Page 80 of Shaped to Be Yours

Sandy was more than welcoming about the otherwise full house. I didn’t think anything could have soured her mood after the reunion of the decade.

Two decades really.

We’d saved the day. Not only had we—I, Jason stressed every time I said it—figured out how the natural portal worked, but we’d saved all the missing people, brought Bo home, and Jason, Bina, and Kai had rescued a little girl from drowning. Whitmore was going to make sure every detail of that made it into the papers, because with the natural portal now safe—or soon to be safe—there was no reason to keep any of it classified.

It would also be pretty difficult for the naysayer townsfolk to dig into their prejudices when we were heroes, and the majority of that we were monsters. Sandy didn’t even care that Bo had lied to her. She was so happy to have him back, to learn the truth, that she accepted it as readily as she’d accepted Jason’s change. Knowing what they were just meant there was a name for something she would have accepted regardless.

Everything that had happened might only mean a temporary lull in protests, but it was something. Something to build on. And that peace was still lasting well into the next week.

“That isawesome, Jason.”

“It’s just an idea of Dad’s. There’s no guarantee yet.”

“But the two of you working together to make the woods into a state park, it’s… it sounds perfect for you.”

He grinned back at me as he hurried ahead to the library doors and opened one to let me inside first. Jason wasn’t the only one with prospects on a new job. Kai had finally gotten a position at the library, and we were picking him up for lunch.

As we entered, Whitmore was chatting with Kai at the library’s front desk.

“Can I never escape you?” Jason asked once we reached them—quietly, since it was still the library.

“Just checking up on one of our resident heroes,” Whitmore said.

Kai’s face went starkly indigo, although it may have already been in blushing mode with Whitmore talking to him. I wondered if the agent knew how much the kappa had a crush on him. “We were talking about me being a sort of unofficial agent in the field, since working at the library lets me meet so many people.”

“Unofficial agent?” Jason questioned.

“You know, to keep an eye on things and report any disturbances.”

“So, Whitmore wants you to be a spy?”

“No! Well…”

“I am asking for no more than I asked of you and your father, Jason,” Whitmore said, “with you keeping an eye on those woods behind your house. All voluntary of course. At least if Kai comes to me with a report, I know he’ll be better company.” Whitmore smiled at him, and Kai may as well have been a ripe blueberry about to pop. “Right now, though, I have a lot to report back in Edgewind.”

“You’re leaving?” I asked.

“There could be a more permanent future for me in Elder Ridge eventually. Much as I am sure thatpainsJason to hear.”

“It really does,” Jason said, “but I can tolerate you if I have to.”

I elbowed him with a laugh.

Jason laughed as well, and since Whitmore did too, it felt okay. It felt pretty great actually. When Whitmore extended a hand to Jason, he even shook it. Kai and I shook Whitmore’s hand too.

“Oh. Your phone please.”

Jason must have been anticipating that, because he handed it over without question.

Whitmore uninstalled the spy app, and then handed it back to him.

“Don’t make me regret that. Until next time, gentlemen. Behave, okay?” Whitmore nodded to each of us before heading out of the library.

“He is also interested in hearing more about my cultural studies,” Kai said after Whitmore had left, gazing fondly after him. “I have been chatting quite frequently with the incubus from Gilmer Rock who knew you were a leshy.”

“Oh right,” Jason said. “Dad told me the incubus contacted him directly, wanting to record as much as possible about our species. Wow, is that a weird sentence to say out loud.”

I chuckled.

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