At that moment, one of the part-time butlers came through the door carrying a massive floral display, seasonally appropriate, but filled with carnations.
I almost smiled even as dread filled me. Evie would have judged Rachel for this order. Knowing the shifter before me, she’d already told Evie who she was and where she was going.
I’d have to do more than call her when this was over.
“I apologize for the interruption,” the man said. “Your guest was so kind as to bring this as a gift.”
Simone let out a little choking noise, recognizing Evie’s work.
“You’ve already met her,” I said.
Rachel’s eyes narrowed. The butler set the display on the table and backed out of the room, his eyes down. I couldn’t blame him. There was a lot of tension in this room.
Most of it coming from my pissed off ex-lover.
She let out a bark of laughter a second later. “That tall, lanky vampire?” Rachel snorted and pulled her hand away. “She doesn’t seem like your type.”
Funny how she assumed Moira was the more dangerous of the two. “Not the vampire. The other dark-haired one.”
Rachel stared at me for a long moment. “The stupid one?”
One moment, I was standing there staring down at her. The next, my hand was wrapped around Rachel’s throat, one second from snapping her neck.
I leaned in close and quietly said, “Speak that way about my fiancée ever again, and they’ll never find your body.”
Rachel stank with fear. She swallowed and gave me a short nod. “Fine.”
I released her and stepped back. “State your business and leave.”
Her eyes flashed with anger. “I’m afraid my father has requested I stay for a while.” She offered a thin smile. “You should have received an email from him already. If not, before the end of the day. I’m sure you won’t mind hosting me for a while.”
Simone’s lips tightened. Her request was a tricky one. If I wanted to avoid offending her father, I’d be forced to put her up in one of the extra rooms in the Keep befitting her station.
But if I wanted to avoid being impaled on the end of a sharp tree limb when Evie got wind of this, I’d refuse.
I’d chosen wrong the last time, but this one was Shifter business. I couldn’t afford to start a war with the European Lords. Fuck.
“For now, Simone will show you to temporary quarters. Do not get too comfortable.”
Her full lips parted in a satisfied smile. “I look forward to catching up.”
I very much did not.
Chapter
Five
My father sat on my front porch when I got home from work that evening.
I walked up the steps and opened the door, juggling my keys and a few bags of groceries. Cernunnos took two of the bags and followed me inside.
“Set them on the island, please.”
I tossed my purse onto the table by the door and went straight to the kitchen. Dinner would be a simple, comforting affair. I rarely made this because it was fatty and cheesy, and I tried to eat as naturally as possible, but it was colder than usual outside and some of the restaurants had closed early.
“Hope you like enchiladas and mac and cheese.” I started unpacking the groceries.
Cernunnos gave me an odd look. “Together?”
