Page 84 of Shifting Winds
He didn’t sound surprised.
“Yup. Once I realized how enmeshed he was becoming in my life, I was so tempted to move the shop somewhere else.”
“He’d chase you to the ends of the earth.”
“I’m well aware.”
Rowan shifted and scooted me higher, wrapping an arm around my waist. I was warm and comfortable, and…content.
Which made me realize I had a fundamental problem with Caelan. There were too many secrets between us. Good—okay, mind-blowing sex—would not solve our issues.
“Do you want him, Evie?” There was a note in his voice I was unsure of. Rowan was rarely serious, so when he was, I listened.
“I want him.”
He filled in my unspoken words. “But not what he comes with.”
“Right. And he doesn’t want what I come with.”
“The Fae father?” He stilled. “Oh. Shit. You’re full fae.” Rowan laughed in amazement. “I forgot about your mother.”
“Yay for me.”
“Wait till I tell all my friends I snuggled with a fae princess. They’re going to lose their shit.”
“Shuddup, Rowan.”
His laugh made me smile.
“But that isn’t all.”
“Oh?”
“And I can’t tell you what it is, but Caelan knows.”
Rowan went still, his hand splaying across my abdomen. “Is it harmful?”
I’d gotten control over the beast. As much as I could. And my murderous tendencies had gone way down with Caelan allowing me to siphon magic on his lands. My shifting was mostly under control, and things had been especially calm since the seed had exited my body.
“It has the potential to be.”
“Hmm. How does Caelan feel about it?”
“I’m not sure much rattles that guy.”
Rowan fell silent for a couple of minutes. When he spoke, his tone was grave. “Your Lord feels deeply, Evie. Deeper than the majority of the other Lords. He is not typical in his relationships. The man has never been a saint, but he never used and cast women aside. He never fell in love, either. Until you.”
Tears sprang to my eyes, but Rowan wasn’t finished.
“If you can bear to lose him, maybe you should let him go. But if you love him, truly love him, you have to realize he’s a package deal. Few Lords want to be in their position.”
“Donovan?”
Rowan scoffed. “I said few. There are some, like our recently deceased Donovan, who feel like it’s their birthright to gain power. People like Caelan, Thorvin, and I hope myself, we have the position thrust upon us and muddle through the best we can.”
“You don’t want to be a Lord?”
“Evie, if I had the choice, I’d be a hermit in the woods, surrounded by dirt, plants, and adorable forest creatures that fly into my cabin when I sing.”
