“Turning over income to the Lords, background checks. Things like that?”
Rowan looked at Garrett. “What the fuck, man.”
Garrett held his hands up. “I was in charge of security.”
The Lord sighed. “No other rules besides what a normal city requires for the establishment of a new business. You do not have to tithe to me, Evie. I am not the church.”
“Is there an open spot in the downtown area?”
“I’ll have to check. Emberwood Falls does not often have openings come available, but I’m sure we could work something out if you want to stay.”
Garrett and Simone rose. “Moira wants to visit soon. Call her back this evening. She has more to tell you.” Simone touched my shoulder and nodded to Rowan before walking away, Garrett trailing behind her.
Rowan’s gaze followed them. “Is it strange having Caelan’s people with you?”
“They’re sworn to me with a fae blood oath, so their loyalty is mine. But yes, it is odd having them by my side. Not too long ago, they were utterly loyal to Caelan. Sometimes I wonder if they itch to call and tell him everything.”
Rowan smiled and lay back on the crisp grass. “What would they tell him? That you’ve stopped crying over him and that you’ve become thoroughly infatuated with another handsome and intriguing Lord?”
I snorted and nudged him with my bare foot. “Are you serious about me staying?”
He rolled onto his side and plopped his head onto his hand. “Like I said before. You can stay forever if you’d like.”
“I’m a lot of trouble.”
His lips twitched. “You lived in Caelan’s territory for years without a peep. None of us knew who you were. If I recall, it was your good deed that got the Lord interested.” His eyes glittered. “Thinking back, I almost wonder if you should have let the self-righteous bastard die.”
I tugged on the socks Rowan had given me. “You don’t mean that. He’s one of your closest friends.”
Rowan said nothing for a long moment. “He treated you like you were shit on the bottom of his shoe. Your Lord moved another woman inside his Keep and claimed politics as a shield when you rightfully questioned him.”
When I opened my mouth, he held up a hand. “Caelan’s Keep has multiple buildings he could have housed that vicious bitch in. There are multiple ways to skirt the laws of good hospitality when it comes to the other Lords. If he wasn’t smart enough to figure those out, especially when he had something as precious as you waiting, then that’s on him.” He sighed and flopped back down. “You still defend his egregious behavior. When will you realize how horrific his actions were? Caelan hounded you and wore you down, and yes, while I know your feelings were valid, how much of this was proximity and not giving you time to figure things out on your own?”
I could have said a million things. My feelings were real; I had no doubt. But there were times I questioned the speed of our relationship and wondered if we were a comet meant to burn out when our trajectory changed.
“Before you mention Lugh, I think you need to examine everything in further detail,” Rowan drawled. “Yes, Lugh made Caelan see and hear things that weren’t there, but the magic never would have worked if Caelan hadn’t already had doubts.”
I sighed and lay beside him, curled onto my side. “You make him sound like a villain,” I murmured.
“Not a villain. Flawed. As we all are. But being flawed does not mean I would ever treat you that way.”
“If I were yours,” I clarified.
A pause, then a short nod. “If you were mine.”
We lay there in a mutual quiet for a while longer before Rowan rose without a word, shifting into bear form with a flash of light and lumbered away.
I didn’t bother waving. My mind was preoccupied with other things.
Caelan, my shop, and the potential of once more uprooting my life to move into another Lord’s territory.
Chapter
Two
The video call revealed all three faces peering happily into the small screen when Moira answered. They were in the front part of the shop that hosted the coffee pot and small seating area.
“Evie!” Moira called, waving frantically. “We’re so glad you called!”
