Page 26 of Shifting Winds
This was…human in a way. An ending. Maybe not a final one, but one for now.
“Tess is young, and Ash has been through heartbreak before. They’ll be okay. Eventually.” Moira sorted through the peonies for the best color. “And even if we go our separate ways, I don’t think we’ll ever fade.” A faint smile tipped her lips up. “Though I think you’re overreacting. None of us are going anywhere for a long time.”
“That’s what you say now,” I grumbled. “But two of our people are out there breaking up.”
Moira snorted. “Tess needs a job and Ash basically lives here. I don’t think either of them will uproot their lives over this.”
“I hope not.”
“And if they do, you can guilt them into staying. You’re great at that.”
I tossed a pansy at her. She caught it, laughing.
“Now stop being so maudlin and let’s finish this up before they get back.” Moira stuck the pansy into her own arrangement.
Ash and Tess returned an hour and a half later. While Tess looked fine, Ash looked like he’d gotten hit by a train.
“Mind if I take off for the day?” Ash asked quietly as Tess returned to her spot behind the desk and checked the shop email.
“Sure.” I touched his arm. “Are you alright?”
His jaw tightened. “Tess doesn’t love like us. She’s fine.”
My brow furrowed. “Ash, I don’t think anyone loves the same, nor do I think that assessment is fair. I’ll check?—”
“Don’t.” A sharp shake of his head. “Leave her be for now. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Without another word, he hurried out the door and back into the rain.
Moira and I exchanged glances. She rose from my worktable and went over to Tess, murmuring quietly.
I couldn’t hear what was said, but Tess was here, and she seemed okay.
That was all I could ask for now.
Chapter
Ten
My stomach hurt. The ache started after Ash and Tess returned to the store, but as the day went along, the ache grew until I was having trouble walking. Immortals didn’t get sick, unless the illness was magical in nature.
It could only be one thing.
Surprised it’d taken this long to start acting up, I rubbed the lower part of my stomach and grimaced when I shifted. I didn’t want the others to worry, so I didn’t move from my worktable for the rest of the day, except to get up and stretch, which caused a tearing pain in my stomach that made me gasp.
“Evie?” Moira said, eyeing me with a strange expression. “You alright?”
“Totally fine,” I assured her. “I’ve been using more muscles than normal these days.”
Moira grinned. “Caelan putting you through the wringer, is he?”
“I cannot wait until you get a boyfriend.”
The vampire laughed. “You’re going to be waiting quite a while. Boys are too much trouble, and I like my life just the way it is.”
Tess’s head popped up from the computer. “Ash broke up with me today.”
“Oh honey,” I said. “Are you alright?”
