Plus, there was a consequence to us moving farther than touching, and Rowan had warned me about it after our meeting with the Lords. If we consummated our relationship, there was a very good chance the mating bond would finalize. We would be linked forever.
I wasn’t totally against the possibility, but I wasn’t all for it either. Not long ago, I’d promised myself to Caelan, and this felt like a betrayal. Even if he had treated me with cruelty toward the end.
But this…whatever this was, I didn’t know how much longer I could hold out against it. I needed a distraction. I thought going to the shop might work, but I’d spent most of my time daydreaming about Rowan’s hazel eyes and clever fingers.
“Aaaargh,” I groaned, tossing a handful of rose petals up in the air.
A key sounded in the door. Seconds later, a dark head poked around the corner. “This town is as nosy as Joy Springs.” Moira grinned and locked the door behind her.
After tossing her purse down, she came over and brought me in for a tight hug. Her cool cheek pressed against mine. “Maybe nosier,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Everyone isveryinterested in Rowan’s little Floromancer.”
I sighed and slumped onto one of the new chairs. Dad had transported every single thing from the old shop to the new one, but there were certain pieces I couldn’t look at without seeing Caelan. The chairs and couch were the first to go, donated to oneof Rowan’s shifter’s young daughters who’d just gotten her first apartment.
Moira and I went to an artisan furniture store and found our new ones within seconds of walking in. The artist, loyal to the bone to Rowan, had all but tried to give them to me, but I insisted on paying. However, the woodworker refused to take full price, even when I tried to argue about it. I ended up paying a fraction of what they were worth, and the guilt remained.
Now, once a week, I put together a fragrant and gorgeous flower arrangement and delivered it to his shop. He tried to return the first one, but when I let a sliver of the Chimera out, he laughed and acknowledged he was beaten.
I figured we’d be square in about twelve months.
To Rowan’s consternation, I bought the couch online because I couldn’t afford to give away another year’s worth of flowers.
We were alone in the shop. Tess and Ash were out apartment hunting, though neither was in a hurry to move from Rowan’s Keep. Ash was happy as a clam, and Tess had made another banshee friend none of us had seen yet.
Rowan had already said they could stay permanently if they wanted to, but both of them felt guilty about it. I planned to talk to them soon, but I knew how they felt. Rowan’s cottage was amazing, but it was a little small for my plant collection. Eventually, I knew I’d start itching for a bigger space and a spot of land of my own.
Moira made herself a cup of tea and brought me a steaming mug of coffee. She kicked off her boots and curled her feet under her, watching me with those wise dark eyes.
“How are you?”
“Better, but still a remedial student.”
Moira snickered. “No luck being a badass, all-powerful Chimera?”
“Hardly. According to Barrett, I have ‘adequate’ shifting abilities.”
Moira cracked a laugh. “What an ass.”
“But the rest of my abilities are non-existent. They think it might have to do with my fae blood.”
“Good theory,” Moira mused. “Allowing your powers to merge is how you learned to control the Chimera in the first place, right?”
I nodded. “Yes, but now I have no idea what to do. Unfortunately, wiggling my nose or snapping my fingers just makes me look stupid.”
She sipped her tea. “You’ll get it. You always do.” Moira’s eyes glittered. “Now tell me about Rowan.”
If I had something to throw at her, I’d throw it. “What about him?”
Moira grinned. “You like him. A lot. I can tell.”
“Yes, but I’m not ready for anything more. Caelan…” I trailed off.
“Fucked you up,” Moira said unrepentantly. “Big time.” She lifted a slender shoulder in a shrug. “Understandable. But honestly, Evie, he’s always been a growling dick.”
I blinked at my friend.
She cackled at my expression. “He has, and you know it! Caelan was always pushing you to the brink, encouraging you to do things you weren’t sure about. Getting out of your comfort zone isn’t always a bad thing if it helps you grow. But Caelan violated your boundaries and pushed you beyond what you were ready for. Even so, he pushed you to be something you were not.”
I was speechless. Moira plowed on, her pale hands wrapped around her botanical tea mug. “Then,” she added, “he got super pissed off when you surpassed him.”
