Page 94 of Shifting Winds
“Shuddup, Moira.”
Ash sent her an admonishing look. “Do you know why they want you there?”
I shrugged. “The summons came before the tree incident, so I’m not sure.”
“The tree will definitely come up,” Ash said.
“I have no defense other than what goes in must come out.”
Ash gave me a withering look. “You truly have no respect for any form of authority, do you?”
“Where would the fun be in that?” I grinned and poked a cream colored rose into floral foam, gently pushing aside an anemone.
“These are not Lords,” Ash said gently. “Their power can crush you.”
“True,” I agreed. “But why would they bother with me? I’m low on the totem pole and they have much bigger things to worry about.”
Ash’s hands stilled. “I think you constantly forget who and what you are. Being of the Fae King’s blood doesn’t put you low on the totem pole, more like close to the top. Chimeras are an unknown. They can do amazing things but they’re so secretive,it’s difficult to rank them.” He gave me a probing glance. “You haven’t spoken much about that side of you. Everything under control?”
“As much as it can be. I shift when I need to but still have a lot to learn. Finn could do some cool tricks, and all I know how to do is turn into another animal.”
“Still a cool trick,” Moira acknowledged. She picked up a rose and hissed when a thorn pricked her finger. “We didn’t get the de-thorned ones this time?”
I shook my head. “New supplier. Our regular one had a rose slug outbreak, and it decimated their crop.” A disgusted scoff came from me. “They charged an obscene amount to de-thorn them, so I figured we could do it.”
“And then you forgot?” Moira accused, waving a bloody digit at me.
“Yup. I was busy giving birth.”
Tess let out a chortle. “Seed jokes will never get old.”
We worked a few more hours on the arrangements before I called it quits. On my way out, Ash stopped me by the door and pulled me in for a hug.
“Be careful,” he said quietly. “If you can’t be respectful, be quiet.”
I snorted. Like that would ever happen.
His heavy sigh made me grin. “If you don’t take my advice, at least keep your mouth shut. Admit to no wrongdoing. The fae are tricky and will use all kinds of deceit to bend you to their whims.”
I patted him on the back. “Remember who my mother is. I’ll be fine, Ash. I promise.”
His grim expression when he pulled back said he didn’t believe me at all, but he didn’t argue. “Text me as soon as you’re home, no matter what time it is.”
“Will do.”
He held open the door for me and waved as I drove away.
The first hint of dread sang through my bones. Four hours from now and I would be standing in front of more power than my mind could comprehend.
I’d been dancing right on the line of danger with the gods for months now. The summons wasn’t out of left field, but I’d hoped I could delay being called to the carpet until I got a firm handle on my magic and learn my limits. Now I had to walk in and hope my Floromancy and shifting ability would get me out of any serious trouble I might find.
Mom and Cernunnos would be there, but I wasn’t confident enough to tell if their presence was a good thing or would serve to make things worse.
Ash’s doubt about me being okay only heightened my own. I was walking into the unknown, and I didnotlike surprises.
Unfortunately, the fae and the gods have proven to be nothing but a surprise.
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