“What about your scent?” Moira asked, diving right into the heart of my fear.
I shrugged. “Caelan was so close to death, I doubt he caught it.”
Moira’s lips thinned. “I know you’re keeping secrets. I get why you have to, but you’re treating me like an idiot. We both know how powerful a regular shifter’s senses are, but you healed Caelan, the Shifter Lord. That guy could sniff a specific grain of pepper from a vat of the stuff.”
She opened a bottle of wine with a flick of her wrist, a feat I was always jealous of. “The amount of magic you had to expend to heal him must have been tremendous.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Moira held up her hand to silence me. “Nope. I’m not finished.”
She poured us both a huge glass and pushed mine over before she tilted hers up, drained it, and refilled her glass.
I winced.
“I can only assume the forest floor is saturated with your power. He might not be able to track you due to the spell on your arm, but if you ever use similar magic in his presence, he will be able to identify you.”
“That will never happen,” I assured her.
Moira grunted. “And you healing the Shifter Lord never should have happened, and yet here I am, close to having a nervous breakdown in your kitchen.”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
Moira snorted. “You never have to apologize to me, Evie. I’m worried about you. Not me.”
She gathered up her food and headed into the living room. I trailed behind her, quickly losing my appetite. “None of us could bear it if anything happened to you.” She ducked her head. “You gave us all a home. We owe everything to you.”
I shook my head. “No. Never. You owe me nothing.” Tears filled my eyes. “Family has no debts, Moira.”
Pink tears appeared at the corners of Moira’s eyes. “Don’t die, okay?”
A startled laugh broke from me. “I’ll do my best.”
Her watery smile broke my heart. “He won’t find me. But if he does, maybe it won’t be so bad. I saved his life, after all, didn’t I?”
I nudged her playfully. “Maybe he’ll give us a gift card to that cool new bookstore down the road. We’ve been meaning to visit there, and free books are an excellent reward for a good deed.”
Neither one of us believed there wouldn’t be consequences if Caelan found me, but my words served as a natural way to end the conversation and focus on other things.
Like pasta from our favorite restaurant.
My dreamsthat night were strange and jarring.
I stood in a glowing forest of colorful blooms and watery moonlight. A massive man with moss and fungi-covered golden antlers atop his head sat cross-legged on a large tree stump, watching me.
My heart pounded in my chest, but I felt no urge to run. The man, or whatever he was, felt familiar, though I knew I’d never met him. I made no move to come any closer, nor did he move from his stump.
I couldn’t make out all of his features. The night was too dark, and everything was thrown into shadow. He tilted his head, and I could see a proud nose and high cheekbones. His eyes glowed with fae magic.
My breath caught.
I knew who this was. And all of a sudden, I knew this was no dream.
“Cernunnos,” I breathed.
“Evangeline.” His voice vibrated with power, rolling over my skin with sparks of light. I shivered at the sheer magnitude of his magic, both in fear and awe.
“Is this a dream?” I had to make sure.
“A warning.” His voice sounded like a savage, wild forest, deep and rumbling like a fall thunderstorm. He slid off the stump and came closer. I was a small woman, but I’d never felt quite so overwhelmed by a male presence. He towered over me, his physical height mind-boggling, antlers rising another several feet above his head.
