Page 86 of Shifting Winds
When I landed on my porch and shifted, I shook out my robe before tugging it on. Poe hopped onto my shoulder.
“Let’s go inside and get warm.”
The raven dipped his head in acknowledgment.
“I’ve missed you. How’s Fee?”
Fee was a phoenix I technically stole from my mother. Well, I stole the egg, not the bird, not dreaming for a second the shell contained a mythical bird of untold power. She stayed with Poe inside the basement of my home for quite a while until I struck a bargain with Caelan for Fee to stay with him so she could remain hidden but still take to the skies and experience some form of freedom.
It had worked out far better than expected, but, to my surprise, Poe had elected to stay with her. Now the two were inseparable, and Fee had grown into a stunning multi-colored mythical beast.
“Happy Fee.”
“Good. I was at the property not too long ago.” Poe and Fee stayed away from the main area of the Keep because of all the guests and business going on. It wasn’t safe for anyone to catch a glimpse of Fee, so she stayed on the ground during the day as much as she could and kept to the back of Caelan’s property. At night, she and Poe flew to their heart’s content, her natural magic matured enough to where she could mute her orange and purple glow.
I’d visited a few times over the months, but I was careful not to draw attention to either one of them. Poe could take care of himself, but Fee was young and vulnerable.
She also belonged to my mother, or at least Cliona would claim her if she saw her, so I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize her safety.
I scratched the back of Poe’s neck. “Hungry?”
He dipped his head, and I got busy chopping up some fruits and cheese, tossing some into a bowl with some nuts for Poe and adding some to a small tray for me. Shifting burned a ton of energy, and I always ate like a horse for the first several hours afterward.
Poe hopped onto the coffee table and dug into his food while I curled up on the couch and munched. When he finished, he lifted his head.
“Gods unhappy.”
“When are they not?” I muttered.
“Angry. Tree.”
I stilled. “They’re angry about the tree on Caelan’s property?”
Another dip of the head. “Technically, that’s not my fault.”
“Court of Gods. Danger. Danger. Danger.”
The summons I’d received was only a few days away. I’d almost forgotten. If Poe was here to warn me, the circumstances I was walking into had to be dire.
“Any tips?”
“Survive. Survive.”
“That’s not exactly helpful, Poe.”
“Betrayal.”
“Who?”
“Gods. Trickery.”
“Alright. I was already somewhat prepared for getting stabbed in the back, but that was before the tree incident. It’s worse?”
He bobbed his head. “Mother. Father. Worry. Betrayal.”
I reached over and stroked his head. “Thanks for the warning. So Mom and Dad will both be there and someone is going to try to stab me in the back?”
He made a frustrated quarking sound. “Tricks. Betrayal. Tricks.”
