Chapter
One
My fingers and toes grew roots, reaching deep into the fertile soil, fortifying me, and in return, I pulsed nurturing magic back—the way of Earth, to give and to receive. Tulips and hellebore rose up through the ground, followed by bright yellow daffodils and lilacs. Vines dotted with lovely blue flowers curled around my arms and legs, and fragrant flowers sprouted throughout my hair.
I’d been on Rowan’s property for a month now, and spring here was wildly different from the South. Where Texas might be in the 70s, Rowan’s property was a brisk 52 degrees. I’d dressed in a cashmere hoodie and skinny jeans with thermal underwear underneath and a pair of fur-lined boots I’d removed earlier, and I still felt a little chilly. Temperature normally didn’t affect me too much, but ever since I’d been here, I’d been experiencing odd fluctuations in power. Nothing too concerning, but I was much more sensitive to temperature changes than usual.
I’d forgotten how much I loved it here. Seattle was my original stomping grounds, and I’d done my best to put the place out of my mind after everything that happened with my divorce and attack in Scotland. Rowan lived about two hours away fromSeattle, closer to the national park and away from most of the hustle and bustle of a major city.
But if I wanted a little hustle and bustle, all I had to do was get in the car and drive a little bit to find some. Not that I ever wanted any of that, but knowing I could find some was nice. Rowan’s territory stretched across Washington, Oregon, and parts of Idaho and Alaska, creeping a little into Canada, too. The same land happened to butt up against the territory I’d inadvertently claimed from Donovan. Even though the other Lords were still sniffing around, trying to find a way to wrest the Great Plains from me, they wouldn’t be able to. They were Lords made by man and might. I was something entirely different—a steward of the earth. No one could claim the property I held unless I purposely let it go.
While I had zero desire to rule, I did have other plans for the land now that Caelan and I had severed our relationship. I thought about expanding his territory at one time, but after the events of a month ago, I’d never been so relieved I hadn’t.
Trees rose in a crest behind me, the snow-capped tip of Mount Rainier peeking above the evergreens. Rowan’s personal land spread for 1,500 acres and backed up to the national forest, ensuring the Lord would never have to deal with expansion on or near his lands. The place was preserved and pristine, the waters flowing cold and crystal clear. Wildlife of all kinds freely roamed, snakes and stunning birds, bears and deer, elk, cougars, coyotes, and foxes.
A few weeks ago, I had an encounter with a fox who stared at me curiously for a bit, then wandered over and curled up on my lap. Too hesitant to touch it, I cried a little at the beauty of the experience and questioned why he’d done it. Rowan told me he had an agreement with all the animals on his lands. He was happy to share, provided they never interfered with his pack or trespassed too close to the house.
I’d stared at him for a while, thinking he was shitting me, but when Rowan didn’t crack a smile or elaborate, my thoughts had turned more contemplative. Few could talk to the animals, and none of them was a Lord.
A massive bear lumbered over and flopped down beside me with a moody huff. The first time he’d done it, I almost shit myself. Seeing a wolf in the wild was one thing. A shifter in wolf form was even larger. But seeing an 800-pound grizzly bear walking over to you all casual like was enough to make every muscle in my body tighten, and my brain to start flashing a danger alarm.
Grizzlies were already massive, but they tended to stop around five or six hundred pounds, unless you were in Alaska. Bear shifters, like wolves and swans, were much larger in their animal forms.
I buried my fingers in the soft ruff of his neck and scratched in the place I knew he liked. Rowan groaned and turned his head to allow me greater access. “Softie,” I murmured.
Wicked claws scratched in the dirt as I hit his favorite spot. Unretractable claws, I found out later. Terrifying and hard on wooden floors, as I learned when Rowan in grizzly form snuck into the kitchen one night for the fresh-baked bread his grandmother had made, only for the poor woman to scream bloody murder and chase him outside with a broom.
His Keep was chaotic in a good way, full of warmth and love. Caelan held loyalty, but it was different from the loyalty Rowan held. I couldn’t explain why or how, but I felt different here. Maybe it was the land, maybe it was the deepening friendship between us, but…I was almost jealous of what he’d built here. Caelan could learn some lessons from the younger Lord.
I lifted my hand and coaxed some vines to the surface, instructing them to cover Rowan’s body. Once the massive bear was dotted with multicolored flowers, I whipped out my cell andtook several pictures, laughing as Rowan gently swiped at my hand.
The sound of footsteps revealed Simone and Garrett, both who’d come at Rowan’s invitation a couple of weeks ago. Thalia was somewhere inside, probably with her nose buried in a book or undertaking some kind of new crafting project she’d do for a week and discard until something else new and shiny caught her eye.
Simone snorted at the sight of Rowan covered in flowers, and Garrett rolled his eyes, though amusement sparkled in the amber depths. He tossed a cloth bag close to Rowan’s head.
“Everything okay?” I asked as Simone lowered herself to sit beside me.
“Fine,” she assured me. “We got a call a little while ago and wanted to talk to you.”
Rowan shifted in a flash of light. I averted my eyes as he reached for the bag and hurriedly dressed.
“Moira has an idea,” Garrett said slowly. “We wanted to see what you thought about it.”
“And Rowan,” Simone said. “Since her plan will directly affect his territory.”
“I’m all ears,” Rowan said as he sat back down beside me, dressed in a sweatshirt and an old pair of jeans. He tossed me an extra pair of wool socks and unfolded another pair for himself.
“Moira told us the situation in Joy Springs has become untenable,” Garrett began.
Rowan stiffened, but I’d been waiting for this since the moment he’d taken me out of Joy Springs.
I swallowed hard and nodded. “Is she alright?”
Simone reached over and squeezed my hand. “She’s fine. So are Ash and Tess. There haven’t been any direct attacks, not with your mother and father keeping watch. But they’re struggling to get supplies in, and the customer traffic has died down byseventy percent. Most who come in now are tourists, but it’s not enough to sustain the business.”
“He paid someone off to lose your shipments or refuse to do business with you.” Rowan’s voice was cold with fury.
“And the locals are afraid to anger him by patronizing my shop. It was only a matter of time,” I said sadly. “We all knew he wouldn’t leave this alone. Caelan doesn’t like losing.”
