Page 26 of Shift of Heart


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The banshee rose and poofed into mist again, slipping through the front door of the shop and disappearing into the darkness.

No one spoke for a long time. Ash gave me a look dripping with judgment and rose, hurrying outside after Tess.

Moira, who’d been my friend the longest, sat there silently for a moment before clearing her throat.

“Tess is right, you know.”

I closed my eyes and flopped my head back against the couch cushion. “What the fuck,” I whispered to myself before letting out a loud groan. “You’re going to be really sorry when I finally shift and eat you all like a BOGO appetizer special.”

Moira chuckled. “First lesson, Evie. Friends are not food.”

I cracked an eye open and glared at her. “As worrisome as my issue is, are we not going to talk about Tess’s lack of orgasms?”

Moira’s lips pursed. “I don’t think it will be a problem for much longer,” she said cryptically.

My eyes narrowed as I tried to figure out the cryptic tone to her words. Then I looked at the door and my mouth fell open. “You think?”

My gaze went back to Moira. “No way.”

“His heartbeat picks up every time she’s in the room.” Moira’s lips tugged up. “And when she wore that cute little fifties dress for Halloween last year?—”

I held my hand up. “Nope. That’s enough of that.”

She laughed. “I’m not even sure Tess realizes Ash is smitten with her.”

I blew out a breath. “We will not be the ones to tell her, either.”

“Not a chance. Those two will have to figure their own stuff out.”

I mulled it over. “A dryad and a banshee. You think it will work?”

“Stranger things have happened,” Moira said cryptically. She rose and picked the tea carafe up. “No more for you. This blend will help you sleep and make it easier to interpret your dreams.”

I stared down at my mug. “Dammit, Moira! You dosed me again?”

She rolled her eyes and picked up my empty mug. “Every blend I have is magical. It’s your own fault, really.”

“How am I supposed to get home?”

Moira washed out the teapot and mug, carefully setting both on the drying rack. “Your ride home is a bicycle, and the tea is mild. It’s not like last time.”

Last time was when I fell into a dead faint about thirty seconds after my last sip. Moira aptly named that blend “Coma,” but didn’t tell me until the next day when I rolled into work two hours late feeling like I’d gone three rounds with a pro boxer.

I gave her a dubious look that made her laugh. She threw her hands up in surrender. “I promise! You’ll be fine.”

Shaking my head, I rose and stretched. Every muscle in my body felt tense. “Beekeeper suit is in the locked hall closet.” I grinned. “See you tomorrow for our weekly market trip.”

“I hate you,” Moira muttered, but the words held no heat.

“Sore loser.” I pulled out my brand-new cell phone as I walked to the door, and had a moment where I wondered if I should go back and try to find my old one. “I’m going to text Ash and Tess to make sure they remember.” A frown marred my brow. “And apologize.”

“Good idea.” Moira wiggled her fingers in a wave. “See you tomorrow. Meet at the gate?”

“You know it.”

The ride home was uneventful,but my nerves wouldn’t settle down. It felt like someone was watching me the entire time, which should have been impossible unless they were running across the rooftops to keep up. Bicycles could squeeze through places cars couldn’t, so I picked up my speed, dodging any darker areas in favor of well-lit roads, until I was inside my locked gate. I left my bike on the porch and hurried inside, triple-checking all the locks and windows.

Even with Moira’s tea, it took a while to fall asleep. My anxiety was higher than it had been in years, and I couldn’t help feeling like I was barreling toward something I wasn’t ready for.