Page 24 of Final Shift
Moira vibrated with anger. “I'm well aware of today's importance, Declan. But I'm also Evie's best friend who's been with her for over a decade. I know her, and I know how this will affect her.”
My heart warmed.
“Evie also knows I am formally unaffiliated with the shifters. I pay Rowan rent?—”
I glanced at Rowan in surprise. He leaned over. “A very small amount so we can have the paperwork of a business arrangement rather than me showing favorites.”
“Ah. Smart,” I whispered back.
“Yes, well, thanks to you, I am the most powerful Lord in all the land.”
Moira gave us an exasperated look and kept speaking. “And once Evie's shop reopens, I will be employed. I'm also quite reasonable in negotiations.” She grinned at Declan, and the sight made me go still. “I have no testosterone, so no one has to worry about me getting too…emotional today.”
I chewed on my bottom lip to keep from laughing.
“One day, vampire. You and I are going to tangle.”
Moira's crazy grin widened. “I look forward to that day.”
“Then it's settled. Moira and Garrett, you're with me. Rowan will also travel with us, but Caelan has requested he stay away from the Keep area.”
Garrett's jaw tightened at that one. He'd once been Caelan's enforcer, his third in command, and would have walked through fire to serve him until everything fell apart. When I moved to Rowan's territory, I thought Garrett might have a tough time fitting in, but the opposite proved true.
Both Garrett and Simone were thriving under Rowan's leadership. He'd allowed Simone to act as the Pack's second Omega, a position unheard of in any other packs. Omegas were exceedingly rare, and for a Pack to have two…well, let's just say there were a lot of people pissed off at Rowan's for other reasons besides me.
Not only was Simone the second Omega, she had quite the head for business. Once Rowan discovered her other superpower, he turned her loose on the unsuspecting town of Emberwood. Rowan hadn't said much, but I suspected Simone was the driving force behind Moira's offer to run a tea shop.
Garrett, on the other hand, had found a fast friend in Declan, and they shared duties when it came to Rowan. I initially wondered if it might be an issue to have two obviously powerful shifters doing the same job, but those two were peas in a pod.
And Declan got to screw around more, and he was all about the shenanigans.
So far, everyone was settling into their new positions far better than I expected.
Everyone except Moira.
She claimed to be happy. I knew better. Moira loved Emberwood, I knew that much.
Opening the flower shop back up would help her gain some stability. But Moira was meant for more. Everyone knew it. I thought the tea shop was a brilliant idea.
Now I just had to convince her.
I walked over and greeted my parents, who were quietly talking close to the outdoor kitchen. They smiled and held out their arms.
My heart warmed. A year ago, I would have laughed in someone's face if they told me this would happen—that my parents would be seated together, on my property, and we would become an odd little semi-functional family.
But here we were—Mom and I not only on speaking terms but growing closer every day, and my dad training me to be the fae queen.
Life was weird.
“Evie?” Rowan waved us over. “Ready?”
I would never be ready. Mom linked our arms together. “You don't have to do this,” she murmured.
“Dad has already offered to kill him. Multiple times.”
Mom snorted. “I'm sure he has. If I thought you might take him up on the offer, I'd throw my hat in the ring, too. But that'snot what I mean.” She gently tugged. Dad walked away, leaving only us, out of hearing distance from the others.
“You owe Caelan nothing, Evie.” Mom turned me to face her. We shared the same eyes, hers glimmering with empathy. “I don't think your former Lord is a bad person.” A sad smile graced her lips. “But I do think he was bad for you.”
