Even I didn’t know what abilities a Chimera had other than being able to shift into almost anything.
Cliona asked no questions unless she had an ulterior motive.
“Nothing,” I said with a rueful smile. “Looks like my half fae blood purged most of the virus. Every once in a while, I get a red tinge to my eyes, but other than that, I’m the same old Evie.”
I had to give her something. She was far too smart to believe I’d walked away from that attack completely unscathed.
“My kind are gathering around this place. They sense anomalies in the magic.” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you’re not experiencing anything new?”
I held both hands up and shrugged. “Not that I know of.”
Mom rose, gathering her bright shawl around her shoulders. “Our kind flocks to power, Evangeline. Something dwells in this town that’s drawing the wrong kind of curiosity. If you receive any visitors in your dreams, you must let me know at once.”
“I still don’t know who’d visit me. I’m sure I can take on a demi-fae with no help from my mother.” I smiled to soften my words.
Cliona left her mug on the counter. “The Fae King is sniffing around this place, Evangeline.”
I laughed. “There’s no way he’ll pay me a visit.” It took years of practice for me to lie successfully to my mother. “I work with plants and flowers. I’m far under Cernunnos’ radar.”
Mom flinched when I said his name. “Never let his name pass your lips,” she hissed. “You’ll draw unwanted attention.”
“Could it be my father?” I asked quietly.
Mom froze, her eyes turning from the color of a Mediterranean Sea to a frozen over lake. “Your father is dead.”
I pushed my luck. “Is he?”
For a moment, my mother disappeared, and the Banshee Queen stood before me, pale and terrible, unholy magic crackling around her like a lightning storm. Ghosts screamed through her body, and my house turned into the land of the dead.
A second later, we were back in the kitchen, and my mother wore a rueful smile, the only sign of her horrific magic the puff of steam my breath made in the still freezing room.
“Oh, Evie,” Mom said with a click of her tongue. “I would never lie to you.”
She bent down and pressed a cool kiss against my skin before disappearing in a puff of mist.
It took a long time for my hands to stop shaking.
Chapter
Thirty-Two
The next day proved just as weird as the day before. I peeked in at the egg March had given me, but Poe was there, faithfully pulling dad duty. After a scratch on the back of his head, I nudged him out of the way just to take a peek, but nothing had changed.
“Soon?” I asked the raven.
“Soon,” Poe agreed.
“Come get me if you need me. I’d like to be there when the egg hatches, so the baby feels safe.”
Poe gave me a disapproving look, and I laughed. “I know you can keep it safe, but I need to know the breed so I can know what kind of food to buy. You know I trust you implicitly.”
My flattery soothed the raven’s ruffled feathers, and he settled back atop the egg and fell silent.
It was a slow day at the shop. Mondays usually were, so we spent those days doing inventory and placing our orders for the next week. We ordered more than normal. With the Shifter Lord’s patronage, curious and nosy customers started coming in, but when they were confronted with the shop’s charm and Moira’s pretty face, they usually didn’t leave empty-handed.
I’d grown complacent with the lazy day and found myself unprepared for my next visitors. The bell over the door rang, and before the first person stepped in, a blast of incredible power washed over the store.
Moira and Tess, joking around about their prowess in the kitchen, fell silent. Ash came out from the back, a look of concern on his handsome face.
