Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
To Simone’s credit, she wore a look of sympathy when she spotted us and grabbed me by the arm. “I swear to you, I did not know.”
“I won’t stay here a second longer than the contract requires,” I said under my breath.
Simone let out a frustrated breath. “I’m sorry, Evie. Caelan is…unreasonable around you.”
Moira barked out a laugh. “The dude is straight-up psychotic.”
Simone shot her a dark look. “He is not psychotic.”
“Your Shifter Lord is certifiable sometimes.” I shoved an arrangement into Simone’s hand. “Far left table, if you don’t mind.”
Simone sputtered but hurried the flowers over to the table. When she returned, a hesitant look crossed her face. “Um, Evie. I know the banner is a little unhinged, but I hope we can agree that there’s no need to respond, right?”
My hands stilled in the act of activating one of the altered spells on the blooms. “You want me to let it go?”
Her expression cleared. “Yes! That would be wonderful!”
Moira burst out laughing. “Simone, meet Evie. She’s never found a grudge she didn’t cling to.”
“The banner is one thing,” I said, ignoring Moira. “But this entire event appears to be about me. Even if I didn’t respond to the first, there’s no way I can let the second go.”
Simone’s jaw tightened. “If I ask you nicely?”
“I’d say I appreciate your input, but I’ve decided to go another way.”
Her fingers tightened around her clipboard. “Can you at least wait until everyone is gone?”
I smiled at her and returned to my work.
“Fuck,” Simone muttered as she clacked away on her too-high heels.
“Someone’s getting fucked tonight, and it ain’t Evie,” Moira sang after her.
The Omega lifted her hand and gave the vampire the middle finger.
“I’ll think about it!” Moira shouted.
Yep. Tonight was going to be awesome.
It wasn’t long after the setup was finished that Moira sidled over to me. “What did you do?” she whispered.
I chewed on my lip. “If I said nothing, would you believe me?”
“Nope.” She wiggled her index finger at one of the arrangements. “Your hands were different when you messed with them.”
“My hands?”
“Yes. You moved them a different way when you worked with them the first time. So what did you do?”
I stared at her for a long beat. “You notice what I do with my hands?”
“Not always. But I pay attention when the Shifter Lord is involved because it usually means trouble.”
Wasn’t that the truth. “I might have altered their function. A little.”
One of her dark eyebrows rose. “Oh?”
“Dependent upon what happens tonight.”
Moira’s lips twitched. “And what will those lovely little arrangements do if the circumstances are right?”
A slow grin slid over my face. “I’d hate to ruin the surprise.”
Moira’s wicked chuckle made me laugh. “Being nice is overrated and not your style. I’ll remember that next time I urge you to use caution.”
“Oh no. This is not the only thing I’m planning.”
She snorted. “Good to know. I’ll keep a close watch on the centerpieces tonight.”
A few minutes later, noise picked up in the foyer, the sound of Caelan’s guests arriving.
Thankful he hadn’t made an appearance beforehand, I double-checked all the arrangements, then activated the first spell.
Every bloom began to sway back and forth, all the greenery furling and unfurling.
The small round mirrors the centerpieces sat on began to rotate slowly, the lights hovering above the arrangement bouncing off the mirror, casting the entire table in a colorful prism of gorgeous light.
“Whoa,” Moira said. “Stunning.”
“Thank you.” I was pretty happy with how everything turned out.
I’d made each arrangement in autumn colors, deep reds and burgundies, russet orange and mustard yellow blooms, and deep, glimmering bronzes and browns.
Whoever had decorated the room had done the same.
Deep brown tablecloths topped the tables, and bronze candlesticks dotted the middle of the table every few feet.
Someone had turned the lights down low, casting a warm ambiance over the ample space. I’d say one thing about Simone. The woman knew how to decorate.
I wandered over to the Omega. “Where are Moira and I seated?”
“Head table.”
I stiffened. “Simone.”
“Couldn’t be helped,” she snapped. “You know how he is.”
“And you know how I am,” I said softly.
“Please behave tonight, Evie. I beg of you.”
“It depends on how your Shifter Lord behaves.”
She gave me side eye. “He’s your Lord, too.”
“A mere technicality based on locale.”
Her aggrieved sigh made my lips twitch.
“Are we still meeting for drinks on Tuesday?” she asked.
“Yes. You still drinking those martinis?”
“Yes. You still have that good liqueur?”
“I do.”
Simone sniffed. “Fine. Seven?”
“Bring a snack.”
Her lips pulled into a smile. “You know one day someone’s going to get hurt with this, don’t you?”
“Sure do. You know it will probably be Caelan?”
Simone snorted. “Go have a seat, weirdo. And please try to act civilized tonight.”
“I make no promises.”
She shook her head and closed her eyes, dragging in a long breath. “Okay. Turn it on, Simone.”
A second later, she wore a dazzling smile and strolled to the door to greet the Shifter Lord’s guests.
“I wish I could turn it on like that,” Moira murmured.
“She has years of experience working for a Lord. Everyone here is gifted at hiding their emotions.” I took her by the arm. “We’re seated at the head table.”
Moira grimaced. “Seriously?”
“Oh yes. I’m the guest of honor, remember?”
Moira let me lead her over. “How could I forget you’re the very special sparkle princess tonight?”
“Never say that to me again.”
Moira bent into a dramatic bow as she pulled my chair out. “My liege,” she said in a terrible English accent.
I swatted her hand away and took my seat. “Idiot.”
“Mmm. You love me.”
I eyed her as magic pooled in the palm of my hand.
The centerpiece for the head table was the prettiest one, and since Caelan was sitting here, there was less chance of someone overhearing what was about to happen.
Stifling my grin, I finished the alterations and snuffed my power before Simone could notice.
“Unfortunately, I do. Also, you look super-hot tonight. Where are you finding all these amazing dresses?”
She wore a sleek black sheath dress topped with a sparkling belt.
Her hair was scooped into a slick bob, and she wore minimal jewelry, just a pair of juicy red rubies dangling from her earlobes and a delicate ruby bracelet.
Her feet were encased in heels the same color as her earrings.
Moira rarely wore much makeup. She didn’t need it.
I’d never met an ugly vampire, and Moira was no exception. She reminded me a little of a fairytale princess. With her shiny, long black hair, dark eyes, and pale, creamy skin, Moira looked like a runway model. She was long and leanly muscled and had the type of elegant style I could never match.
“This old thing,” she said lightly.
“The only old thing here is you.”
“True.” A server came over and filled our glasses, then breezed away like he was never there.
“There’s a great little boutique right at the edge of the downtown strip of shops.
The proprietor is a stitching witch.” Moira’s face lit up with a smile.
“I’ve never seen such talent. She could be in New York or Milan or working for one of the larger fashion houses, but she’s here.
There’s a story there, Evie. I can feel it. ”
Moira was rarely wrong about people. She’d been wrong once, a long time ago in her youth, and it changed her on a fundamental level. After that, she’d developed an almost uncanny sense when it came to others. “Maybe we should pop by her shop again so I can check it out.”
“Yeah?”
“Of course. It’s about time I get back into the world, isn’t it?”
Moira patted my knee. “It’s a trip down the road. You’ll be fine. And who knows? Maybe we’ll make a new friend.”
A punch of power boomed through the room.
Soren walked in first, a handsome, smooth-talking Shifter Lord who ruled over the Deep Southern territories.
Moira sucked in a soft breath when she saw him.
Their gazes clashed and held for a long moment before Soren sauntered toward our table and took his seat. “Moira,” he drawled.
“Lord,” Moira said, inclining her head.
“Evie,” Soren acknowledged. “It must be an honor for you to have a Lord host a gala for you in his home.”
Moira snorted softly.
“I don’t like surprise parties, Lord.”
Soren’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t know?”
I was saved from answering him by the crack of power heralding Caelan’s arrival. His magic, usually tightly leashed to his body, rolled around him, snaps of lightning around his skin. A show of power for the other Lords and guests, telling them they were in his domain, and he ruled over all.
My breath caught as he walked inside. I hadn’t seen him close up in months. He was just as handsome as he always was, but there was an edge to him that hadn’t been there before. A sharpness in his eyes, a hint of violence as his gaze swept the room.
The stormy gray of his eyes snared me in their net. Everything inside me tightened. Caelan’s face was blank, but emotion burned in his eyes.
If only things were different, maybe I could have loved him.
The thought took me by surprise, considering I wanted to punch him in his stupid face about eighty percent of the time.
His hair was shorter than normal, artfully arranged, and still a little messy. His jaw was clenched tight. Something must have happened just before he walked in. Caelan was a master at managing his emotions in public, but while his face was blank, anger beat from his tense form.
He made a beeline over to the table. I sat, frozen, hoping he would choose a seat by Soren or Moira, but my luck had run out. Caelan chose the seat right next to me. Even before he sat down, his power crackled against my skin, a testament to his power.
“Evie,” he murmured. “It’s nice to see you again.”