“Oh?”
“You will find being in the good graces of one of the Shifter Lords will open doors.”
“I have all the doors I can stand,” I said through gritted teeth.
His storm gray eyes were clear and calm. “Perhaps. But you will find rebuffing one of the Lords comes with consequences.”
My lips pulled away from my teeth in an angry snarl. “Are you threatening me, Lord?” Chimera power swirled in my veins begging to be used. I slowed my breath and calmed my beating heart. Giving any secret away to him would be deadly.
Caelan’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you spurn me so, Evie?” His gaze flicked over my face before he took a step and walked a circle around me. “You stand there appearing as nothing more than a woman. A Floromancer as you say. Someone with the power to command plant life. A simple magic compared to mine. And yet, you stand before me and defy my will.”
Defy his will? This arrogant, chauvinistic …
“Do you have a death wish?” My skin tingled everywhere he looked as he walked around me. When he faced me again, there was genuine curiosity on his face.
“Few people have death wishes.”
“Then why won’t you take this job?”
I studied him for a long moment. Caelan was angry, but he was also genuinely curious. He couldn’t fathom why I didn’t want to work with him. “Most people may fall at your feet to do your bidding, but my shop does well enough on its own.”
His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Lovely Evie, you did not answer my question.”
He called me lovely. I swallowed hard. “Why don’t you want to use one of the other florists?”
“Again with the non-answer. Fine. One answer in exchange for yours. Fair?”
My nod was short.
“Simple. They are not you.”
“They are talented and have good reviews. They’d fall all over themselves to do a job for you.”
Caelan’s scoff dripped with derision. “Everyone does.”
“Humble,” I remarked, my mouth too fast for my brain.
He grinned. “And that is why I want you. Because you don’t want me. Do you know how refreshing that is?”
“Can’t say that I do.” I shook my head. “People who have power don’t understand how it affects others. I don’t want the extra scrutiny on my shop. I don’t want to answer questions about you or have people try to cozy up to me because they think I have sway with you.”
The entire thing bugged the hell out of me. “I also don’t like the Pack coming into my shop and trying to strong arm me into doing your bidding.”
Caelan’s eyebrow went up. “You don’t seem to understand how royalty works. I ask and I receive.”
“You receive because people are afraid to refuse.”
He took a step closer. Too close. “Are you afraid?”
I was already in it. Might as well say what I mean. “I’m more pissed off at your arrogance than anything.”
His teeth flashed in a quick grin. Caelan reached out and tilted my chin up with his index finger. Our eyes met. “Your eyes remind me of the sea,” he murmured.
“The sea is the most dangerous place on the planet.”
His lips twitched. “Are you dangerous, flower girl?”
Caelan’s thumb caressed my chin. Desire and awareness of his proximity rolled down my spine. He could snap my neck if he wanted to. I’d live, but if he thought I was pissed off now…
