Page 74 of Power Shift
“I don’t want him.” I flipped the steak over, pleased to see the batter turned a crispy, golden brown.
“Uh huh,” Moira said. She cracked open one of the bottles and poured us each a glass. “What’s up with Cernunnos hanging around these days?”
“No idea.” He hadn’t denied being my father, but he hadn’t confirmed either. If he was more than an annoying god hanging around, my heritage might end up being the biggest lie my mother ever told me. I’d no longer be a demi-god. I’d be something much more.
The thought of being a full god and part Chimera unsettled me.
If Cernunnos was my father, I’d be far more powerful than I ever expected.
Shaking my head, I peeked at the Brussels sprouts. Satisfied they still had some time to go, I reached for my wine glass and took a long swallow.
“He seems interested in you, and we all know it’s never a good thing when the gods start knocking.”
“I’m well aware,” I said dryly. “Having Cliona for a mother is hard to forget.”
“True.” Her dark eyes shone. “I’m worried about you Evie. That’s all. Things haven’t been right since the moment Caelan showed up in our shop. You haven’t been right.”
I took the first steak out and battered the next, smiling when the oil sizzled and bubbled when the steak hit the surface of the pan. “We’re all doing our best. You know I can’t get involved with anyone.”
Moira grunted. “I’m not sure that’s true anymore. Caelan seems willing to deal with anything when it comes to you.”
“Only because he doesn’t know about the Chimera part.”
I sank onto the stool opposite her. She looked heartbreakingly young with her bare face and ponytail. Long, pale fingers toyed with the colored, decorative knobs on her glass.
“His line is too pure to sully with Chimera DNA.”
Moira blinked. “Evie! That’s awful. Your DNA is not poisonous.”
“Everyone else won’t agree. There’s a reason the Chimera were wiped out. I might not be like them, but it won’t matter.”
Moira’s face softened. “You underestimate how much people care about you.”
I pulled the second steak out and battered the next. “You, Ash, and Tess love me. That’s all I need.”
Moira’s mouth turned down in a frown, but she changed the subject to less emotional things as I finished cooking.
Soon enough, everyone was gathered around the table, dishing out dinner. I thought it might be strange to have the Shifter Lord there. He’d never spent this much time in the presence of my friends, but I should have known he’d be able to fit in anywhere. Caelan even managed to get a laugh out of Tess, which surprised all of us.
Charming, handsome, powerful…whoever landed the Lord would be a lucky woman.
Our eyes met across the table. Silence fell inside my head, all the negative thoughts falling right out when I saw how he looked at me.
If only things were different. If only I was the woman I used to be. Even after my divorce, I was wounded but still me. I would have found my way back to myself if I hadn’t gone?—
Stop, I told myself. No good ever came from revisiting something I could never have again. This version of Evie was angrier, rawer, and much more powerful. She was willing to make the necessary sacrifices to protect those she loved.
And she’d never give her power to a man who wanted to cage her.
Caelan’s brow furrowed, but he remained silent, accepting the second round of Brussels sprouts Ash passed him.
When dinner was finished, Ash was the first to rise. “Should we clean up first?”
“No. I’ll take care of it later. Let’s do the spell first. The dishes will hold.”
Ash held his hand out for me. Our fingers slid against each other, our inherent power melding together. Ash wasn’t one for grand gestures of affection, but he and I had always had an easy way with each other. I loved him like a brother, and our magic was similar, so I always felt deeply comfortable in his presence.
He leaned closer. “Are you sure about this?”
