Chapter 34
Chapter
Thirty-Four
Iwas neck deep in dahlias the next morning, humming a happy little tune. I’d been too distracted by everything to keep up with orders, and Moira and the others had to take up the slack. This morning, I arrived two hours before opening to get set up and make some seasonal bouquets.
My Floromancy hummed in my veins, happy to be used in the way it felt natural.
The flower heads stretched toward me, and I stroked the tips of their petals, sending a nutrient boost all the way down to the roots.
I’d been remiss in communing with my land, remiss in shifting, and remiss in everything but my own self-pity.
So what if Caelan was lying to me? Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe the lie was small. Or maybe he really was after Thalia’s power. Would it be so bad to be selfish for a little while and stay with him because I wanted him? Because I loved him?
I set the handful of dahlias down and groaned.
Yes, it would be bad because I’d be going against my own morals, everything I stood against, everything I’d fought so hard for in a partner. If he was lying to me, I deserved to know why and I deserved to know the truth.
Then I could make my decision on what I wanted to do.
Until then, I’d do my best to give him the benefit of the doubt. He deserved that much from me.
Moira and Tess came in not too long later and joined me at the table after they fixed their drinks.
“Is Ash coming in today?” I asked.
“You used to know the schedule like the back of your hand,” Moira said with a laugh.
“Everything has skidded off the rails,” I agreed.
“He’s coming in at eleven today. I think his uncle is coming in for a visit or something.” Tess wore several sparkly barrettes in her hair today, and a cute pink dress with matching shoes.
“You look adorable today,” I said.
Her cheeks colored. “Thanks. I met someone at the coffee shop the other day. He’s taking me to lunch.”
Moira gasped. “You have a date?”
“Not a date,” Tess corrected. “Lunch.”
“Ah. Okay.” Moira grinned. “I hope you enjoy your not date.”
“Thank you.”
We worked for a couple of hours, catching up on all the new bouquets and a few of the standing orders before the first customers came in. Tess excused herself and went to help them.
Moira leaned over. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine. But I’m stalled on the swans.”
“No trace of Nadia?”
“Not a one.”
“Have you asked Caelan?”
I sighed. “He’s been texting like crazy, but I’ve fobbed him off by claiming we were swamped at the shop.”
Moira snorted. “We are, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. He won’t wait too much longer.”
“I expect him on my porch when I get home this evening.” I wanted to see him, but I didn’t want to fight. And I knew we would when I started pressing him for answers.
“Dad showed up and made everything worse,” I grumbled.
“He is fae,” Moira said as if that explained everything.
“I don’t think he likes Caelan.”
Moira’s eyebrows rose. “I don’t think he actively hates him.”
“Right, but I’m getting a major vibe from him that says he may not hate him, but he doesn’t think the Lord is appropriate for me.”
Moira waved her hand in dismissal. “Meh. That’s what fathers do. No one is ever good enough for their little girl.”
I shook my head. “There’s something coming. Something bad.”
Moira’s amusement faded. “Evie?”
I pressed a hand to my stomach. “I can’t explain it, but I can feel it.”
“Then I believe you.” Moira reached for my hand. “Whatever it is, we’ll face it together.”
“How about we do a little spying this weekend on the swans?”
“Already done. I’ve gone out there to check things out.”
“Wait. When?”
She fluttered a hand at herself. “You forget what I am. I go zoom zoom, very fast. No need for a car or plane.”
“See anything interesting?”
Moira snorted. “Lots of bird shit, but nothing concrete.”
“Damn. How are we supposed to find out who knows about me?”
“Simple. We break in.”
I started laughing, but Moira’s expression didn’t change. “You can’t be serious. Break into a shifter Keep?”
Moira grinned. “Why not? Their sense of smell is shit. Swans rely on hearing and vision. It will be dark and they’ll be sleeping. We’re both quiet as mice. They’ll never expect a vampire and someone like you to show up. We’ll be in and out before they realize a thing.”
I thought about it. “You’re done screwing with the Lords?”
“We’ve got better things to do now. There will always be time left to screw with them, but you’re more important.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “What do you say? You want to go swan hunting?”
Hmm. “Why the hell not?”
“I’ll meet you at your house at ten p.m. Good?”
“As long as Caelan isn’t there.”
“Text me if he is.”
“I’ll bring coffee. You bring snacks.”
Moira grinned. “Done.”
“Fine.” I tossed a bunch of flowers at her. “In the meantime, we have work to do.”
Just as I expected, Caelan was sitting on my porch when I got home.
The moment I shut the car off, his eyes glowed the golden glow of his magic. He rose, his lean form filled with power and grace.
“You’re avoiding me,” he said.
Alright. He went for the throat. My turn.
“You’re lying to me.”
His eyes flashed with anger. “And you think the way to solve this issue is to stay away?”
“I needed time to think.”
“And?”
I fished my keys out of my purse and walked up the steps. “And I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
He held the door open for me and followed me inside. Once the door shut, I felt like all the air was sucked out of the room. Caelan had presence. He was a storm in human form, and I was a piece of debris caught in the rain. Every time he was around, I felt like this, like I was swept up in him.
And I wondered if I was losing a little bit of myself in the process.
“You haven’t denied it,” I said.
“You seemed pretty sure.” He made no move toward me, only stood there like a stone, watching me with those burnished golden eyes.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Since you’re still not denying it, I must be right.”
“And if I am?”
My throat went dry. He sounded so callous. “I’d ask why? I thought we were moving past all of that.”
“I can’t tell you.”
I snorted, but I was not amused. “You won’t tell me.”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Caelan, even if I was sworn to a blood oath or a binding, I would find a way to tell you what was going on so I didn’t have to lie to you. We promised each other no more lies.”
His eyes faded to their normal stormy gray blue. “Evie.” He took a step toward me and reached his hand out. “I’m hopelessly in love with you, and I can’t tell you because I am sworn to secrecy.”
“By my father.”
He blinked, which was answer enough.
“And it has to do with Thalia.”
He gripped me by my upper arms and swept his lips over mine, the heat of his kiss wiping away all my hesitations and reservations. I lost my mind when he touched me, became a wanton female. All I wanted was him and me, together against the world.
Caelan pressed his forehead against mine. “Marry me, Evie. Marry me and I’ll be able to tell you everything.”
I blinked up at him. A tiny voice in the back of my head wondered if he was being manipulative, wondered if this was his way of worming his way deeper into my soul, then I admonished myself for the thought.
This was Caelan. He’d always been honest with me about how he felt, and this wasn’t the first time he’d asked me to marry him.
He’d asked multiple times before he knew who I was and before I figured out the Fae King was my father. Caelan wanted me. He didn’t want the crown.
The words bubbled from my throat before I could stop them. “Yes.”
Caelan stilled. “What?”
“Yes. I’ll marry you.”
He sucked in a shocked breath, his hands sliding down my body to grip my hips. “Yes.” A little laugh escaped him. “You finally said yes.”
I swallowed hard. I had. I’d accepted his proposal. I should be thrilled, but there was a stone in my throat, preventing me from saying anything.
“There’s so much we need to discuss, so much we have to do.” He stepped away, a brilliant smile lighting his face up. “We need to tell the Pack, get them ready to formally accept you. Let’s do it soon, Evie. In the next few weeks, okay?”
I nodded dumbly.
He kissed me again, so thoroughly my knees went out from under me. Caelan gripped me around the waist, devouring my mouth.
“We need to tell your father,” he murmured against my lips.
“Can you tell me about Thalia now?”
“Not until we’re married. We can do it sooner if you really want to know. Maybe even tomorrow. How do you feel about that?”
I shook my head. “No. Not that soon. I need time to get some things together.”
He kissed me again. “I hate to do this, but I need to run back to the Keep.” His nostrils flared.
“This—this is going to be great, Evie. I’ve wanted this for so long. I know there’s a lot to work out, but we’ll figure it out, okay?”
I nodded, unable to form any words.
“I’ll be back later tonight.”
“No,” I said hoarsely. “I’m supposed to go to dinner with Moira, and we plan on having a few drinks.”
Forcing a smile, I pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “And with this news, the celebration might go on longer.”
Caelan’s eyes glittered. “Tomorrow then. Take the day off, and I’ll be over in the morning.”
I nodded again, feeling like a bobblehead doll.
One more kiss and he was out the door.
I sank onto the couch and let out a heavy sigh.
I was getting married. How had that happened?
What was wrong with me?
I wanted to marry Caelan before, but I had too many secrets to accept his proposal. Now, I was all in, and I couldn’t help but feel like this was rushed, like maybe Caelan had seen a way to keep me from asking too many questions about Thalia and took the easy way out.
He’d gotten what he wanted, and I’d received no answers.
He was still lying to me, but he swore I’d get answers when we were married. But we weren’t mated, and if the bond wasn’t there, he could still lie to me whenever he wanted to. I wouldn’t be able to sense when he was untruthful.
The thought didn’t sit well with me.
Shaking my head, I got up to fix myself a sandwich. I wasn’t hungry, but we’d be expending a lot of energy tonight, and I needed to refuel.
For now, I’d table his proposal and think about it tomorrow.
Tonight, I was about to break into a swan Keep.