Chapter 13
Chapter
Thirteen
It was too damned cold for a dress, but jeans were a power move I wasn’t ready for, so I settled for wool blend slacks, leather boots and a cashmere sweater. I put my hair up in a neat chignon and added minimal makeup.
I needed to look calm, collected, and professional. Not like the savage who’d killed two Chimeras in the woods a couple of months ago…and participated in other things with the Shifter Lord.
After making a coffee to go, I waited by the front door for Caelan’s driver. My stomach twisted in anticipation. The Lords were all wildly different and the thought of standing before them getting grilled about something I didn’t technically have a hand in pissed me off.
But that’s politics, baby.
True to his word, a car pulled up at the edge of the driveway, inches away from my wards. I tugged a jacket on, grabbed my purse and keys, and hurried down the driveway.
The driver was a wolf I’d never met before.
“Ma’am. I’m Cain. Is the temperature okay?” The shifter wore a dark suit and mirrored sunglasses. He had a sharp jaw and full lips, but his expression was stone faced.
“Good with me. Thanks for the ride.”
“Buckle up, ma’am. The Shifter Lord insists you arrive safe.”
I obliged. “Ready when you are.”
Seconds later we were on the road.
Cain pulled up to the entrance of a fancy hotel about forty-five minutes later. I reached for the door, but the door was opened and a tanned hand extended in.
Caelan’s smell washed over me. I slid my hand into his calloused palm and let him help me out.
“We shouldn’t be seen together,” I whispered.
“I don’t give a shit what they think this looks like. I’ll never feel guilty for the way I feel about you.”
My heart did a little skip. Something brushed against my ear, and I batted at it, thinking maybe it was a bug.
Caelan’s eyes widened, a delighted smile tipping his lips up. “Blooming for me, Evie?” he murmured, his fingers brushing against my hair. The delectable scent of jasmine rose in the air.
My mouth fell open. I lifted my hand to feel soft petals entwined in my hair.
“Shit,” I breathed.
“Don’t pluck them,” Caelan said quietly, tugging my hand down. “The Council needs to know who you are.”
Yet another weird side effect of my magic. At least I hadn’t blown anything up today. Yeesh.
My boot heels thumped against the stone ground, and I was glad I’d chosen sensible shoes. A fine mist of rain sent a chill across my skin. The sky was rapidly darkening, storm clouds rolling in from a distance, akin to the temper beginning to churn in my chest.
We hurried inside, seconds before lightning cracked in the sky and the heavens opened up. The hotel’s interior was tastefully decorated in a mix of modern touches and old-world style. A wrought iron chandelier hung in the middle of the foyer casting a warm light on the tile inlay.
As we walked, my hair kept rustling, a multitude of floral and herbaceous scents wafting in the air as we moved. People gawked at me with wide eyes as Caelan kept a firm hold on my elbow, chuckling softly as my hair bloomed before their eyes.
“I’m going to look like a freak when I walk in there,” I mumbled under my breath.
Caelan escorted me to the end of the hallway. “You’re going to look like a goddess.”
He tugged me down to the bench to sit beside him. We sat next to a room with large wooden doors and a do not disturb sign.
“The Council is meeting there?”
“They changed the location four times to make it difficult for anyone to get the drop on them.”
“And they think hosting at a public hotel will be safe?”
“Everyone here belongs to one of the Lords,” Caelan said. “The Council bought the place out for forty-eight hours.”
I grimaced. “This isn’t a day trip then? Bummer.”
The doors opened. Simone poked her head out, saw me, and offered a grim smile. “Five minutes and you’re up.”
“Any tips?”
She tapped her ear.
They were listening.
“Just be yourself,” Simone said, her eyes burning with anger. “That always seems to work.”
With a nod at us both, she ducked back inside the door.
“I can’t tell if she’s telling me not to be myself or if she’s saying be the Evie that grows twenty-foot flowering trees on someone else’s lawn.”
Caelan grinned. “The latter.” He rose and touched my hair, sending another waft of floral scent up. “Stop being afraid of who you are. Use it. Show the Council you are not to be trifled with.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re a Lord. I’m a peon.”
“You may live in my territory, but you are no peon. They called you here for information about Donovan, but don’t be surprised if they try to dig into your background.
Stay on topic and answer only the questions about the dead Lord.
You owe them nothing except info on Donovan.
And even then, you don’t have to speak if you don’t want to, but they will make your life hard if you don’t. ”
“When does it end? When will they ever get off my back?”
Caelan’s jaw tightened. “Follow Simone’s advice. Show them you are not some mundane florist. Fear is power, Evangeline. When they know to fear you, they will back down.”
I slumped. “This sucks.”
Caelan snorted. “Eloquent as always.”
The door opened again. Caelan gave me a meaningful look before walking away.
Simone stepped outside. “Evie. The Council will see you.”
I squared my shoulders and followed her into the room. The hotel setting was a little odd for such a powerful gathering. A coffee set up rested by the back wall, white cups turned upside down on a silver tray next to large, hand labeled carafes.
The Shifter Lords sat side by side, behind a long table with a dark tablecloth.
Rowan was on the end on my left side, a warning glimmering in his hazel eyes.
Next to him sat Ethan, his gaze watchful and wary.
Thorvin sat next to him, staring at me with friendly curiosity.
Soren sat next to him, his face a carefully blank slate.
But there was one sitting there who might have broken my heart if I had let him in.
Ben. He was as handsome as I remembered, but all pretense of friendliness in his eyes had fallen away. The Healer watched me, like a predator watches another worthy predator.
The way he looked at me hurt. I’d never done anything to him except keep my secrets. I’d never harmed anyone who hadn’t brought harm to my doorstep, and I tried my best to stay in my lane.
And it had gotten me right here. Right now. In front of a bunch of Lords who wanted to own me. Anger sparked in my gut, fury at being put in this position when all I wanted to do was go home and play in the greenhouse.
I swallowed the fury down and put on a pleasant smile, while refusing to look at Ben.
Be myself, Simone said.
Here goes nothing.
“You boys look like you’re up here for a celebrity panel.
Am I early for the Q&A?” I turned in a slow circle, pretending to investigate the room.
No windows to be found, but two doors on either side of the Lords’ table.
The double doors behind me were heavy and large, difficult to get out if I needed to exit in a hurry.
“You will speak when you are spoken to,” one of the Lords snapped.
I turned to see Ethan glaring at me. He was the oldest of the Lords, silver edging his hair at the temples. His eyes were dark and flat, and he wore a cloak of restrained violence around his lean shoulders. Out of all the Lords, I knew him and Thorvin the least.
Ethan seemed to be the de facto leader, at least today. He sat in the middle of the table, hands crossed in a steeple. His navy suit was perfectly pressed, complete with a crisp white shirt worn underneath and a dark gray tie with a silver pin in the shape of a wolf’s head.
I let a little Floromancy power shine through my eyes. “I am not your prisoner, Lord. Watch your tongue when you’re speaking to me.”
Soren’s lips twitched. Rowan rubbed a hand over his face. Thorvin continued to watch me, seemingly memorizing everything about me. His attention was beginning to unnerve me. Ben’s eyes narrowed.
Rage sparked in Ethan’s eyes. He leaned forward a hair, hands pressed on either side of him. “Do not threaten me, witch.”
Ethan had control issues. He liked walking in a room and being the most important thing inside.
This man liked power and servitude. Too bad I had no intention of allowing him any over me.
“I am no witch. The only one threatening here is you. Do not presume you can control me. Ask your questions and leave me be.”
If Moira were here, I’d get a double high five for my haughtiness.
Rowan’s slight nod told me I was doing well. Or that I was about to get my ass kicked off by pissed off shifters. Couldn’t tell you. But no one had attacked me yet, so I planned to roll with it.
Ethan opened his mouth to speak, but Thorvin spoke before he could.
“Of course, Miss Quinn.” His voice was deep with a slight European edge. “Please,” he gestured with a large hand. “Have a seat. We won’t take up too much of your time.”
“A gentleman,” I said. “Finally.” Choosing a chair at the very back of the room, I sat and crossed my legs.
Ethan let out an annoyed sigh.
Thorvin’s eyes sparkled. “Can you hear us all the way back there?”
“Of course I can. This seat is expedient. I have another appointment to go to after this.”
“Your disrespect will be your downfall one day,” Ethan growled.
“Maybe,” I agreed. “But it won’t happen today.”
“Perhaps not,” Ethan said, a vicious smile lighting his lips. “But I look forward to the future.”
I pretended to yawn.
“Miss Quinn,” Rowan said with an amused drawl, “thank you for agreeing to see us today.”
“I didn’t have much of a choice, did I?”
“We apologize if our missive sounded demanding.” Rowan shuffled some papers in front of him. “All we’re trying to do is get to the bottom of what happened to Donovan.”
“Donovan was a traitor and an all-around asshat.”
Ethan blinked in surprise. “A traitor? Explain.”
“You’re awfully demanding for someone who needs something from me.”