Page 64 of Power Shift
“Open the door,” Cliona growled, the first real sign of anger she allowed herself to show.
“I don’t have anything of yours. There. See? No need for us to sit down and chat.”
“Where is it?” Magic glowed around my mother.
The first stirrings of real unease churned in my stomach. I was very glad it was early enough for everyone in Joy Springs to still be tucked into bed. If Mom got it in her head to destroy my wards, she’d have a chore on her hands, but they would fall.
I wasn’t a goddess. Mom was ancient, extraordinarily powerful, and pissed off at me.
“Tell me what you’re looking for, and I’ll tell you if I have it.” A dangerous game, but I’d perfected my lying game over the years. Even she could rarely tell when I was lying through my teeth.
“A seed,” Mother said. “It ismine.”
What in the actual hell had Hannah unearthed? I frowned. “I have a ton of seeds in the shop, but none of them are important enough for a goddess to seek.”
“Do not play games with me, child. I am your mother. You belong to me.”
“Ah. I was wondering when you’d drop all pretense of being a loving, caring mother. I don’t have what you seek.”
“I tracked it here!” she snapped.
Note to self. Do not pick up shiny seeds and bring them to work.
Moira stepped forward. “There has been more car traffic than usual this morning. Do you still sense the seed?”
I stepped closer to Moira in case Mom struck out at her.
Mom’s brow furrowed. She tried to step into my shop and was repelled by the warding.
Her eyes glowed with rage. “Evie! Let me in!”
I stepped in front of the vampire. “Answer Moira’s question. Do you still sense the seed?”
Mom’s jaw tightened. “You are hiding it from me. Do not make me hurt you, daughter.”
“Over a seed?” I laughed even as horror sparked in my veins.
“It is not—” Mom pressed her lips together and went silent.
What the hell was this seed and why was it so important to her? If Mom wanted it so badly, I knew she could never have it.
“I’m hiding nothing. Whatever you sensed must have passed by the shop. There’s nothing in here but the plants I’ve nurtured and created.” I held a hand out and swept it across the shop. “You’re welcome to scan if you’d like.”
I hoped and prayed Ash had hidden the seed well enough to escape her notice. When the dryad didn’t react, the first stirrings of hope unfurled within me.
Mom’s cold magic brushed over my skin, the power seeking something I no longer had. She did the same with Moira, but when she got to Ash, I held my breath until her power slipped away and swept through the shop. When she pulled her power back, no one said a word.
“I know you have it,” she said in a cold voice.
I lifted both arms in a casual shrug. “Whatever you’re looking for isn’t here.”
Another boom of sound from outside. Cliona stiffened and slowly turned.
“There you are.” Neit’s masculine drawl from somewhere on the street. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were avoiding me.”
My mother’s posture went liquid, her magic silent. “Neit. How wonderful to see you.”
His snort of disgust made my mother’s slim shoulder stiffen.
