Rowan smiled, but it was a hesitant one, his eyes wary. “I’m about to show you something no one else knows.”
I watched him, wondering if I’d regret coming here, curious if he was going to break my heart with this newest secret. Whatever was happening with us, I felt exhilarated, but terrified, scared, and overwhelmed. I wasn’t ready. There was no closure with Caelan, and I owed it to both of us to see the ruins of our relationship through to what might be the bitter end.
When Rowan saw my expression, he huffed a laugh and reached for my hands. “No. Evie. This affects me far more than you. I only wanted to be honest with you. I’d like there to be no more secrets. Not between us. There is something more than friendship here, but you are my friend first. No matter what happens, I hope you will always be my friend.”
My heart melted. “Of course I will be your friend. Always.”
“I would never do anything to hurt you. Never.”
I nodded. Despite his words, I still felt apprehensive. “I feel the same.”
Rowan nodded and scooted back, slowly rising to his feet. “My mother was not a shifter.”
“Alright,” I said slowly. “It doesn’t matter to me who your parents were.”
A faint smile before a shiver of magic flowed over my skin followed by a flash of light. Where Roman had once stood, a large white owl hovered.
I sucked in a breath. “Rowan.”
He sailed over. Without thinking, I held my arm out, just like I did with Poe. Rowan landed on my forearm, wicked claws curling carefully over my skin. I reached up and stroked thedowny feathers atop his head. “Aren’t you a pretty thing,” I cooed.
Rowan rubbed his cheek against mine and flew away. Another shiver of magic and a flash of light, and a woman stood before me, Moira, this time.
My heart dropped into my stomach. I stared at him, the words falling right out of my head.
Rowan shifted again, this time into the guise of an eagle. A sharp cry came from his throat as he circled overhead.
Was he…?
No, he couldn’t be. Rowan circled a few more times and came in for a landing, shifting into his human form.
Still fully clothed, thank goodness. My eyes narrowed as I shifted through the potential. “You’re part fae.”
He sat down, facing me once more. “My mother’s name is Bea. She’s a shapeshifter. My father is a bear shifter.”
I stared at him open mouthed. “Can you become anything?”
“I haven’t tried everything, but so far there’ve been no barriers.”
The possibilities were endless. Rowan, much like me, could be the perfect spy. No wonder he kept this secret from everyone. “None of the other Lords know?”
He shook his head. “They do not allow mixed blood Lords, though I know for a fact Ben is one, so that rule seems to get tossed when it doesn’t work for them.”
“Why would you trust me with something like that?” I rubbed a hand over my face. “I know what it’s like to keep such a secret. You’ve given me your life, Rowan. Why?”
“Because there’s something else you should know.”
That spot in my chest warmed once more. I touched my heart, our eyes meeting. And when Rowan opened his mouth to speak, I suspected I knew the truth he was about to utter.
The wards around Rowan’s property boomed.
The Lord bowed his head and expelled a heavy sigh.
“He’s here, isn’t he?” I asked softly.
Rowan didn’t answer, merely stood, and offered me his hand.
And together, we turned to confront the inevitable.
