Page 6 of Fight
She seemed to soften and become friendlier before my eyes.Amber filled Devon in on what she'd heard from his brother and sister while we waited.
A few minutes later, an older man came into the room.I knew this had to be Devon's father.His blond hair was fading to silver, but his eyes were the same clear gray as the man seated beside me.It was like seeing a glimpse into the future, this is what Devon would look like in thirty years.
"Dad."Devon stood and moved to meet his father, he greeted him with a one-armed hug."Do you remember Nickie?I used to hang out with her older sister, Payson, in school."He motioned to me."Nickie, you remember my dad, Shawn Wilson."
I shook his hand., "Nice to meet you again, sir.It's been a long time."
"You're the girl the Anikitos is so protective of." Shawn said, it wasn't a question.
"That would be me."I smiled, not knowing what else to say.
He quickly dismissed me and turned back to Devon."Something's different, your scent has changed."
"Sit down, Dad.I'll explain, but it's complicated."Shawn scowled briefly at Devon for telling him what to do, but did as directed.
Devon took a deep breath, and let it out in a big burst, before he started."I guess this all starts with Nickie.You may not remember her, but I knew her in school.Her sister Payson used to spend some time here, along with the rest of the crowd I hung around with."
"Payson Daniels?"Amber asked.I nodded.
"Impossible."Shawn put in."That girl was human."
"She still is."I said."Payson, Raine, Shiloh and I, are all adopted, at different times, from different families, of course."
I watched his face as he thought about that, Devon continued."Nickie didn't know about the Kindred, or that she was one of us, until she shifted unexpectedly a couple of months ago.
"We ran into each other while I was moving into my apartment, she already lived in the complex.She didn't know that I'm Kitsune until she caught my scent that day.She invited me up to eat, and we've become good friends since."He paused a moment, squeezing my hand gently where it lay between us on the couch.
"What does all of this have to do with your scent changing?"Shawn wanted to know.
"I'm getting there.I told you, it's complicated.
"When we met that day, Nickie was still discovering her talents.She'd already learned that she could call animal forms, but she was just starting to learn to control it.We didn't realize until later that she's also able to sense power, energy.It was that talent, along with her ability to call animals that lead to our discovery.You see, she kept insisting that she could feel my wolf, and she thought she could call it."
"That's not possible.You can't call someone's animal form until after they've shifted the first time."
"For most, that's true."I put in."We believe that's because most people who can call animal forms, can only sense the animal form after that first shift; but it seems, with my particular combination of talents, I can sense it before someone has shifted."
"What are you telling us, son?"
"I'm telling you, that thanks to Nickie and our Harmonia, I can shift now."
Shawn was speechless, but Amber let out a high-pitched squeal much like that of a high school girl.When he could speak again, Devon's father wanted to know."Was it really that simple, she could sense your wolf, and called it?"
"Simple?"I repeated."No, not really.There was actually some kind of defect.Alexis called it 'almost genetic' and the process to get him to be able to shift took both of us.Neither of us could have done it alone."
He nodded again, not really understanding, but taking me at my word."I assume the Anikitos knows?"
"He does, he was there when it happened."
Shawn stiffened."The Anikitos was there to see our son finally shift, but we weren't."He sounded hurt though his face showed no emotion.
"That was my decision Dad.Not that he be there, but that as few people as possible know.What we were doing was experimental.As far as we know, no one has ever done this before.I didn't want to get your hopes up again, in case it didn't work."
Shawn seemed to understand, he nodded."I guess I can respect that.When did all this happen?"
"A week ago.I wanted you two to be the first people I told, but between my job and yours, we haven't been able to get together sooner."
"Is this something you wanted, Devon?"Amber seemed suddenly concerned."I thought you'd come to terms with not being able to shift.The Anikitos didn't pressure you into being their guinea pig did he?"
