Page 63 of Quiet Burn

The crow shifter looks startled, then smiles at me wryly. “It’s about time you asked, KK.”

“Yeah, I’ve been waiting for this,” Salem adds.

“Damn you both,” I grumble irritably. “The tension is killing me. Tell me what to do to fix this.”

A short bark of laughter escapes my roommate. “You can’tfixit, Kit Kat. The animal parts of us behave like… well, like you’d expect. They’re often possessive and snarly, especially when paired with our demon half. It makes us competitive, growly, and now, pouty because the animalistic parts believe you’re showing favor. It’ll lessen once you move on to the next person.”

“What if I’m not ready to… move on to the next person quite yet?” I duck my head, feeling embarrassed that I have to be accommodated so much for such simple things. “I’m not, like,scaredof anyone, but it feels really personal. So I want to be comfortable when I do it.”

That statement earns me a bright grin from the gloomy bird. “Personal? Does that mean that Sleepytime and I make you comfortable enough that you were okay with seeing our inner bits?”

“More importantly, does it mean you’ll give the demon halves a look-see soon?” Salem tilts his head, his eyes dark and intense as he waits. “Cause I’m gonna be honest, the dude is pretty excited about that for some reason.”

Oriel glares at him, and I frown. “It’s a legit question. Why are you giving him the death stare?”

“Because, Kit Kat, we shouldn’t pressure you,” the crow shifter says as we climb the stairs to Canto IV. “Telling you all the weird shit that goes through our brains might make you feel obligated.”

He’s right, but I’m not going to admit that.

“I can decide for myself regardless of emotions, you know.” I lick my lips, not sure if I’m ready for the demon stuff yet. But if I’m honest, I definitely know I’m closest to these two guys. “I think…I can deal with the demons next. But I don’t want anyone else to get upset.”

Salem looks so excited that I won’t even have to keep him awake. “My favorite form, KK, is half-way between panda and demon. It's sort of… in the middle. Like a combo platter.”

“There’s a… middle ground?” My hand flies to my chest as Oriel holds the door open and we walk into the dorm. “Jesus fucking Christ on a tricycle, how many things am I going to have to see for you jackasses?”

“He’s being an idiot,” Oriel says, then pushes the elevator button. “The halfway thing he’s talking about is really the half shift form of the demon with a few additions. Demon hybrids are really weird, especially shifter hybrids. Something about how we’re constructed makes it easy for us to fluidly change forms.”

“Oookay,” I say as I reach up to stroke Dottie’s head. The action calms me a little and I breathe slowly for a moment, then nod. “Alright. This is just a quirk of who you all are. It’s no different, in theory, than being double jointed or having a sixth toe. Right?”

The panda shifter looks at me doubtfully. “I’m not sure having an extra toe is the same as being able to change into an animal and it’s definitely not as drastic. But…. one thing that doesn’t change when our bodies do, Kit Kat, is who we are.”

I look at him, my expression softening a little. “I know that, man. You’re a good dude—all of you are, except for Prince Assface. Though, I suspect he’s just… his own worst enemy more than anything.”

“Truer words,” Oriel says with a rueful head shake. He reaches for my hand, waiting for me to protest before placing it on hischest. “However, you’re right. Nothing here is different when I have wings. I just look different.”

“Your feathers are super cool,” I admit. “And Salem is very cuddly looking when he’s a bear.”

“Pandas aren’t..”

“I know, I know. But you know what I mean.”

The bell dings, and the thieving shifter gives me a smug smile as he holds the doors open. “If you think we’re cool in that guise, youreallyneed to see us in demon form. It’s much more impressive, I promise.”

I know I’m being sold right now, but I can’t find it in me to care.

“Okay. Let’s do this.”

Demons

Oriel

Ican’t believe that actually worked. Salem and I applying just a small bit of logic to the situation got KitKat to agree to see our demons. Both parts of me are more excited than I’d prefer anyone to know lest it make me less threatening to the masses.

But they’re pretty fucking giddy.

Salem is damn near vibrating as we get out of the elevator, and he bounces to their door, swiping his card to get the door open so we can enter. His grin is wicked as he waits for Kit and I to get inside, then punches a code on the door to keep anyone else from interrupting. He’s definitely as enthusiastic as me, and it’s fucking weird because it’s not like we’re getting laid. This is just a ‘show-and-tell’ of the so-called monsters inside our humanoid bodies, but knowing that Kit considers it important makes it feel serious.

“Locking the door?” Kit asks, looking confused. “Why? Are you afraid someone will know I saw?”

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