Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
After a massive lunch and three more pitchers of strawberry lemonade, Rowan leaned forward. “Tell me, Garrett. After your adventures, are we at war with Caelan?”
Garrett’s grin was a cold, smug thing. “Strength recognizes strength. There were no life-altering injuries, and we only took things Evie has a claim to.”
Rowan chuckled. “And he forgot to alter his wards to keep you out.”
Garrett inclined his head. “And there’s that. Technically, we did nothing wrong. We came onto Keep lands because we were not barred and had not yet signed our separation paperwork.”
Dad laughed.
“I’ll expect a courier today,” Rowan said dryly.
“We took Hannah, and Seymour, and Poe and Fee followed,” Garrett added. “That is one freaky smart bird you have, Evie.”
“How’d you travel with them?”
Moira wiggled her fingers in a wave. “Potions, but I am now officially out of ingredients. There’s a small stash left, but expect at least six months before I can make any more.”
“And the birds?” I asked. Garrett and Simone were easily explained by the travel potions, but Poe and Fee had arrived right after.
Moira grinned. “I traveled with Fee. Poe got here on his own.”
I eyed the raven playing with Fee high above the Keep. “Did he now?”
“That he did. Poe is holding a wealth of secrets inside that glowing little body.”
Poe dove underneath Fee and rose up a second later, coming so close to Fee she screeched with delight.
Moira smiled. “Those two are inseparable.”
Simone leaned back in her chair. “You should expect a visit from the other Lord soon.”
Garrett winced. “Furious is an understatement. The bastard used guns on us.”
Rowan blinked. “Guns?”
Simone’s nod was grim. “No silver bullets, but they still hurt like a bitch. We had to get the bullets out before we used the potions. Otherwise, we couldn’t concentrate enough to travel.”
“The Caelan you know is gone, Evie.” Garrett’s eyes held sympathy. “I’m sorry.”
Maybe I never knew him at all. “I’ve only known him for a year or so. You’ve known him most of your lives. Would you say he’s different, or did he change himself for me?”
Simone and Garrett exchanged a look.
“Ah,” I nodded. “I knew the Caelan he wanted me to see.”
Simone leaned forward. “No. Don’t do that. We all put on a face when we’re in the wooing stage.”
Garrett snorted. “No one says woo.” He kept glancing at Rowan, a slight wrinkle in his forehead.
Simone tossed a grape at him. “It’s the perfect word. Caelan was wooing her in his unhinged, slightly psychotic way.”
“I’m with Simone,” Dad said. “Wooing implies trying to win the favor or love of another person. Caelan went full speed ahead with marriage plans before Evie liked him.”
Simone laughed. “Those were fun times.”
I tossed a grape at her this time. “Look at us now.”
Garrett was still staring at Rowan. I glanced at the Lord and watched him shift uncomfortably. “Everything okay?” I asked.
Both men turned their eyes to me. “Fine,” they snapped in unison.
My hand stilled in mid-air, the fork halfway to my mouth. “Yes,” I said slowly. “Everything seems awesome.”
Simone took another helping of cheese and grapes. “Regardless of whatever this is, Caelan is pissed. He’s angry at you; he’s angry at us.” She slowly shook her head. “But he wants to tear Rowan’s head from his shoulders.”
Rowan chuckled. “He’s welcome to try.”
Garrett leaned forward, still wearing that intense look. “You have much to lose, Lord. Caelan has never willingly relinquished his possessions.”
A ring of gold glowed in Rowan’s eyes. “Evie is not a possession. Neither is Fee or Poe or Evie’s carnivorous plants.”
Seymour, who’d been surprisingly docile, waved his traps around and thumped over to Rowan, hopping in his pot a few times until the Lord picked him up and stroked one of his traps.
Seymour let out an odd purring noise and bumped Rowan’s chest.
But guilt flooded me. Caelan and Seymour were friends, weren’t they?
Simone leaned over. “He came willingly. Hannah as well.”
“What happened, Simone?” The words were a whisper.
Simone jerked her head at Moira. Both women rose, Moira’s cool fingers touching my shoulder. “Come on,” she said softly.
Both women linked arms with me and guided me away from the table.
Empathy filled Simone’s eyes. “Shifters are complicated creatures. Lords even more so. I know you love him, Evie, but wolves are highly intelligent and crafty creatures. They approach challenges with intricate plans and will do whatever it takes to win.”
My heart lurched at her words. “You think I was just a challenge to him.”
Moira shot Simone a recriminating look.
“No,” Simone breathed. And just as my shoulders relaxed, she sighed.
“And yes. He cared about you, loved you even, but of course you were a challenge. You embarrassed him in front of all his peers, and it infuriated him, but it was also a red flag waved in front of an angry bull. That was the start of everything. He was obsessed with you, and obsession is never a healthy way to begin a relationship.”
“I saw him first,” I admitted. “When I was at lunch. Later that night, I found him dying in the woods.”
Simone nodded. “It took him some time to connect the dots. Adding you to his Keep would have been a boon for him, both as the Pack Alpha and as a Lord. And a boon to the other shifters.”
Moira’s upper lip curled into a snarl even as I wanted to curl in on myself. “I’ve been a fool,” I whispered.
Moira tugged me to a stop underneath a large willow tree still in its spring greenery. We sat underneath, Moira leaning her head on my shoulder. “What does it matter how it started?” she asked. “Shouldn’t we only be concerned with the end?”
“Everything should matter,” Simone said, tucking her feet underneath her thighs. “Beginning, middle, and end.”
“Simone is right,” I said. “But it’s not all Caelan’s fault.”
Fury vibrated Moira’s thin frame. “He said you were flawed. Who speaks to someone they love like that?”
“He was also under Lugh’s influence.”
“That’s no excuse. We all know how magic like that works. Just because you don’t say the words out loud doesn’t mean you don’t believe them. Caelan spoke what his heart felt.”
And that was the truth I kept trying to avoid, but I knew the inevitable day would come when I finally took that truth into my heart and made the decision that would change everything permanently.
I was here with Rowan, but my house was still in Joy Springs.
It still belonged to me. The shop still stood, thanks to my friends’ goodwill, but that would change soon, too.
I could go back any time I wanted.
But seeing Caelan again felt like a bruise I kept poking. The look in his eyes, the words he said to me, I wasn’t sure I’d ever forgive him.
Nor was I sure I should, but there was more to this now.
There was the male sitting at the table with my father who’d taken me with him when he didn’t have to and gave me a space to rest and heal.
He’d given me far more than I’d ever given him, trusted me with more than Caelan ever had.
Rowan still had secrets, many of them, but he owed me nothing when I hadn’t given him all that much of myself either.
“All wolves are like Caelan?” I asked Simone.
“Every wolf is different, but they’re all crafty and have a one-track mind when they see something they want. Different hierarchies exist as well. A Lord is much different than an Omega, like me.”
“What about other animals?”
Simone went still. A smile played on her lips. “Like…a bear, for instance?”
Moira jerked upright and turned her dark eyes to me. “Is Rowan a bear?” she hissed.
“You can’t tell anyone,” I whispered.
“Oh my gods. That’s why he is so damn friendly all the time!”
Simone snorted. “Bears are often mistaken as solitary creatures when nothing could be further from the truth. They’re highly social, but they like to choose who they’re social with.
But,” she continued, her eyes sparkling with amusement, “they are clever when it comes to choosing their mates and once they’ve chosen, they do not falter from the course until they have no other choice.
Bears are also highly territorial and follow their chosen mate to protect them from others. ”
“Is that why Rowan always seemed to be there when Evie needed him?” Moira asked, sliding a curious look Rowan’s way.
Simone shrugged. “Rowan has always been a curious creature. He’s driven as much by the man as he is by the bear, but he’s secretive as well.
There is more to him than meets the eye.
Just like all the other Lords, but I’ve always suspected Rowan hides how powerful he is under the guise of charm and peaceful intentions. ”
“Why didn’t you ever go for him?” Moira asked.
Jealousy roared within me, surprising me with its intensity. Simone’s eyes widened when she sensed it, even as a slow grin pulled her lips up. “Rowan is attractive, sure, but he’s not my type. I’m also an Omega. Leaving my Pack is extraordinarily difficult.”
“But you did it for Evie,” Moira pointed out.
Simone inclined her head. “True, but I lost faith in Caelan. My power draws me to those who most need it. An Omega is born to serve, but Caelan refused my power more often than not.”
“What exactly is your power?” I asked. Simone had always wielded most of her power with a clipboard and a tablet. I’d never seen her expend any true magic since I’d known her.
She held out her hands. “It’s easier to show you if you’ll allow me.”
Moira and I shrugged and placed our hands in hers.
Nothing happened for a few seconds. Simone closed her eyes and told us to do the same.
“Think of something that hurt you. An emotional wound is best.”
“Will you be able to see what the wound is?” Moira asked.
Simone and I both cracked an eye open at the question. “No,” Simone said, a frown on her mouth. “I’ll only be able to sense your distress.”
“Alright then.” Moira exhaled.