Page 46 of Shifting Winds
Little Shopof Florals was busy from the moment we opened the doors until closing time. When I finally locked the doors and sagged against the wall, Moira and I stared wide-eyed at each other.
“That was intense,” I breathed.
Moira sank into a rolling chair. “When are Tess and Ash due back?”
Both called in sick today, though Ash admitted he was more heart sick than anything. Tess didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t press the issue. Even though none of us could catch mundane diseases, I allotted a few sick days to my employees because sometimes you just needed a free day to veg in your pajamas and ruminate about life.
“I expect Tess will be back sooner than Ash.”
Moira spun in the chair. “This sucks.”
“Yeah. Do you think I should ban employee relationships?”
The vampire laughed. “You only have three employees and both Tess and Ash are terrified of me. You and Ash won’t be dating, and I can’t see Tess dating anyone else for a long time. I don’t think you need to worry about it.”
Something in her first sentence made me pause. “Why are they terrified of you?”
Moira’s jaw tightened. “Unimportant.”
“Moira.”
“Leave it be,” she warned. “We’ve worked it out and everything is fine.”
At my nod, she continued. “Needless to say, my dating life is drier than the Sahara. Tess and Ash will be fine, even if they decide they’re better off apart for good.” She smiled. “They’re adults. Let them solve it their way.”
“I was!”
Moira yawned and rolled the chair back. “You were getting all glinty eyed. I know that look. It’s Evie speak for I’m about to get involved.”
“Was not,” I muttered, even though we both knew she was right.
Earlier in the day I’d told her about my visit with the Council, but we hadn’t had much time to chat about it because of the stream of constant customers.
“Do you think this time the Lords will take the hint?” Moira asked.
“After what I did to Ethan?” I strode over to the coffee pot and made a fresh one. “Fifty-fifty.”
She grinned. “I would have loved to see that prick get tossed around.”
“It was awesome.” The memory of Ethan hanging upside down, still fresh in my mind, made me grin.
“You probably made an enemy today.”
“They’ve been enemies since the moment they stepped into my shop and threatened me.”
Moira stood and slung her purse over her shoulder. “We have your back. Always. But tangling with the Lords is bad for business and our continued health. Be careful.” To soften her words, she hip bumped me as she passed by on her way to thedoor. “Tangle with Caelan all you want,” she said with a wink. “But the other ones smell blood in the water.”
A gust of cool wind blew into the shop when Moira left. I shivered and locked the door behind her.
The Lords might smell blood in the water, but when the chips fell, it wouldn’t be my blood they found.
Chapter
Fifteen
CAELAN
Ashift in the wind and the scent of ancient pines and snow told me I was no longer alone. From behind the tree cover, a massive, glowing stag with moss hanging from its impressive antlers stepped out.
