Page 38 of Shifting Winds
The doors opened. Simone poked her head out, saw me, and offered a grim smile. “Five minutes and you’re up.”
“Any tips?”
She tapped her ear.
They were listening.
“Just be yourself,” Simone said, her eyes burning with anger. “That always seems to work.”
With a nod at us both, she ducked back inside the door.
“I can’t tell if she’s telling me not to be myself or if she’s saying be the Evie that grows twenty-foot flowering trees on someone else’s lawn.”
Caelan grinned. “The latter.” He rose and touched my hair, sending another waft of floral scent up. “Stop being afraid of who you are. Use it. Show the Council you are not to be trifled with.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re a Lord. I’m a peon.”
“You may live in my territory, but you are no peon. They called you here for information about Donovan, but don’t be surprised if they try to dig into your background. Stay on topic and answer only the questions about the dead Lord. You owe them nothing except info on Donovan. And even then, you don’t have to speak if you don’t want to, but they will make your life hard if you don’t.”
“When does it end? When will they ever get off my back?”
Caelan’s jaw tightened. “Follow Simone’s advice. Show them you are not some mundane florist. Fear is power, Evangeline. When they know to fear you, they will back down.”
I slumped. “This sucks.”
Caelan snorted. “Eloquent as always.”
The door opened again. Caelan gave me a meaningful look before walking away.
Simone stepped outside. “Evie. The Council will see you.”
I squared my shoulders and followed her into the room. The hotel setting was a little odd for such a powerful gathering. A coffee set up rested by the back wall, white cups turned upside down on a silver tray next to large, hand labeled carafes.
The Shifter Lords sat side by side, behind a long table with a dark tablecloth. Rowan was on the end on my left side, a warning glimmering in his hazel eyes. Next to him sat Ethan, his gaze watchful and wary. Thorvin sat next to him, staring at me with friendly curiosity. Soren sat next to him, his face a carefully blank slate. But there was one sitting there who might have broken my heart if I had let him in.
Ben. He was as handsome as I remembered, but all pretense of friendliness in his eyes had fallen away. The Healer watched me, like a predator watches another worthy predator.
The way he looked at me hurt. I’d never done anything to him except keep my secrets. I’d never harmed anyone who hadn’t brought harm to my doorstep, and I tried my best to stay in my lane.
And it had gotten me right here. Right now. In front of a bunch of Lords who wanted to own me. Anger sparked in my gut, fury at being put in this position when all I wanted to do was go home and play in the greenhouse.
I swallowed the fury down and put on a pleasant smile, while refusing to look at Ben.
Be myself, Simone said.
Here goes nothing.
“You boys look like you’re up here for a celebrity panel. Am I early for the Q&A?” I turned in a slow circle, pretending to investigate the room. No windows to be found, but two doors on either side of the Lords’ table. The double doors behind me were heavy and large, difficult to get out if I needed to exit in a hurry.
“You will speak when you are spoken to,” one of the Lords snapped.
I turned to see Ethan glaring at me. He was the oldest of the Lords, silver edging his hair at the temples. His eyes were dark and flat, and he wore a cloak of restrained violence around his lean shoulders. Out of all the Lords, I knew him and Thorvin the least.
Ethan seemed to be the de facto leader, at least today. He sat in the middle of the table, hands crossed in a steeple. His navy suit was perfectly pressed, complete with a crisp white shirt worn underneath and a dark gray tie with a silver pin in the shape of a wolf’s head.
I let a little Floromancy power shine through my eyes. “I am not your prisoner, Lord. Watch your tongue when you’re speaking to me.”
Soren’s lips twitched. Rowan rubbed a hand over his face. Thorvin continued to watch me, seemingly memorizing everything about me. His attention was beginning to unnerve me. Ben’s eyes narrowed.
