"Working hard as ever I see, Miss Evangeline."

Detective Lysander Halloran's threads of silver locks and ill-fitted trousers might have made other ladies swoon, but Evangeline had no desire for the devious man standing in her shop with a bouquet of red roses. His roguish grin and charming words appealed to her none.

Many would seek comfort in knowing an officer of the law frequented their shop to keep scoundrels and thieves away, but not Evangeline. Honestly, she wasn't sure what Lysander's ulterior motives were, but she did not trust those gorgeous golden eyes of his or those long, elegant fae ears that tapered to fine points.

"Of course." Evangeline moved behind the counter to the register, keeping a close eye on the detective. "Busy as always."

"A lady like you must be careful running a shop all alone during the evenings." Lysander placed his bouquet on the counter, strumming his fingers through the petals. "Surely you've heard about the recent strand of murders throughout the Vasidian Empire, with a handful even here in Raven's Cove. They're calling him the Nightshade Killer."

"The victims were all men, weren't they, detective?"

"Well, yes." He ran a hand along the back of his neck, where swirls of black ink snaked out from beneath his collar. "But someone capable of taking down so many grown men would have no troubles harming a delicate lady like yourself."

Evangeline rang up his total, unbothered by his worrisome thoughts of a killer stumbling through her doors. He was not the first to underestimate her, nor would he be the last. After he handed over the money, she had thought Lysander would make a quick exit to deliver the roses to his latest lover, but unease crept down her spine when he lurked around, feigning interest in the different displays she had.

"Was there anything else I could help you with?" Evangeline stepped around the counter, noticing his keen eyes staying on her as well. His attention dipped to her flowery smock as if he had the powers to burn it right off her body and instinct drove her to cross her arms over her chest.

"Do you sell Nightshade or Oleander?" Lysander asked.

Perhaps he was more shrewd than she had thought. Keeping a passive expression, she shook her head. "No, those are deadly and not something easily found anywhere in Raven's Cove."

"I see." Lysander nodded, then gestured to a plant in front of him. "These here look an awful lot like Nightshade."

"Indeed, detective. Those are Twinberry Honeysuckle. See the reddish tinted leaves?" she asked. "Nightshade does not have those, but it always has five-pointed foliage."

"Ah, fascinating." Lysander moved away from the display and flashed her one of his wolfish grins, which she found more amusing than enchanting. "You really do know your flowers, Miss Evangeline."

Evangeline supplied a curt nod. "That's why I opened a flower shop, detective." She gestured around as the little bit of faith in his intelligence blew right out the front door from which he came.

It was a relief to finally watch him walk outside with his bouquet of roses, nearly bumping into her best friend Calista as she rushed inside like the devil chased her. Long raven-hued hair cascaded over her shoulders, nearly hiding the chubby black rabbit she clutched tightly to her chest. In her free hand, she balanced a to-go tray with two honey lavender iced lattes, which Lysander almost made her spill.

"Apologies, m'lady." Lysander dipped aside and vanished down the sidewalk.

"I see Lysander returned." Calista glanced behind them as Evangeline took the drinks from her hand and placed the tray on the counter.

Evangeline groaned. "He's like a roach I can't get rid of."

Azalea decided to make herself present from where she'd napped in her bed and pawed at her friend's ankles until she placed her rabbit familiar, Lola down on the floor. For a moment, they both held still, lightly pressing their noses together as if scenting each other out. Lola's ears perked up while Azalea's tail swished from side to side. A soft purr rumbled from Azalea and Lola shifted closer to nuzzle her like they were sharing a secret before heading off to cozy up together in her skunk's shop bed.

"He's been coming here a lot lately, hasn't he? Perhaps he fancies you, Eva." Calista wagged her brows suggestively. "He's not sore on the eyes either, especially that nice behind."

"Calista!" Evangeline nearly spit her drink out. She certainly didn't want those images of Lysander ingrained into her mind, and while he was a fine looking man, he just wasn't her type. "But you know, a man who frequents your shop like he does has only two possible hidden motives."

"Pray tell, what would those be?" Calista asked before sipping her own latte.

"Marriage or murder."

"Of course you'd jump to those conclusions." Calista sighed. "I swear, you read far too many of those cozy mysteries in your spare time. Lysander is a kind man, and it's not like we're getting any younger. Maybe you should consider seeing him?"

"Someone who buys as many bouquets of roses as him has plenty of ladies to marry if he wishes." Evangeline waved a dismissive hand. "Besides, I'd rather have a man who brings me my favorite flower. Not the same bouquet he's bought about twenty times from me already."

"I'm doubtful you'll find a guy interested in flowers as much as you are." Calista chuckled.

"Perhaps not, but I don't think Lysander's visits have been purely for pleasure. At first, he warned me about the Nightshade Killer, then he followed up by asking if I sold Nightshade or Oleander here in my shop. Both of which are very poisonous plants."

"Given he's a detective, it's not all that strange. Maybe he was just curious about them for his case and knew you were the best to consult?" Calista suggested. "He might think the killer purchased the plants here and was following a trail, you know?"

"Why warn me about a killer who has only gone after men thus far?" Evangeline frowned. "It was almost like he was vaguely interrogating me, the way he moved around my shop looking at every little thing. He'd never done that before."

Evangeline always had her suspicions about Lysander and his motives, but today had been different. The killer must've struck again, and Lysander had hoped to trace the poisonous plant back to her flower shop.

It hadn't taken her long to create her own profile of the killer when they struck their victims in Raven's Cove. Men preferred to kill in more messy manners, and poison making was a skill very few lads ever took up.

"Come on, Eva. Lysander just fancies you, that's all."

"Or he's played a fool's card this entire time and is trying to build a case against me. It's quite obvious the Nightshade Killer is a woman."

"If he truly believes you're a killer, then he's more of an idiot than I thought. You better let me know if he gives you too much trouble." Calista clenched her hand in a fist as embers of silvery mist swirled her fingertips.

Evangeline laughed. "Don't worry, you'll be the first to know."

It always put her mind at ease when Calista was around. She had that sort of friendly aura that could easily chase the storm clouds away from someone's bad day, but when she and Lola left, those dreary thoughts returned.

While she'd always deemed Lysander a harmless flirt, it had really worried her how much he'd nosed around and asked about the types of poisonous plants. No matter, she'd be sure to be extra careful in the coming days.

🌹

Night soon bled into the evening after the sun had set beyond the oceanside, and a light breeze caressed her skin when she stepped outside. Darkness cloaked the sky in a mourner's veil, making the stars shine even brighter. Fireflies fluttered through the dewy grasses as she tossed a bag of trash into the dumpster, using a little magic to coax it into the smelly bin as she remembered last night's little surprise.

Evangeline had her gaze glued to the mesmerizing sky above not just because she loved to look at the stars, but she wondered if Vesryn would ever return. It wasn't as if she expected him to fly back to her flower shop anytime soon, nor was she hoping he did.

Azalea brushed against her ankles, as if nudging her to go back in, so Evangeline scooped her up in her arms. "I hope that vampire made it home okay."

Once inside, Evangeline made sure everything was locked up in the shop before entering her hidden bedroom. Nestled deep within her art studio was a tall shelf that moved aside only to her magic, and revealed a door not visible to the naked eye. Evangeline stepped through with her familiar before commanding it with a flick of her wrist to seal shut behind them. It was a cozy little room of pinks and greens with a built-in kitchen and tiny bath, which was all she really needed.

After changing out of her day clothes, she hopped in the shower and came out refreshed in a silk green nightgown before laying down on her bed, savoring the soft sheets and blankets she snuggled underneath. Azalea shifted at the bottom of the bed and padded up to her to nestle down on her extra pillow. Evangeline smiled as she pet the skunk's head, earning some soft purrs from her.

Oddly enough, the little rumbles in her throat reminded her of the vampire who'd flown into her dumpster. The pervert had enjoyed her petting him as well.

Why was she even thinking about him so late at night? He was probably out devouring the blood of some moonstruck maiden. Nothing she needed to concern herself about.

Evangeline certainly wasn't imagining what his fangs would feel like buried in her delicate skin. Warmth crept through her as she tossed over with a frustrated huff, refusing to let him consume her thoughts. She would not imagine how soft his hair would be if she ran her fingers through it nor would she remember how his manhood had proudly greeted her as he sat amid her roses like a morbid present from the devils.

Slithers of moonlight pooled in from her closed window as she struggled to fall asleep. A loud thump echoed from down in her flower shop and she tensed up, clutching the blanket wrapped around her body tightly. Even Azalea rose from her slumber with a low growl.

"It's okay, girl." Evangeline cradled the skunk in her arms.

Another ruckus, sounding like shattered glass, came from down in her flower shop and Evangeline cautiously climbed to her feet. Azalea nudged at her chest with soft whimpers as she quietly crossed the floor. She snatched her wand off her nightstand before approaching her door.

Evangeline pressed her ear closely to the door and listened for the intruder. Her magic pulsed around the doorframe as if it had a heartbeat of its own as she cracked it open to peek out into her shop. Darkness bathed the room of flowers, and despite how fear stabbed her in the chest like a painful knife, she stepped out of the safety of her hidden bedroom.

Silence greeted her as she waved her wand over the door to conceal it once more. Evangeline kept close to the wall, tiptoeing across the floor as she kept her eyes peeled for her intruder. Once she struck them down, she'd tie them up in the back of her shop and demanded answers on how he infiltrated and what he wanted. Even if she had to force a truth serum down his throat.

An aroma of sweet floral notes and leafy musk drifted through the air like always with traces of honey and jasmin, but there was another pungent odor that singed her nostrils as she crossed her workstation. She passed wooden tables holding elegant vases and her favorite seasonal display of flowers, none seeming disturbed in the slightest.

Only when she reached the entrance of her shop did stop dead in her tracks and clamped a hand over her mouth to suppress the scream threatening to come out.

On the ground lay an unfamiliar stout man, his body stretched out on his stomach and his head grotesquely disfigured with a massive indentation. Brain matter and blood splattered the floor amid the shards of broken glass.

Evangeline reeled back, nearly knocking over her display of daisies. Bile rose in her throat as she inhaled slow, shaky breaths in hopes of quelling her stomach. What in the hells had happened?