Page 52 of Shifting Winds
But the shifter was a boulder, unable to be moved. “Sorry, peach. You’re stuck with me.”
The look of disappointment on Thalia’s face broke something in me. Knowing I might regret this, I pulled my cell out.
Garrett saw the motion. “Don’t you fucking dare.”
I hit the speed dial button for Caelan. “Sorry. Us girls have to stick together.”
The Shifter Lord answered on the first ring. Garrett’s muscles tensed.
I held up a hand. “You know as well as I do if you come for me, I will flatten you.” A crazy smile tipped my lips. “And we both know how much I would love to do it.”
“Ooh,” Thalia breathed. “You guys hate each other, don’t you?”
“Let me guess,” Caelan’s voice rumbled over the connection. “Garrett’s there, isn’t he?”
“Yes. Has he kidnapped this girl? Do I need to stage a rescue while I wait for you to come gather your errant wolf?”
“I’m going to kill you one day,” Garrett said softly. “Right when you least expect it.”
“Tell my wolf to stand down,” Caelan rumbled, fury tightening his voice.
“I don’t need your assistance to deal with your guard dog,” I said.
Thalia laughed out loud. “Did you guys used to date?”
“No!” We both barked at the same time.
“Any time you want to dance, darling,” I drawled. “Let’s dance.”
“Evie…” Caelan said. “Please stop fighting with my Second.”
“He started it.”
His long-suffering sigh made me laugh. “I’m calling to see if you can relieve Garrett of duty for a little while and let this poor woman shop.”
“You’ve met Thalia.” There was an odd note in his voice.
“Yes. Why is she under Garrett’s protection?”
“It’s a long story,” he said tightly.
“I’ll have time tonight if you want to come over.” Couldn’t wait to hear how Caelan had gotten roped into babysitting. Or whatever this was.
Thalia’s eyes widened. “Are you doing it with the Shifter Lord?”
Garrett pinched the space between his brows.
A long pause came over the line. My heart thudded in my chest. Something was wrong. “Caelan?”
A soft sigh. “I’m sorry, Evie. I can’t tonight. Something came up.”
I swallowed and tried to shake off the rejection. There was no reason for me to be weird about this. Caelan was a Lord. He couldn’t always come over every time I asked him.
But he always had before, a negative voice whispered through my brain.
“Alright,” I said, ignoring the knot in my stomach. “We’ll catch up another time.” I turned away. “And Thalia? Can you call off your dog for a little while? She wants to do some shopping.”
“Yes, she does!” Thalia called. “And I still need some clothes!”
