“You’ve changed your wardrobe,” I mused, noting the comforting hum of cotton and bamboo. Every fabric hummed at a different frequency. Synthetic fibers jangled uncomfortably against my senses, though I was too polite to say anything. Ash was like me in that regard. The dryad always wore natural fibers, but it took Tess and Moira a while to fully understand how jarring they were to our senses. Tess had embraced the challenge and hit up every thrift store within a two-hour distance. Moira went on an online shopping spree and now grumbled about being spoiled by luxury cashmere and silk.
Rowan’s brow furrowed for a moment before he looked down at himself. “Yes. I have a Floromancer staying at my home who made me feel guilty about microplastics and pollution.”
I laughed and reached for a banana hanging on the fruit hook. “Mother Earth thanks you.”
“Don’t you want something more substantial?” he asked, frowning at the fruit.
He was always trying to feed me. I knew why. My weight loss was obvious now, the new clothes Rowan had bought hanging from my hips and shoulders. “My appetite is still up and down,” I admitted as I settled beside him at the kitchen island. “I have a favor to ask, though, and it’s a little personal.”
He put his spoon down. “Ask away.”
“Lugh destroyed my tattoos. They helped control the worst of my Chimera magic, and I’ve been struggling with keeping my power contained. I’ve siphoned some of my power, but this is not my land, so I’m careful about how much power I feed these grounds.”
He studied me for a moment before saying, “You can feed as much power into the grounds as you like.”
I smiled sadly. “No. I?—”
“Whatever you tell me will remain between us, Evie. I promise.”
“I accidentally claimed a portion of Caelan’s land when I did that. When I return to Joy Springs, I’ll have to rectify that.”
He stilled. “You’re returning?”
“I’m not sure.” The indecision was tearing me up. If I decided to move, Caelan and I would be done. Forever. Was I ready to sever everything so completely? Not that he’d thought much of that when he stomped all over my heart. “Regardless of my decision, I’ll have to return for my things and my plants. Plus, I’ll have to relinquish the claim on my land to sell my house. Not to mention shutting down the shop.”
“I’ll help with whatever you decide to do.”
Rowan had always been a stalwart friend, but these days, that friendship was skewing in a confusing direction. “Why are you always so kind to me?” I asked, dropping my gaze to study the banana a little too intently.
His soft laugh made my hands still. “That’s a question asked by someone who has not had enough kindness in their life.”
I frowned. “You’ve never made me mad.”
He snorted. “Give it time. I didn’t live in Joy Springs, so we didn’t see each other enough to get annoyed.”
“You’ve never hit on me either.” Where the hell did that question come from? It’s not like I wanted him to hit on me. Did I?
Rowan’s eyes narrowed. He shifted his body to face me. “Would you like me to?” he asked quietly.
Um. No? Yes?
“You’re an honorable man, Rowan,” I said instead.
His eyes glimmered with amusement. “I do not try to take another male’s female.”
This was becoming a dangerous conversation. I no longer belonged to anyone. Not that I ever really had, but I understood his point. “When’s the last time you had a girlfriend?”
Rowan blinked in surprise. “Curious about my love life, Evie?”
My cheeks heated. “I’ve never met any of your girlfriends.”
He chuckled. “I haven’t had agirlfriend, as you say, in a long time.”
I took a bite of my banana and chewed for a while before saying, “Why? I’m sure you have women flocking to you. You’re a Lord. You have all this stunning land. You’re kind and funny. You look like that…” I fluttered my hand at him.
His eyebrows lifted. “Are you trying to say I’m handsome?” He crossed his hands under his chin and fluttered his eyelashes.
A snort escaped me. “Please. You know you are.”
