Chapter 21 #2
It worked for many years. Then Caelan walked into my life and Finn, the now dead Chimera who’d attacked me, came right behind him.
While the tattoo had been replaced, I could access the power any time I wanted, though I knew there were many, many things I could do if I only learned how.
But the thought of working with the side of me I’ve always been terrified of kept any desire to master the power at bay.
“I’d call her first,” Moira said. “She’s well-versed in the Chimera power and saw you at one of the lowest points in your life. She’ll know if you did it to yourself.”
“What if I didn’t?”
Moira exhaled, a grim expression on her face. “Then we figure out who tried to suppress your power and kick their ass.”
I’d already been thinking about the culprit. While Moira’s point about me was valid, I leaned more toward my mother doing this than anyone, especially if she didn’t want me to know who’d sired me. The theory didn’t fit exactly. Mom’s magic wasn’t crimson or gold.
Mine was, but the lock could very well be a spell and not a magical signature.
I wished I’d learned about this stuff as a child instead of having to stumble after it now that I was in my thirties.
“From the bubble we’re under, I have to assume the Lords don’t know?”
I shook my head. “Caelan has enough of my bullshit to deal with.”
Moira’s look was chiding. “That man could not be more in love with you if he tried.” She tilted her head and studied me. “I know you well enough to know you love him, too, but you’re holding yourself back. Big time.”
“I literally just gave birth to a magical tree in his backyard. Hand over the world’s worst girlfriend title. There’s no competition.”
Moira’s lips thinned. “You only did so because he brought you to the Keep for safety. And, as bad as the location is, it’s better than the middle of town where people would start asking questions.
And once that happens…” She shook her head.
“Once a small-town mob gets their curious claws inside of their target, it’s game over for privacy.
They’re going to know what your favorite breakfast was when you were still shitting your pants. ”
“Blunt as always,” I said with a laugh.
She shrugged. “Just saying. The small-town mob mentality is worse than the FBI.”
“They’re already going to be asking questions, but Caelan has made it his business to appear as a terrifying but fair overlord to everyone in Joy Springs. They might ask, but no one is going to answer. It’s much different for the resident florist.”
“True.” I let out a sigh. “I do love him,” I admitted. “But he holds himself back.”
An arch rise of a dark eyebrow. “And I’m sure you’re totally forthcoming with your past, too, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. I suck, too.”
Moira snickered. “And Ben?”
“He does seem to be here only in a doctor patient capacity.” I shook my head.
“He’s kind and handsome, but honestly? He was also kind of a dick when I wouldn’t share my secrets with him.
Worse than Caelan and more judgmental. I don’t think it would have worked out even if I had pursued it as much as I wanted to. ”
“I can overlook a lot for hotness,” Moira admitted.
I’d seen it firsthand. “And Soren?” Those two had the hots for each other and made a striking couple when they were next to each other. Moira had kept mostly mum about the situation but said there was nothing going on. From everything I’d seen, she was telling the truth.
She scoffed. “Too busy looking at himself in the mirror to be interested in anything meaningful.”
I winced. “If I were that pretty, I wouldn’t stop looking in the mirror.”
Moira grinned. “Shut up. You look like your mother, dummy. Cliona is the most beautiful goddess in fae history.”
“Mom has the whole ethereal floaty goddess thing going on. I’m more down to earth and covered in dirt eighty percent of the time. Men are more into ballgowns than begonias.”
“Except for a hot shifter Lord who looks like he’s about to punch our dear healer Ben right in the throat.” Moira pointed out the window.
Ben and Caelan stood almost nose to nose, baring their teeth at each other.
“Shit,” I breathed.
Moira turned her palm up and moved her fingers in a gimme gesture. “Give me that bag. I’ll make the brew now. Maybe by tonight you can kick those teakettles of testosterone out of your house.”
I fished it out and handed it back. Moira untangled her length and rose. “I’ll calm the idiots down and brew this.”
She dropped the silence bubble and went outside. After some raised voices, Ben and Caelan came back inside, Moira following behind them red-faced.
Caelan threw an elbow at Ben, shoving the larger man against the wall. A massive hole cracked in the drywall.
Everyone froze. Rage filled me, and my blood pressure skyrocketed. No matter what I felt for Caelan, right now, he was annoying the shit out of me.
“Get. Out,” I said through clenched teeth.
Ben snorted. When Caelan made no move, the healer teased. “Did you hear her? Get out.”
I turned my furious gaze on Ben. “Both of you. Get out of my house.”
Ben’s eyes widened. “Evie. That’s unnecessary. You need—”
“If I have to get up, I’m never speaking to either one of you again. What I need is some peace in my own damn house. Get your shit and get out.”
Caelan’s eyes flared gold, but after being with me for a while, the man had learned.
He went straight to my bedroom and packed up the small duffel he’d brought.
Before he left, he came over and crouched beside me.
“Call me if you need something.” His eyes softened.
“Though I doubt you will.” He let out a heavy breath. “Sorry I’m an asshole.”
I snorted. “Give me a few days.”
He nodded. “There are some things we need to discuss.” Brushing a kiss over my cheek, he rose and headed out the door with a nod at Moira.
Ben, not as smart as Caelan, had not moved. “Evie, that wasn’t my fault. You need someone to stay with you—”
“I’m here,” Moira said. “I’d listen to Evie if I were you.”
His teeth flashed. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“Ben,” I said, feeling my frayed patience about to snap. “Moira is here. She’s more than competent enough to help me to the bathroom. I won’t ask again. Leave.”
His eyes flashed that frightening, icy blue. With a tight jaw, he started to speak again, but Moira held up her hand. Her eyes flashed a vivid emerald. “As much as we appreciate you staying here to help Evie, please consider your services rendered and your time here at an end.”
For a moment, I thought the situation might devolve into a fight, but after a long, tense moment, Ben stalked into the guest room and grabbed his bag. Without a word, he let himself out, slamming the door behind him.
“Fuuuuuuuck,” I said in a loud groan. “Why do women ever get married?”
Moira laughed. “Normally, there’s only one asshole to deal with.”
I sank deeper into the couch and adjusted the blanket around my hips. “I can feel the testosterone draining from the air.”
“Like a deflated balloon,” she said as she set a kettle on the stove to boil. “I’ll stay tonight and see how you’re doing tomorrow.”
“Are you sure? I’m fine to stay by myself.”
She rolled her eyes. “You haven’t moved from the couch since I’ve gotten here. I bet you can’t.” Her eyebrows flicked up when I didn’t respond. “Exactly,” she said quietly. “Do you need to pee?”
“No.” Yes.
“You will after you drink the tea. I’ll help you then.” She came back over and plopped down. “Now let’s discuss this lock and how you’re going to open it.”