Page 14 of Shifting Winds
Rowan leaned over and brushed a kiss against my cheek. “Keep telling yourself that.”
With a shake of his head, he opened the front door. “I’ll hold you to your promise to visit.” He winked and headed out.
I locked the door behind him and picked up the broom, thinking about Caelan and the complications I’d brought into his life.
“Ha,” I muttered to myself. “Serves him right. I told him to leave me alone.”
But even as I said it, I didn’t believe it. Having him around felt like slipping my arms into a cozy shirt right out of the dryer.
Warm and comforting.
Except when it wasn’t.
Chapter
Five
Ablissful, normal week passed, and I was practicing changing forms when Cernunnos appeared in my back yard. This time, his presence didn’t scare me. I’d become sensitive to his magic and felt the telltale swell of his power in the air before I saw him.
I’d just turned from a hawk into a lizard and back again. Cernunnos didn’t disturb me, instead settling onto the rocking chair on the back porch. I had a few more things to try so I decided to keep going.
Twenty minutes later, I flew onto my father’s knee and squawked at him, nudging him with my beak.
Cernunnos laughed and picked up the clothing I’d left on the small table by his chair. “I’ll step inside. Call me when you’re ready.”
True to his word, he went into the house. I shifted into my human form and dressed quickly, shivering as the cold air hit my bare skin.
When I called out for the Fae King, he stepped outside carrying my fuzzy sweater. With a grateful smile, I tugged it on and curled up on the outdoor love seat. “Question,” I said as hesettled in. “Why do I get to keep my clothes when I shift into my wren form, but not when I use the Chimera magic?”
Cernunnos’s brow furrowed. “I guess I never thought about it. Different magic, I suppose. Fae magic is much different from shifter magic. They don’t keep their clothes, either. But Chimera magic is different from shifter magic, too, though it’s similar. The changes are DNA deep. Fae magic is simply…magic. We are our other forms. I take the form of a stag, and you take the form of a wren.”
“Shifters only have one form, too.”
“Yes, but their changes are physical.”
I blinked. “That makes no sense.”
Cernunnos’s teeth flashed. “It’s DNA versus magic.”
“But a shifter has magic.”
He inclined his head. “Yes, but it’s not the same as ours. Fae power is ingrained in the soil, the water, the air, everywhere around us. We are the world. Shifters are more earthbound. We are pure magic.”
My brain hurt, but his explanation made me think of something else. “I don’t feel any different now that I know I’m your daughter.”
Amusement made his multicolored eyes swirl. “Why would you?”
“No idea.” I tugged my sweater closer. “I guess I thought now that I’m the daughter of the Fae King, I’d suddenly be ripe with power.”
“Do you want to be?”
“Ugh. No.”
He laughed. “Your logic makes a good point. I still have a…” His eyes narrowed. “Block, I suppose is a good word, on your power signature. It keeps your heritage a secret.”
“Is that why I don’t feel anything?”
“Yes and no. Your magic has always been yours. If I remove the block, everyone will know who you are.”
