Chapter 6
Chapter
Six
Ibegan with a slow and even trickle of magic, gently breaking open the frozen ground to send my power spiraling through the earth. Rowan’s comforting presence by my side made me feel safe, and I sank deeper, the first trickle of relief shivering down my spine.
Being on Rowan’s land was wonderful, but my power itched to heal and claim.
If I stayed on his property too long, his land would begin to change.
At first, he might not mind, but he was a Lord, tied to his territory just the same as I was to mine.
Having a Floromancer around might be great for the health of his plants, but Rowan had power similar to mine.
His plants were already glossy and green inside his greenhouse.
Eventually, my Floromancy would itch to claim his land, just like what had happened on Caelan’s land, and Donovan’s land.
“I can hear your brain working overtime,” Rowan murmured. “Everything okay?”
“Everything is fine. Mulling over some things about my power.”
Rowan huffed a laugh. “You’re worried about being on Keep land, aren’t you?”
I cracked an eye open and looked at him. “Are you psychic or something?”
He laughed. “I can feel your magic. You’re holding back because you’re worried about claiming my land.”
I gaped at him. “How could you possibly know that?”
“Donovan’s land belongs to you now. A small part of Caelan’s land answers to you, does it not?”
“I plan to give that back to him,” I grumbled.
He inclined his head. “Then if you inadvertently claim mine, you can give it back to me as well.”
I sighed. “I can’t help it, you know. It’s not something I do on purpose.”
“I know,” Rowan said. “You assume I am like Caelan or Donovan, but I am tied to my land the same way you are tied to yours. I can feel your magic, Evie. You’re holding almost everything back. We’re close enough to the border for you to let go of everything.”
“And if I soak your land with too much power?”
He laughed softly. “You won’t.”
I frowned. “Why are you always so sure of everything? It’s kind of annoying.”
He scooted closer and reached for my hand. “Trust me, you grumpy little thing. Let go, Evie.”
His touch was warm and comforting, the gentle hum of his power sliding over my palm.
I closed my eyes and let out a long breath, allowing more power to slide from my skin.
Siphoning would be easier if it wasn’t so fucking cold outside, but having bare legs or arms right now seemed insane.
Everywhere I touched the earth, I could release power from, but not when I was wearing clothes. Maybe I could bring a tent next time—
“Evie,” Rowan grumbled. “Still your mind.”
He was right. I sighed and went deeper. Something warm fell over my shoulders. A blanket. Rowan moved closer, his thigh pressing against mine. Gentle hands tugged my hat lower around my ears.
“Fussy nursemaid,” I murmured.
“You’re shivering.”
I was. The blanket helped, but the cold was starting to seep through my clothing. “Because it’s freezing.”
Rowan dropped my hand and moved. I kept my eyes closed, trying to concentrate and doing a crap job of it, when warm arms wrapped around my waist, and Rowan pulled me back against his chest, his legs on either side of mine.
“Rowan.” My heart pounded, my blood heating in my veins.
His breath was warm against my neck. “Warmer?”
I didn’t want to say yes, but I’d already stopped shivering. Say what you want about shifters, but being cuddled by one, especially a bear, felt like snuggling up next to a cozy fireplace.
“Yes, but you’re making it difficult to concentrate.”
“Oh? How so?”
“Incorrigible brat,” I muttered.
Rowan snorted.
“I’m worried I’m going to hurt you.”
“Is that all you’re worried about?”
No. He was warm and pressed against me and lean and hard in all the right places, and his breath was on my skin, and his hair was tickling my cheek and what in the actual hell was I thinking? A month ago, I was engaged and about to walk down the aisle with the man I thought I’d be with forever.
Now I was sitting in a remote area with my friend, my good friend, and I was reacting. He was warm and his arms were around me, and I was having trouble thinking about doing anything other than turning around and—
“Yes,” I snapped.
He leaned closer, his breath warm against the shell of my ear. “Liar,” he whispered.
“If you get stabbed with a tree limb, I’m not going to feel sorry for you.”
“Mmm. Worth it.”
“Stop being an ass, please.”
He laughed. “Fine. But you are warmer, and you have a bear to thank for that. Did you know our body temperatures are over a hundred degrees?”
“Rowan, if I don’t siphon this magic out, I’m going to self-combust. Please shut up.”
His arms tightened just a hair. “Alright. Do your worst.”
I sank into my power, Rowan’s warmth helping my concentration, even though he was a menace.
Deeper and deeper I went, reaching for Donovan’s border, but more and more power spooled from my body, the normal well of magic far greater than it had ever been before.
Even then, it had been immense, but now, with my tattoos damaged and my Chimera power right at the surface, I felt like a supernova burning with magic.
The ground, still slumbering in this unusual winter, responded, roots reaching toward me, gently wrapping around my thighs and waist, including Rowan in their seeking.
The Lord let out a soft gasp of surprise but made no move to jerk away or recoil.
Instead, he pulled me closer until I could barely tell him or myself apart.
Flowers bloomed around us, sprouting from my hair and skin, the land responding not only to me but to the Lord whose arms wrapped around me.
Vines and roots and flower bulbs quested curiously toward him, my mind’s eye watching as they gently nudged and explored the Lord’s clothing and skin.
He is your Lord, I said to the land. I am merely one of your stewards.
The earth never spoke to me with words. Its sentience was profoundly different from humans or animals.
Any communication came through images and feelings.
And the land…it loved him. Images flew at me of Rowan in his greenhouse, of his careful stewardship of the grounds around the Keep, his choice of gardeners to help him with the things he didn’t have time to do.
“The land loves you,” I murmured.
Rowan’s voice shook. “I—I had no idea your power felt like this.”
I stilled. “You can sense what I sense? You feel the power below the ground?”
Pulling my senses back just a hair, I focused on Rowan. His heart pounded against my back, his breath ragged in my ear.
“I can. Evie, this—” He let out a long breath. “This power is staggering. Stunning. You—” He laid his head against the crook of my shoulder. “Are beautiful,” he whispered. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
My heart lurched. “Rowan.”
“Don’t say anything,” he whispered. “I know things are complicated. But I wanted you to know.”
All I could do was nod. My thoughts swirled, but the power in my blood was a siren song, and I sank back into the earth, unable to resist its call.