“He’s…” His voice trailed off. “Like you.”
I nodded. “He wants to bring the Chimeras out into the open.”
“He wasn’t here for the dowry?”
I rolled my eyes. “Not at all. He had eyes for Moira, though.”
The vampire wiggled her eyebrows. “Sure did. Blonds aren’t my thing, but I might give him a spin around the block and see if he can back up all that delicious power swimming in his veins.”
I stared at my friend for a long moment. “Gross.”
Moira cackled. She ruffled my hair and rose from the couch arm. “I’ll be in back finishing up the new holiday arrangements. Don’t leave before you come chat.”
She blew a kiss at Caelan and went to the back. Tess floated to the register, and Ash went over to his workstation and settled in. His new project was a magnolia bonsai. I knew how to manipulate flora, but Ash’s realm was trees. He’d been working on this one for months now, and every once in a while, he’d mutter fiery curses under his breath about stupid magnolias and their stupid, high-maintenance roots.
When I saw that particular bonsai on his table, I stayed away.
“Want some coffee?” I asked Caelan.
“Always.”
I fixed us both a cup and handed him one. He’d sat down on the sofa and patted the space next to him. “Slow day?”
“Lunch is always a little slow. We’ll pick up after two.”
He checked his phone. “Good. I’ll stay for a little while if that’s okay.”
“It’s always okay.”
He flashed me a gorgeous grin that pulled at my heart. “I want to bring Seymour and Hannah by this week if you don’t mind.”
“They’re always welcome too. How are they doing?”
“If plants could mate, I’d guess Seymour and Hannah are about to get married.” He shook his head and chuckled. “I can’t move them apart without him trying to take a bite out of me.”
“Aww. They’re happy.” I’d made the Venus flytrap in a fit of pique after Caelan pissed me off. But Seymour was no regular flytrap. I’d modified his traps to produce a paralytic that could take a shifter down in less than a minute, and he’d used it to take several shifters down, Caelan included.
But Seymour’s occasionally bloodthirsty nature spoke to Caelan’s, and to my surprise, now the two were…friends, as much as someone could be friends with a sentient plant.
I’d made Hannah for Caelan’s boutonniere and toned her nature down a notch. She still had violent tendencies, but she had a sweeter nature than Seymour, something the male flytrap seemed to gravitate to.
“They keep sneaking out of the Keep. Garrett caught them once, Simone the next time. I caught them the third, right as they made it to the property line.” Caelan grinned. “Pretty sure Poe and Fee are helping those little escape artists.”
“How’d you get them to stop?” I curled my feet onto the sofa and soaked up his warmth. He ran several degrees hotter than me. Sitting beside him felt like cuddling up to a crackling fire.
“I had to promise visitation. Twice a week, they’re coming over to visit you.”
I laughed. “They’re welcome to stay longer if they want.”
“Is this how divorced parents feel? Seymour and Hannah go to you three days a week and stay at the Keep for four.”
“Yes, well, you can come with them and stay if you want.”
Caelan’s chuckle sent shivers down my spine. “I like that idea even better.”
I rose and whispered in his ear. “But you have to learn to be quiet. Honestly, Caelan. You’re soloud.”
He nipped my nose with his teeth. “Vicious woman.”
