“No. You’re your own person. You’re not a shifter, Moira. And you’re my best friend.”
Relief spread over her face. “I’m not sure why he’s pushing me this much, but he backed down tonight and offered to do whatever I was most comfortable with if I would help him.”
Interesting. “He’s not just asking you to come to try to get you in the sack?”
Moira laughed. “Anything but, I think.” Her eyes slid away. “He needs my help with something and claims he trusts me.”
“Do you trust him?” Moira was like me in many ways. Earning her trust was a long and arduous path, but once you got to the end, you wouldn’t find a more loyal friend.
She sank down onto the ground and sat. I joined her, kicking off my shoes to bury my toes in the dirt.
“He didn’t try a single thing when he took me home from the bar that night.” She threw up her hands. “He was a perfect gentleman!”
I snickered. Moira would have happily gone along with whatever Ethan wanted that night, even though she was furious at him when he carried her out of the bar.
“Every time I’ve been around him, he hasn’t been a gentleman, exactly, but I’ve never felt in any danger. I guess my answer is, I trust him more than I do most people, but not as much as you, Ash, or Tess.”
“Good answer. You’ve known us much longer. Ethan is a wildcard, but your instincts are good.” I reached over and patted her knee. “If you want to go, go. You don’t have to ask for our permission.”
“I’ll come up with something and see if he signs on.” She smiled. “I do want that tea shop.”
“And I want to open my store up again.” I sighed. “Caelan and Danu threw a wrench into everything.”
“You’ll get there. This fae thing can’t last forever.”
My nose wrinkled, and Moira laughed. “Well,” she corrected, “everyone involved is immortal, so maybe it can.”
“Watch out for me for a little while?”
Moira nodded. Thorvin had already gone back inside and shut the lights off, so we knew we’d receive no hospitality from him. “It’s nice and cool tonight, and the skies are clear. I’ll enjoy the quiet for a little while.”
I smiled at Moira and closed my eyes.
Thorvin’s landtook a little longer than Ethan’s, as Dad thought it might. When I opened my eyes, Moira was in the same place, her pale face tilted up to watch the stars. I stayed perfectly still and watched her, noting the loneliness etched on her face.
I hoped whatever this was between her and Ethan turned into something positive, but part of me dreaded what might come for her. Soren would have been a nice plaything for her if he hadn’t been such an idiot, but I suspected if he approached her now, Ethan might rip his throat out.
“Moira.”
She jerked and turned. “Sorry. I was lost in my thoughts.”
I smiled sadly. “If things don’t work out, you always have a place to come back to. And, if you only go to his property for a few days a week, you can still eat dinner with us whenever you want to.”
Moira stood and dusted off the seat of her pants. She held out her hand and helped me up. “Anyone else to take care of, or can we go home?”
I grimaced. “Gotta hit up Soren.”
Moira winced.
“Dad will take you home if you want to go.”
She nodded. “I’ll probably take him up on that.”
Dad, as if saying his name summoned him, appeared out of thin air. “Finished?”
I nodded and jerked my head in Moira’s direction. “Mind dropping her off first?”
Dad gave her an odd look. “You don’t like Soren?”
