Page 12 of Her Purr-fect Christmas Mate

Mordecai

Mordecaihadnoideawhat the hell he was meant to do.

First his mate had rejected him. Then she’d kissed him. And now, just as he’d clawed himself back from the delicious shock of her lips against his, she’d shifted?

It’s one way of showing she’s having second thoughts.

He straightened his shoulders, which was the opposite of what his dragon wanted to do. It wanted to lie down at her feet and roll over so she could pet his belly. Which was not a feeling he’d previously associated with his dragon. Ever.

Then again, it had never tripped him and put him flat on his back, either.

“You’re a shifter too,” he began, schooling his voice so it came out neutral. Too neutral. He tried again. “That’s—”

*No,* Peony-the-cat groaned, burying her face in her paws. *No, no, no. How can this be happening?*

“You’ve transformed,” he said dryly, then frowned.Does she really not know what is happening?

If this was the first time she’d shifted… if she didn’t even know what shifters were—

She didn’t reject us, after all?his dragon suggested.

He made a sharp, negatory gesture. A muscle in his cheek twitched.Then fate has chosen the worst possible moment for it. I am the last person anyone would want to help nursemaid them through the revelation that magic exists.

He sighed briskly. “Has this not happened to you before? Some people have the ability to—”

*No! I know what shifters are! But it isn’t meant to happen like this!* She lashed her tail and let out a pained yowl. *This means… it means…*

Her telepathic voice was raw. She didn’t even try to hide her emotions, and they stampeded down their psychic connection. Disgust. Horror. Fear. And a sense of rib-tightening helplessness.

He tried again. “Is this the first time you’ve shifted?”

She went completely still. *N-no? Wait. You’re hearing me? You’re hearing me when I’m like this?*

*All shifters are able to communicate telepathically with one another.*He sounded like he was reciting from an informational leaflet.

*I know that!*She reared up on her back legs, tottered sideways, and fell back onto all fours. *I—I… it’s a shock, that’s all. I… haven’t done this in a while.*

*Nor have I.*He tried to smile. From the way Peony-the-cat’s ears went back, it was unsuccessful.

*I’m not very good at it.*Her tail twitched. *Can we, um… Can you hear if I say…*Her voice went muffled in his head.

*Not quite.*

*Oh thank god, if he heard what I actually thought about him, I’d— YOU HEARD THAT? YOU CAN HEAR THAT?*

What had given it away? Mordecai’s jaw twitched. “Yes.”

*Okay. Well. Shit. Sorry. You heard that too?*

He nodded.

Something that sounded very much like a wail of frustration echoed through his head.

*Sorry. Sorry! This is all just… a lot. I didn’t, um… I didn’t mean to shift just now. This is… awkward.*

“We’re in agreement about that, at least.”

*And you’re—*Her voice fell ominously silent.

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