Page 46 of Power Shift
“You’ve never asked for anything for yourself.” I snorted. “Other than for me to leave you alone, which admittedly I am terrible at doing.”
A slight smile tilted her lips up.
I brushed a hand over her cheek. “I will gladly do this for you and ask for nothing in return.”
“There’s one more thing.”
“Poe!” the raven croaked. “Poe go!”
A wince. “My raven would like to accompany you and visit freely if you would allow it.”
“Of course. Poe is welcome. I’m sure Fee would like to have a friend with her.”
We chatted over the details, their diets, and what Evie needed, which was only that Fee be kept safe and allowed to fly whenever she wanted.
I let her in on a little-known secret. “The entire Keep is protected by a spy proof ward. That’s why you never see news stories about any of the goings on there. The media has never been able to pierce our veil of privacy.”
“Comforting, but what about magical means?”
“That too. Not once has any magic—” I paused at Evie’s grin, “other than yours, penetrated the keep. And yours was not for spying. The Keep has many talented magicians who work solely on my security team. Your treasures will be safe at the Keep.”
Evie watched me, a solemn expression on her face. “Caelan.”
My heart clenched at the rasp in her voice when she said my name.
“I can’t let you take them if you use them against me. Fee can’t be a pawn in whatever this is between us. And Poe must be allowed to enter and leave at will.”
“I swear to you, I will protect them both with my life.” I laid a hand over my heart. “In this, we are agreed.”
Evie swallowed hard. “Why?”
“For many reasons. The simplest one being for you.”
Suspicion flickered in her eyes. “I’m still not going to marry you.”
I laughed. “Maybe not tonight. Maybe not tomorrow. Maybe not even next year.” I rose and offered my arm to Fee. Poe hopped onto the top of the couch and flapped onto my shoulder. “But one day, Evangeline Quinn, you are going to be my wife.”
I turned and left the house before she could regain enough composure to scream at me, smiling all the way.
Chapter
Thirteen
Caelan’s words about being his wife still rang in my head the next afternoon. All four of us stood around the worktable putting together some ideas for the Keep holiday centerpieces using fake flowers while we practiced. The shop had had a steady stream of business the last week, but today was especially busy for some reason, so the brainstorming session stopped and started multiple times as Moira and Tess broke away to help with customers.
Worry about Poe and Fee churned through me, and I was about to text Caelan when my phone beeped. I opened the message to see a picture of Fee flying high in the sky, a riot of color against the afternoon sky. My breath caught.
“Evie?” Moira asked.
I flipped my phone around and showed them.
“She’s stunning,” Ash breathed. The dryad had never seen her in flight before, though he spoiled her with treats as much as he could.
“And you’re sure she’s safe?” Tess asked, her hands deep into a basket of succulents.
“Caelan promised me he’d protect her with his life.”
Moira whistled low. “What did he demand in return?”
