Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
My phone rang.
“What the hell was that?” Caelan barked.
“My mother. She sends her regards.”
The Shifter Lord snorted. “I’m sure she did. Want to tell me what she said?”
“How about I come over tonight?”
A thump and a muffled curse, then static.
I grinned. “Did you just drop the phone?”
“Hell just froze over, so yes, I did. When?” His voice was deeper than usual, a growl just under the surface.
“Right after sunset.” I was going to tell him. I had to tell him. “I want to see Fee and Poe, and there are some things we should discuss. Don’t make it weird.”
“I’ll feed you.”
“Please do.”
Caelan laughed. “Steak?”
“Whatever you want. I’m not picky.”
“Done. See you tonight.”
I hung up without saying goodbye.
Ash and Moira stared at me open-mouthed.
“That was the hottest thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” Moira said, fanning herself with junk mail.
My cheeks colored. “Shut up. I’m going to tell him.”
“You should,” Ash agreed.
“And if he kicks me out?” I asked.
“Then you’ll know.” Moira tapped her chin. “What are you going to wear?”
I stared down at my jeans and sweater. “Um. This?”
Moira gasped in horror and clutched her necklace. “Absolutely not.”
“This is not a date. I’m going to ask if I can use his property to help siphon magic. Mine isn’t large enough.” Eight acres was a ton of land, but my magic needed more. I could easily maintain mine and Caelan’s lands with zero issues.
If he let me.
“And tell him what you are,” Ash added.
“The rest of it, yes,” I agreed.
If I didn’t tell him, he’d figure it out. He was close already.
Tess floated in. “Are you going to wear that?”
Moira laughed.
“Dammit,” I muttered. What was wrong with what I had on? “I am not wearing a dress tonight. We’ll be outside, so it has to be a sweater.”
“I’ll follow you home and go through your closet,” Moira offered.
“Fine.” Giving in was the only way to get them off my back. “This is not a date.”
“Of course it isn’t,” Moira said with wide, innocent eyes.
A few hours later, Moira was throwing most of my clothing into donation bags. “When’s the last time you went shopping?” She held up a holey t-shirt with the Thundercats logo. “1986?”
I snatched it away from her. “That is not going in the donation bag. To answer your question, I bought that dress for Caelan’s wedding not too long ago.”
Moira stared. “Excluding special occasion wear.”
I thought about it. “Umm. Seattle, I think?”
Moira sank down onto the carpet. “Evie. That was over seven years ago.”
I rolled my eyes and flopped onto the bed. “I’m a Floromancer. We’re the exact opposite of an over-consumer. And I try not to buy anything that’s not made of natural materials. My clothing is old but still in great shape. I wash only in cold water, and I hang dry most of my items.”
Moira huffed a breath. “It’s annoying when you flaunt your environmental superiority over my head.”
“You should try it. Classic pieces that feel good against your skin and last for much longer than anything fast fashion puts out.”
Moira pulled her geometric printed top away from her chest. “You don’t like this polyester and rayon couture piece?”
I inhaled deeply. “I can feel the microplastics invading me as we speak.”
She tossed a t-shirt at my head. “Ass.”
“I have a sixty-year-old cashmere sweater in there somewhere.”
“Stop,” Moira begged. “I might cry.”
“We can go shopping soon.” I toyed with the pendant at my throat. “Once we figure out what to do with this seed.”
“You have to get one trendy piece.” Moira eyed me from behind a pile of old t-shirts.
“Absolutely not. Classics or die.”
“Jewelry then. One trendy jewelry piece.”
“Silver only. Sterling,” I emphasized.
Moira threw up her hands. “Fine! But you’re going to pay for it. Nothing is cheap these days.”
“If you agree to buy classic pieces only.”
Moira’s eyes narrowed. “This is the only time I’ve ever wanted to bite you.”
“Once you have quality cashmere and silk against your skin, you’ll never go back.”
“Fine,” she grumbled. “Now hold on and let me see if I can find anything more current than the year 2000 in this closet.”
I left the house wearing, much to Moira’s chagrin, a gorgeous vintage cashmere sweater, butter soft and comfortable, and a pair of sharp dark wash blue jeans.
I drew the line at Moira choosing my shoes because I could not stand uncomfortable things on my body.
This was one of the main reasons I rarely wore t-shirts.
I had some great vintage ones with super soft cotton and stretched necks, but those were far and few between.
She’d gone through my jewelry and got mad at me that she hadn’t done it before now.
I was the same with my clothing as I was my jewelry.
All sterling or gold classic pieces, though I was a little more adventurous with jewelry than clothing.
She’d borrowed three pairs of earrings and left with a stunning enameled necklace I’d loved in the window but hadn’t been brave enough to wear yet.
I’d probably gift her the piece later on.
No one stopped me at the gate, and I drove right up to Caelan’s front door.
When no one came out to take my keys, I smiled to myself and dropped them in my purse. He was finally getting to know me. Before I could ring the doorbell, the doors opened.
To my surprise, Caelan stood there wearing a pair of jeans and a pullover sweater.
My eyes widened. “Is that cashmere?”
Caelan grinned. “It is.”
“May I?” I reached my hand out.
Caelan’s eyes darkened. “You never have to ask to touch me, flower girl.”
I swallowed hard and stroked my fingers over his pec. “Nicely made.” I touched the buttons at the top of the sweater. “Bone?” I asked.
“Yes,” he gritted out, golden flecks glowing in his irises.
I jerked my hand back. “Sorry. I’m somewhat of a cashmere connoisseur. I buy most of my pieces secondhand because it can be cost prohibitive, especially with the brands I like.”
I stepped inside, Caelan’s wild scent teasing my nose.
“I’ll buy you all the cashmere you want.”
I shook my head at him, trying not to smile.
The doors shut behind us. “Where is everyone?”
“Off tonight.” He walked by my side. “I made dinner.”
I stopped in my tracks. “You cooked? For me?”
“My kitchen staff almost had a mutiny over it, but yes. I enjoy cooking. This morning’s breakfast made me remember how much. I hope to start cooking for myself again every once in a while.”
I stared at him, a little flabbergasted. “That’s um, amazing. Really.”
Amusement quirked his lips up. “You seem surprised.”
I waved a hand around to encompass the house. “You live in a mansion. Usually people who live in places like this do not cook or dress themselves.”
His eyes glittered. “In the morning I can show you who dresses me, Evangeline.”
Heat clawed at me. “I’m here to discuss something with you,” I said primly. “I won’t be here in the morning.”
He grinned. “We’ll see.”
Shaking my head, I followed Caelan down the hall and was about to turn into the formal dining room, when he grabbed me by the elbow. “Not there.”
Surprised, I let him lead me along, farther into the main house of the Keep than I’d been before. Caelan stopped at two large mahogany doors and pressed a button. The doors swung inward, revealing a cozy room lined with enormous bookshelves.
I stepped inside and gasped. Two massive windows at the back had a perfect view of the moon and trees at the back of his property.
A stone wood-burning fireplace crackled merrily, warming the room enough to chase autumn’s chill away.
There was a small table on the other side of the room set with two place settings and a bottle of red wine.
Two plates covered with antique silver lids sat close to each other.
“Come, before it gets cold,” Caelan said.
Dinner passed by quickly. For once, there was no pressure of anything. Just me and a handsome man having a nice dinner and getting to know each other. It made what I was about to tell him so much worse because even though Moira and Ash thought it would eventually be fine, I didn’t.
He was a Lord. His rule was total and all-encompassing. Having a Chimera within his territory, even one he liked, could destabilize his rule. With the gods sniffing around, there was no way I could keep my secret any longer.
Sadness threatened to choke me. I forced myself to eat his delicious dinner and drink his wine, laugh at his jokes, but inside I mourned what could be if only we’d met under different circumstances.
When I’d finished the last bite of an incredible apple crumble, I folded my napkin.
“Uh oh,” Caelan said, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Down to business so soon?”
I stilled the rapid pounding of my heart. “It’s time sensitive.”
He set his wineglass down. “Let’s walk the property. Fee and Poe are itching to see you.”
We walked in silence for a while until we reached the back. “Are you fine with walking or do you want to take a cart and walk the rest of the way?”
The moon was almost full, and I was curious about Caelan’s property. “Let’s walk the entirety. Where are the birds?”
“They’re on my private lands,” was all he said.
We started on a moonlit path and walked for several minutes until the path dropped off and we were plunged into the woods. Pine and fresh autumn air tickled my senses.
I held up a glowing palm. “May I?”
He swept his hand out. “Please. I’m interested to know what a Floromancer thinks of my lands.”
I crouched and sank my fingers into the dirt.