Rowan snorted. “I want my two best friends to work this shit out so I don’t feel like I have to lecture you both.” He leaned forward. “But I will say, this is the last time I will speak to you about this. There are things going on in my territory I need to attend to. Once I return home, I won’t be back for a while.”
Good, an uncharitable part of me thought.
Rowan’s grin was edged. “Jealous bastard. You’re one to talk with the Jezebel you have staying down the hall.”
“For the gods’ sake,” I muttered. “Turning her away is the fastest way to get into a conflict with Europe.”
“And the easiest way to smooth things over with your fiancée.” Rowan took one more sip of his coffee and rose. He came around the table and clapped me on the shoulder. “Sometimes the wind speaks to me, Caelan. There’s something off about this. Off about her. The timing is too odd for this to be coincidental. Send her home and do it quickly.”
Rowan rarely spoke about his power. All the Lords had them. We were shifters, but we were also something more. None of us revealed our magic to the other, but we all knew Rowan’s power had manifested differently. His gift resembled Evie’s enough tomake me nervous, though his was a gentler sort of power, and he used it far more than the rest of us.
Rowan’s gift seemed to have been bestowed upon him at birth. The rest of us grew into our powers. I used mine only in dire circumstances, sometimes with devastating consequences. If he was warning me something wasn’t right, I’d be a fool not to listen.
“I’ll look into her visit.”
Rowan nodded. “If I hear anything more, I’ll call.”
He left me sitting in the dining room wondering what the hell was wrong with me. Why hadn’t I called Rachel’s father yet? I never let important things slip by me.
And where the hell was Simone? When was the last time I’d seen her?
Rising, I headed into the study to make a long overdue phone call. If Rowan was concerned, I should be too.
But on the way back, I stopped by the garden first. It was a beautiful evening, and I needed the fresh air…
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Ihadn’t seen Caelan in two days, but boy were the rumors flying around town. Business had dropped in the shop, which was unusual due to the time of year, but I didn’t think much of it until I overheard some people talking in Marnie’s diner.
“He’s got that new girl living in the Keep. From what I hear, he dumped the florist.”
I was sitting toward the back of the diner eating a bowl of tomato bisque with addictive garlic croutons I couldn’t stop shoveling into my mouth when I heard the whispers. My hearing was far better than average, but the two women weren’t keeping their voices down.
Small towns and their gossip mills. I shifted a little more so if one of them looked up they wouldn’t immediately know it was me. I didn’t recognize them, but thanks to Caelan and all the events the shop did, most people in town knew who I was.
“Things between them have been a bit rocky for a while, haven’t they?”
The other woman sighed. “He could have any woman he wants. I wonder why he settled for a florist.”
The soup soured in my stomach. I should stop listening. I should put down my spoon, get my purse, and walk out—pretend I’d heard nothing at all. Ignorance was bliss after all.
“I heard she has more magic than Caelan. Someone told me she has fae blood.”
My spoon froze halfway to my lips.
The soft gasp made me lean back and strain to hear the next whispers.
“Think she put him under a spell?”
A snort. “Not if he’s already involved with another woman.” The woman paused. “Foolish in hindsight, I suppose, when she could have bagged the Lord for good.”
I refused to believe Caelan had already replaced me. Just because we hadn’t spoken didn’t mean we were finished. Granted, I was the one who kicked him out of my house. Maybe I should be the one to reach out.
I wish I had the type of small magic that could tip her bowl over or make her nose grow. Maybe one day I would, but I had an issue with fine control on anything other than plant life. Dad said I’d get better with time, but even that seemed in short supply these days.
“Maybe the Lord is a cheater and that’s why she left,” the other woman whispered.
