Page 113 of The Demon's Pet

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Well, maybe a little. Like a hard shiver or a long stretch that’s too strong.”

“Do you end up naked if you shift back?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I liked this Zadis better, when he wasn’t just bashing Sam. “No,” I said. “You wish.”

He grinned. “Nothing against flirting, right?”

“No,” I said. “As I said, Sam told me not to get serious feelings, so I consider myself a free agent.”

Zadis’s eyes narrowed like he wanted to comment, but he decided against it. “I’d love to see your wolf. I’m sure she’s beautiful.”

“She’s a wolf,” I said, laughing. “Just bigger than usual.”

“Would you shift for me if I took you somewhere there was room?”

“Sure,” I said, stretching. “You want me to just do it in here?”

He got up and moved chairs and cushions out of the way, giving me room. “Please.” He was moving back and forth in sheer excitement, practically dancing on his toes like a kid on his birthday.

“It’s just shifting,” I said.

“It’s just the power most connected with nature,” he retorted. “Fae could only dream of feeling one with this earth like you must in wolf form.”

“I suppose,” I said. “I do have enhanced senses.” I cracked my knuckles. “All right, let’s do this.”

I closed my eyes and called to my wolf, letting the shift take over. My bones shifted, and I relaxed into it, knowing it was easier that way.

My senses assaulted me as my snout elongated, and I fell onto all fours in wolf form, breathing hard.

So many smells here. The tea. The flowers. The wild. The room. Zadis, who smelled like mulch in the best way. His handsome face was lit with wonder as he watched me. Then he clapped his hands together and came forward, walking around me in a small circle.

“You’re beautiful, so beautiful,” he murmured, reaching out a hand. He froze, withdrawing. “Can I—”

“Sure,” I said. “It’s just fur.”

His hand reached out, moving down my neck and along my pelt. I shivered slightly at the odd touch, and he grabbed the fur lightly, shook it, then released it. “Amazing. It’s really part of you.”

“Yes, what did you think?” I asked.

“I never knew. I just…” He stroked over my pelt again. “So soft. So real.” He stepped back. “Thank you,” he said, bowing his head. “I can die complete now. I’ve petted a shifter.”

I grinned and shifted back into my human form, and he gaped at me in surprise.

“That easy?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said. “Then again, I’ve been doing it since I was young.”

He moved forward and caught me in an unexpected hug, and I let him. “Thank you, Cleo. Thank you for letting me touch nature through you.”

“Uh, sure,” I said. I found all of this slightly confusing, but then again, shifters were apparently rare in this world.

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” he asked, sitting in his chair again, looking as dazed as if he’d seen some wonder of the world, not just a wolf shifting.

I felt flattered since no one had ever reacted like this before. If this was how fae saw shifters, maybe staying here would be nice.

My wolf definitely loved all the wilds and the woods, and the fae all seemed kind to me.

No omegas anywhere.

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