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I nodded and rose. “We’ll talk it out over dinner. Ready to walk over?”

Soren unfolded himself from the ground. “For food, always.”

Evie and Rowan had food brought in. A wide variety of Chinese food lay spread out on the table. Egg rolls, soup dumplings, Kung Pao, pan-fried dumplings, and other dishes greeted us.

“Hope you’re hungry,” Evie announced and handed us plates.

There was enough food here to feed an army.

Or two Shifter Lords.

We’d just loaded our plates and sat down when Evie spoke. “Soooo, I felt new magic coming from your apartment area.”

I smiled. “Tasseomancy.”

Evie blinked. “You can read tea leaves?”

I shrugged. “Hadn’t done it in years, but yes.”

She watched me for a long moment. “Scared of your mother finding you?”

I nodded. Evie’s mouth tightened. “I understand that.”

Boy did she. Evie had refused to access her Chimera powers for years due to fear of losing control or being found.

“I didn’t sense her,” I said. “At all.”

“Did it help?”

I nodded. “She’s close. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind working your mojo to see if there’s been any trace of her magic in the area?”

Rowan sat up straighter. “You think she’s in my territory?”

“If the tea leaves steered me right, then yes. I plan to check around the area for remote cabins or Airbnbs.”

Rowan looked at Evie. “How are you feeling?”

She snorted and patted his arm. “You’ve known about the pregnancy for less than a day and are already acting like a mother hen. I’m fine. My magic is fine.” Evie smiled at him. “Better than fine, actually.”

Rowan’s shoulders relaxed. He scrubbed a hand over his chin and nodded. “Sorry. I just⁠—”

Evie bumped him with her hip. “First baby. Wife with weird DNA. I get it.”

Rowan looked pained. “Evie⁠—”

She laughed. “Everything is fine with both of us. The baby is happy as a lark.” Evie turned to me. “After dinner, we’ll go out and see what we can find.”

I gave her a grateful smile.

“Until then, let’s have a nice family meal.”

And so we did.

I tried to shove the thought out of my head that it might be our last one together.

Chapter

Thirty