Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Ihadn’t seen or heard from Caelan for two days. Unusual, but I received no response when I texted him this morning.
Concerned, I texted Simone to check on him. She gave me no information other than telling me he was okay.
Moira, Tess, and Ash were all back in the shop, and things were slowly beginning to normalize once more.
We had a massive pile of baskets and flowers on the table, each of us putting together a rustic centerpiece for an upcoming ladies’ luncheon.
We’d chosen a mix of pretty winter flowers—ranunculus, anemones, roses, and a variety of seed pods and branches.
The event was a fundraiser, so as each basket was finished, I added a simple charm to help nudge generosity toward the cause. Simple, fulfilling work, and something I needed after the last few weeks.
Mom and Cernunnos were quiet. Thalia had visited yesterday with her ever-present grumpy shadow. No more disturbing visions, though she’d come mostly to check up on me to ensure things were going okay. Funny, because I was more worried about her than she was.
Garrett watched her like a hawk the entire time, and I wondered how long it would take Thalia to realize his interest in her was not completely protective.
“What’s going on with Caelan?” Moira asked as she picked up a stunning maroon ranunculus. “He’s been quiet these days.”
“No idea.” In the back of my mind, I wondered if he’d found out about Rowan coming over. Looking back, I should have declined his offer, but Rowan had been right. Ever since I’d seen him, I’d felt sharp and steady. “I’m assuming he’s busy.”
A thought occurred to me. “Shit. I forgot to tell him about Gianna’s cousin.” I reached for my phone one more time and typed out a simple message.
Ash winced. “I’m surprised they haven’t squashed the search or come up with some excuse to fend her off yet.”
“He’s been a little busy, I think, but I agree. Simone usually gets involved in all his goings on, but this one is delicate.”
My phone beeped.
Working on it, was his response.
Short and sweet, no flirty undertone. Huh. Had he broken up with me?
The thought made something twist inside me. I guess I had no right to be surprised by such an outcome. I was a hot mess and every time I was around, I seemed to make things worse for him.
“Evie?” Ash asked. “You okay?”
“Have you ever heard of being touch starved?” I blurted.
Ash and Moira’s eyes met, some silent communication happening.
“Shit,” I whispered. “You already knew.”
“No,” Ash said quickly. “Only suspected until we found out about your relationship with Cernunnos.”
Moira reached out and touched my hand. “This isn’t uncommon, but you…” She paused. “You’ve had a lot of good reasons to push someone away.”
“Is that why you guys have always been a little touchy feely with me?”
“I’m a dryad,” Ash said. “While not as hungry for touch as others, I do require it more than many.”
“Who does that for you?”
Moira chuckled. “His harem.”
Tess’s shoulders stiffened. Moira noticed immediately, her face falling. “Oh, no. I’m just kidding. We all know Ash doesn’t have a harem. If any of us had one, it would probably be me.”
“Evie could have a harem if she wanted,” Ash added.
I shuddered. “I can barely handle the testosterone of one shifter. Having four or five? Absolutely not.”
“Valid,” Moira said. “But could you imagine all the di—”
“Moira!” Ash snapped.
Tess snorted. “I know what a dick is, Ash.”
Ash looked like he wanted a hole to open up and swallow him.
“Let’s reel this back a little and talk about the touch starvation. How do you know when you’re suffering?’
Moira’s look of pity almost made me get up and walk away. “You feel like you’re going out of your skin. Your magic builds up until you have to—”
“Siphon.” I sighed. “Shit.”
“You would have needed to siphon regardless,” Ash added. “You have much more magic than we do. But this could have contributed to the buildup.”
“Why didn’t any of you say something?” I wasn’t angry but knowing this might have helped.
Moira saw my look. “Sex might take the edge off a little, but it’s intimacy that matters. The feeling of safety you get in a lover’s arms, and you know they would burn the world down for you. Simple sex is a biological urge. There’s touching and release, but it’s not the same.”
Ash sighed. “You and Caelan haven’t bonded on the true intimate level, have you?”
“I don’t even know what that means,” I muttered.
“Then the answer is no,” Moira said.
“I don’t think I get the intense need for touch,” Tess interrupted. “Sometimes I think I could float away and dissipate in a mist of vapor, and I’d be totally fine.”
“And we would miss you terribly and gather up all that vapor and make you into a rain cloud so we could keep you with us always.”
Moira smiled at Tess who furrowed her brow and said, “That’s not how banshee vapor would work.”
“I’ll make it work. I’ll find a cute mason jar with a little metal lid and trap your vapor inside and decorate it with a pretty little black ribbon for all your moods and set it in the window so I can watch it rain all the time.”
Tess shook her head, but she couldn’t hide her tiny smile.
Moira grinned. “We can all be touch starved in our own ways.” She returned her attention to me. “How’d you find this out?”
I hesitated for a moment. “Rowan.”
Moira hooted. “Did you and that fine Lord have a snuggle session?”
My cheeks burned.
“Oh shit,” Ash said with a laugh. “Is that why Caelan hasn’t gotten back with you?”
“Probably,” I muttered. Shaking my head, I pushed away from the table and stood. “Nothing happened, truly. I like Rowan, but I care about Caelan.”
I rubbed my hands over my arms and went over to the window. “He’s just so intense sometimes. It freaks me out.”
“Maybe you should tell him,” Moira said.
“If he ever talks to me again.” Sighing, I rubbed my temples. “The gods council meeting is tonight.”
Ash straightened. “Do you have an escort?”
“No. I expect they’ll either send instructions or an escort. Any tips?”
Ash frowned. “I’ve never been called before one. Dress nice and be respectful.”
Moira cackled. “The first one is fine. The second might be too big of a request.”
“Shuddup, Moira.”
Ash sent her an admonishing look. “Do you know why they want you there?”
I shrugged. “The summons came before the tree incident, so I’m not sure.”
“The tree will definitely come up,” Ash said.
“I have no defense other than what goes in must come out.”
Ash gave me a withering look. “You truly have no respect for any form of authority, do you?”
“Where would the fun be in that?” I grinned and poked a cream colored rose into floral foam, gently pushing aside an anemone.
“These are not Lords,” Ash said gently. “Their power can crush you.”
“True,” I agreed. “But why would they bother with me? I’m low on the totem pole and they have much bigger things to worry about.”
Ash’s hands stilled. “I think you constantly forget who and what you are. Being of the Fae King’s blood doesn’t put you low on the totem pole, more like close to the top.
Chimeras are an unknown. They can do amazing things but they’re so secretive, it’s difficult to rank them.
” He gave me a probing glance. “You haven’t spoken much about that side of you. Everything under control?”
“As much as it can be. I shift when I need to but still have a lot to learn. Finn could do some cool tricks, and all I know how to do is turn into another animal.”
“Still a cool trick,” Moira acknowledged. She picked up a rose and hissed when a thorn pricked her finger. “We didn’t get the de-thorned ones this time?”
I shook my head. “New supplier. Our regular one had a rose slug outbreak, and it decimated their crop.” A disgusted scoff came from me. “They charged an obscene amount to de-thorn them, so I figured we could do it.”
“And then you forgot?” Moira accused, waving a bloody digit at me.
“Yup. I was busy giving birth.”
Tess let out a chortle. “Seed jokes will never get old.”
We worked a few more hours on the arrangements before I called it quits. On my way out, Ash stopped me by the door and pulled me in for a hug.
“Be careful,” he said quietly. “If you can’t be respectful, be quiet.”
I snorted. Like that would ever happen.
His heavy sigh made me grin. “If you don’t take my advice, at least keep your mouth shut. Admit to no wrongdoing. The fae are tricky and will use all kinds of deceit to bend you to their whims.”
I patted him on the back. “Remember who my mother is. I’ll be fine, Ash. I promise.”
His grim expression when he pulled back said he didn’t believe me at all, but he didn’t argue. “Text me as soon as you’re home, no matter what time it is.”
“Will do.”
He held open the door for me and waved as I drove away.
The first hint of dread sang through my bones. Four hours from now and I would be standing in front of more power than my mind could comprehend.
I’d been dancing right on the line of danger with the gods for months now.
The summons wasn’t out of left field, but I’d hoped I could delay being called to the carpet until I got a firm handle on my magic and learn my limits.
Now I had to walk in and hope my Floromancy and shifting ability would get me out of any serious trouble I might find.
Mom and Cernunnos would be there, but I wasn’t confident enough to tell if their presence was a good thing or would serve to make things worse.
Ash’s doubt about me being okay only heightened my own. I was walking into the unknown, and I did not like surprises.
Unfortunately, the fae and the gods have proven to be nothing but a surprise.