Chapter 24 #2
My lips twisted. “I don’t see that getting any better, so I don’t see why it matters.”
Rowan’s eyes narrowed. “You aren’t returning to Joy Springs for him?”
I blinked and started laughing. “Did you see how we ended things? There’s probably no coming back from that.”
“He asked you to come home and you said yes. What was I supposed to think?”
“Well, that I’m not an idiot would be nice. Plus, even if I had been thinking of getting back together with him, he gave us sixty days to vacate our storefront.”
Rowan’s eyes flared bright gold. “That sonofabitch. Don’t you have a lease?”
“I do. The lease has a ‘Lord clause.’ He can kick us out whenever he wants for whatever reason. I assume he believes giving us sixty days is generous.”
“He has a caveat, doesn’t he?” Rowan sipped his mug, his eyes still glowing.
“He’ll drop the eviction notice if I come to my senses. His words, not mine.”
Rowan burst out laughing. “Totally reasonable request.”
“He’s always been a reasonable man,” I said. We grinned at each other. “So what do you say? Interested in being the brand-new Lord of a shit ton of extra territory?”
He held up a finger. “I’m texting Hope and Declan. Major decisions like this require more input than just me.”
Rowan’s phone beeped twice in rapid succession. “Hope asked me if I was an idiot and told me I should force you into marriage immediately.”
A laugh escaped me. Rowan lifted his head and wiggled his eyebrows before looking back down at his phone. “Declan said, ‘Hell yes. PNW rules, other Lords drool.’ As you can see, my Omega and Second are mature and reasonable adults.”
“Sounds like it.” Garrett and Simone rarely joked around. Was it their personalities or had serving in Caelan’s Keep molded their personalities? “Now that you have their opinions, what do you think?”
Rowan set his phone down and came to sit beside me. He made no move to touch me. “You’re placing a great deal of trust in me.”
“You didn’t shun me when you found out what I was. Instead, you welcomed me into your sanctuary and gave me choices. Your people obviously love you. If I were going to give the territory to anyone, why wouldn’t it be you?”
“You’re forgetting about the wannabe Lord sniffing around.”
I wrinkled my nose. I’d almost forgotten about the young and unproven shifter vying for Donovan’s old territory.
He’d come around asking questions some time ago, and the last I heard, the Lords were considering adding him to the Council.
Hard to do with my claim on the land, but they probably had a plan for that, too.
“Dario? He seems more suited to a teen vampire drama than the world of the Lords.”
Rowan barked a laugh. “I never thought of it that way, but you’re right. He does have that look about him. Dario has enough power to become a Lord, but whether he has the stomach for it is an entirely different question. If you decide to do this, you will make an enemy of him.”
“What’s new? All the Lords have been a thorn in my side since the beginning. Dario is only one more to add to my list.”
“I do not want the territory.”
I stared at him for a moment. “Alright. Should I relinquish the lands and let the Lords fight over it?”
His expression grew somber. “I don’t want it,” he repeated, “but I will share it. With you. But doing so will send a message. We will be inextricably linked.”
“Do you or your people have an issue with a link to a Chimera?”
A sad smile. “No. If we share the land, they won’t be able to offer the territory to Dario or anyone else, but you will still be able to wrest control away from me.”
“Just in case you become mad with power?”
Rowan didn’t smile. “In case you decide you no longer want to associate with me.”
I blinked. “Why would I do that?”
He shrugged. “Did you ever think such would happen with Caelan?”
I frowned at him, but he was right. “Fair enough. I agree to your terms, Lord Rowan.”
We shook on the deal. “What’s next?” he asked.
“I’ll need to double-check for evidence of the spell first on both your territory and mine. Once I cleanse the land, then I’ll take your hand and share the link with you. I’ve never done something like that, but I know how to bond with the earth. Should be simple.”
Rowan’s eyebrows lifted. “What if something goes wrong?”
“I always figure things out, don’t I?” On that slightly ominous note, I grinned and closed my eyes. Rowan shifted closer to me, the edge of his thigh touching mine.
Once my gloves were off, I sank my fingers into the dirt, sending magic deep into the earth.
Rowan had more faith in me than I did, but as I spread my magic farther and farther, I realized he was right to believe in me.
Magic spiraled from my fingertips, so much I felt I could encircle the world if I needed to.
I’d never needed to examine so much land before, so I’d never tried spreading my wings like this. I felt amazing.
Life bloomed under the earth, creepy-crawly things ventured closer, drawn by my power, long-extinct roots came back to life, reaching for the magic, flowers bloomed all around me and Rowan, the heady scent of honeysuckle and jasmine tickling my nose.
Rowan drew in a shocked gasp as I kept spooling my magic outward, cleansing his land of any corruption I found.
And there were spots here and there, some linked to the spell’s influence, some not.
His land was old, much of it untouched by the current generation of humans.
Spots of old fae magic lingered, so I cleansed those as well.
A laugh bubbled from my throat at the power flooding my veins like the finest champagne.
Was this how I’d always been meant to use my magic?
Had I unintentionally amputated my power by being so diligent about sticking to my own lands?
As I worked, I realized I had the ability to purify the world if I so chose.
I could bring back extinct plants and animals.
My magic brushed over the long-forgotten remains of an enormous mammoth and a saber-toothed cat, and I knew in a few brushes of power, I could bring those animals back, give them another chance at life.
Resisting the urge to act as a god, I left those alone but couldn’t resist healing damaged seeds of rare and long-forgotten flowers, encouraging the growth of Columbia yellowcress and a few others.
Smiling as I moved closer to the edges of his territory, I healed and cleansed a particularly stubborn piece of that spell, frowning when I realized how large it had gotten.
Magic like this was insidious. If allowed to continue unchecked, the Lords would be helpless to prevent its corruption.
A few other spots and a double check, and Rowan’s land was clear. I sent my power into the Great Plains area, seeking to heal and solidify my claim. The corruption was much worse on the other side of the border close to Thorvin’s territory. I cleansed my side and left his alone.
He was savvy enough to sense our presence last time we intruded on his territory, and I wouldn’t risk causing trouble for Rowan. He’d already stuck his neck out for me now that everyone knew what I was.
Once I triple checked for traces of old and corrupt magic, I reached out. Rowan’s fingers slid through mine, callouses brushing against my palms.
“Do not be afraid,” I murmured.
Rowan’s fingers tightened at the words. My voice did not sound like my own. I was deep into my power now, ancient magic crackling in my veins like wildfire. Danu’s presence surrounded me, though the goddess did not intrude in my mission.
“Evie?” Concern deepened his voice.
“Thank you for your faith in me. Do not be afraid,” I said again as I dropped into my full power.
A shout of alarm tore from Rowan’s throat as magic roared through both of us.
I’d felt many kinds of magic before, dark and light, but Floromancy felt like sitting in a field of wildflowers on a cool spring day with the sun at your back.
This was the magic of the world, the beating heartbeat of the earth, this was mine.
Rowan’s gentler fae magic mixed with my own, allowing me to soak the territory with our mingled power.
Just at the edge, close to Caelan’s territory, I noticed an encroachment, someone trying to slowly make his mark on the land.
Dario.
With a joyful laugh, I ripped that piece of his power out and sent it sailing back into Caelan’s territory, careful to stay right at the border. Once Dario’s mark was gone, I poured more and more power into the earth, moving along the edges of all the borders to include Rowan’s territory.
“More,” Rowan murmured. “You’re doing something to my land. Something good. Claim more.”
I hesitated, not wanting to do something he might regret later. “Rowan…”
“Trust goes both ways.”
I spread my power deeper into his borders, ensuring our link stayed strong so as not to wrest his territory away.
Snow melted as the temperature rose and flowers bloomed everywhere I touched.
Birds sang in the sky, and a gentle mist of rain fell onto our shoulders.
That glowing golden thread between Rowan and me resurfaced, this time wrapping around both of us, a bright sparkling thing of joy.
Rowan sucked in a breath. “Evie—”
Sunk deep into the glorious magic of my ancestors, I welcomed that thread, knowing it was good, and allowed it to soak deep into my blood and bones.
My neck arched as Rowan’s magic explored my very soul.
Rowan’s heartfelt groan of pleasure next to me told me he was experiencing much of the same thing.
That spot in my chest warmed, golden light suffusing our beings with light and magic.
I’m not sure how long we sat there, but when my power was exhausted and Rowan and I now shared thousands of miles of territory, I opened my eyes only to see a botanical wonderland.
Hundreds of wolves and other creatures lay prone in a sea of multi-colored flowers and vines, glowing eyes watching us.
I started, but Rowan’s hand in mine reassured me. He let out a shaky breath and ran trembling fingers through his hair. “I’ve never felt anything like that in my entire life,” he said quietly. “We will need to speak later.” Rowan looked at me, eyes widening. “Your eyes,” he whispered.
I was a little magic drunk. His words registered, but I needed to sit there for a little while to let my magic settle.
Getting up was out of the equation as I was covered in flowers and still flooded with power.
Smiling, I lifted my hands. Trees sprang from the earth, away from Rowan’s shifters, and bloomed, sending a shower of falling blossoms all around.
Rowan rose and reached for my hand. I let him pull me to my feet. When I swayed, he wrapped a firm hand around my waist. His people remained quiet and watchful.
“Everything okay?” I slurred.
Rowan let out a slow breath. “They’re curious about you. People all over the world will feel what you’ve done here today.”
I glanced at him. “I stayed within the boundaries of our territory.”
His eyes glowed at the word our. “I know, but it doesn’t matter. You’ve created a full spring in a land of winter. This won’t go unnoticed.”
“Can you walk?”
I took a step and wobbled like a newborn deer. Rowan chuckled and swept me into his arms. “Come. Let’s eat.”
Food sounded amazing. I patted his cheek. “You always know how to charm a girl.”
To my surprise, every shifter rose when Rowan turned and followed behind, all the way to Rowan’s main residence.
“Is this normal?” I whispered.
Rowan snorted. “Nothing you’ve done since you got involved with us has been normal.”
He deposited me into a kitchen chair and rummaged through the fridge. A few minutes later, he set an enormous sandwich and a glass of water in front of me. “This should tide you over until we can get to town.”
He cast a critical eye over my still wobbling body. “If you’re still up for it.”
I took a huge bite of the sandwich and mumbled I was. Rowan chuckled and ruffled my hair. “Good. I’ll be right back.”
I heard his words but was too into my sandwich for them to register.