if you’d like to try some.”
I shoved down the magic threatening to burst from my body, the urge to lift her from the couch and wrap myself around her. It took me a moment to respond, and when I did, my voice was rough. “Duck eggs?”
I didn’t give a shit about the eggs. What I cared about was this gentle, giving Evie. We weren’t fighting or yelling or angry. Evie on a normal day was already dangerous to my heart. This Evie threatened to undo me.
Her eyes lit up. “Yes! The yolk is darker, richer than a normal egg. I use them when I bake and occasionally eat them for breakfast.”
“If you have some to spare, I’d love to try them.” And I would. My chef would try to run me out of the kitchen if I tried to cook, but in this case, she would need to bend.
Evie rose and grabbed the wine bottle, carrying it back to the sofa. Before she sat down, she waved the bottle and lifted her eyebrows in silent question.
My heart did a strange little trip as I held my glass up for a refill.
She smiled and poured some in mine and hers before re-taking her place.
Once I finished my tacos, I went to wash my plate, but Evie called out from the couch. “No need. I’ll take care of it later.”
Evie watched me carefully as I sat back down and waited. Whatever she wanted, it must be important.
“I’m not sure if it’s a proposition or a favor I’m about to ask, but I think it leans more into favor territory.”
I inclined my head. “Ask then.”
“It requires secrecy on both our parts, as well as from everyone in your Keep.”
