Page 97 of Power Shift
“Your basil is struggling,” I rasped. “It doesn’t have enough light, and it’s too close to your cucumbers.”
I sensed Caelan sitting down beside me. “Evie. Do whatever you think is right.”
I uprooted the basil with barely a thought and moved it next to the oregano, where full sunlight would reach both. A couple additional tweaks and the garden would flourish. “You might want to warn whoever planted it, so they won’t be freaked out tomorrow.”
I could almost feel his grin. “He already knows and is a little embarrassed.”
Startled, I cracked an eye open. “You planted everything?”
Caelan nodded. “I try to do a small kitchen garden every year, and no one ever corrects me.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s annoying being a Lord sometimes.”
“I bet Simone would.”
He laughed. “She gets her hands dirty all the time dealing with my affairs. The last thing she wants is to dig in literal dirt.”
I closed my eyes again, doing one final check on his garden. “You planted your cilantro too deep.” Almost missed it the first time. A quick tweak and…“There. It should sprout soon. Don’t worry if you don’t see anything for a while. Cilantro is a slow grower.”
Another quick scan and I pulled my fingers from the dirt and rose, dusting off the seat of my pants. “Your land is healthy and happy.”
“Shifters tend to care for their lands well, flower girl.” He looked to the distance. “Shall we?”
We walked on, and even though I stopped periodically to investigate, Caelan never grew annoyed. We’d just turned a corner when something orange and blue streaked past my face. I gasped and spun to follow it.
A shriek of pure happiness exploded in the clearing.
“Fee!” Tears sprang to my eyes.
The phoenix soared high in the air and dive bombed straight for me. Caelan tensed, but I held out my arms. Fee screeched to ahalt, inches from my face, and I grabbed her, bringing her in for a gentle hug.
Ancient magic hummed from her body. I stroked a gentle hand down her silky, glowing feathers. “You look stunning.”
Fee rubbed her head against my cheek and made an odd chirping noise. I lifted my head and locked eyes with Caelan.
He’d done this for me and didn’t have to, done it for no other reason than me asking. “Thank you,” I breathed.
A small nod.
A dark, sleek bomb with vivid purple eyes headed right for me, the raven’s cry piercing the quiet. He flew over me, circled back, and landed on my shoulder, his feathers brushing my hair as he nuzzled me.
“Hello Poe.”
“Evie. Hello.”
I reached up and stroked his cheek. “Fee is flying.”
The raven dipped his head. “Fee. Fly. Happy.”
“I’m glad. Are you coming home any time soon?”
Poe said nothing for a moment. “Fee. Home.”
My brows lifted. “You want to stay with Fee?”
Another dip of his head. “Oh Poe. Forever?”
“Fee is home.”
He reached for Fee, and she reached for him, Poe stroking her head with his. My heart warmed even as it cracked. If I wanted to visit Poe, I’d have to come here. Fee couldn’t leave.
