Page 53 of Final Shift
Moira looked pained. “I shouldn't. I'm sorry.”
Rowan nodded. “Alright then. I'll call the bastard and ask him myself.”
At my warning look, he shook his head. “I get why Moira's not telling me, so I'll go right to the source.”
“I don't think he'll tell you anything.” I winced at Rowan's stony face. “He's always seemed like the most private of the Lords. If there's a problem and he can't fix it, I don't see whyanother Lord would be able to.” I frowned. “Or would be willing to assist without wanting something in return.”
His expression cleared. “What is he offering you?” he asked Moira.
Moira's jaw tightened. “A salary. Magic lessons.” She lifted her hands. “That's all.”
I knew Moira. She wasn't telling us everything. I let it go for now, but as soon as I could break away from Rowan for some private time, I planned to grill her. Moira was an adult and could make her own decisions, but Ethan rattled her more than I'd ever seen anyone else rattle her.
Soren, another one of the Lords, managed to get under her skin for a brief period of time, but she'd written him off pretty quickly. Ethan seemed to have burrowed under her defenses and squatted there. As much as I didn't want her to go, if that's what she wanted, I wouldn't stand in her way.
“What about your shop?” I asked.
“I told him no,” she repeated.
“But you're thinking about changing your mind.” One of my eyebrows went up as she opened her mouth to deny the words.
At my look, she sighed and slumped. “I want to open a shop, but I can't deny being curious.”
Rowan's expression softened. He knew how Moira felt about Ethan. “Don't set yourself up for heartache.” He hesitated, his lips tightening as he parsed out his next words. “I'm not sure Ethan will ever?—”
Moira made a slashing motion with her hand. “Don't. I'm well aware of how Ethan feels about me.”
That wasn't what Rowan was saying, and I wasn't sure my mate was right about this. I saw the way the other Lord had picked Moira up and hauled her out of that bar. He was enraged when he heard the rumors of Moira taking someone to her bed. And yet, he'd taken care of her when he got her home. Minusgiving her a drop of the hangover remedy—a pretty egregious act of passive aggressiveness and maybe even a warning for her not to cross him.
My friend hadn't taken a single man to her bed since that night. She hadn't even given anyone a second look. That annoyed me more than anything. Moira wasn't young, but she was single, and she shouldn't have to diminish herself for someone else who wouldn't give her what she needed.
If Ethan was interested in her, and I thought he might be more than interested, he needed to get his shit together. Maybe inviting her to his territory was a way to get her close without making any commitments.
Kind of a roundabout shitty thing to do, but I put nothing past the Lords.
Except for Rowan.
But I was biased when it came to him.
“You hold all the leverage here. Make a deal with him. Open the tea shop if you want and hire someone to mind it while you're gone. Or split your time. He's the one who asked. Make it worth your while.”
Rowan nodded. “Good idea. Remember how much money Evie gouged out of Caelan when he was begging her for crumbs?”
I laughed. The other Lord had fattened up my bank account by quite a lot for a while.
Moira smiled at the memory, her face brightening at our suggestion. “You know what? You're right. I do hold the power here.”
“There you go,” I said softly. “When Ethan starts doing that Alpha bullshit, remember what I let Caelan do to me.”
Rowan gave me a sharp look.
I reached over and patted his knee. “Don't deny it. I allowed Caelan to treat me that way before I had the strength to get myself away.”
Rowan's jaw clenched, but he didn't argue.
“Negotiate all the terms. Make him pay you out the ass and guarantee that money if things go sideways. Hell, make him give you the real estate to open a tea shop there, too. The sky's the limit, friend.”
And on that note, as I watched a crafty light enter my friend's eyes, I knew she was going to be alright.
