Page 62 of Her Purr-fect Christmas Mate

Peony mustered the energy to wave across the room at her. “Hey, Mom.”

Fern Fisher’s smile made the whole room shine brighter. “I’m glad you made it before tomorrow. It’s not the same if you’re not here on Christmas morning.”

“The house isn’t full enough for you as it is?”

Fern laughed and perched on the edge of the sofa next to Peony’s chair. “Never. You know me. Not happy unless there are enough guests around to trip over.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Mom. You must be so sad right now. Only half the bedrooms full.”

“Watch it, missy.” Fern prodded her with her toe. “Your brother’s going to head over and pick up the rest of the cousins in the morning, after they’re done with stocking presents at their own houses. Little Camellia’s still convinced Santa won’t find them if they sleep over at a different address from the one she put on her letter to him.”

“Should’ve emailed him.”

“Mmm.” Fern cast her a fond look. “But you three are the most important to have here. I could live with having no other guests at all, so long as I had my babies with me.”

Unexpected tears pricked at Peony’s eyes as she felt her mother’s psychic touch. It was as new and as familiar as the combined energy of her whole family had been.

Fern’s smile turned sad. *I know it’s been hard for you. I was afraid you wouldn’t come at all.*

*Mom . . .*

*No, don’t ‘Mom’ me. It’s a hard road, having to find our mates before we find our animals. I don’t know whether your brother’s right and it’s a blessing, or you are and it’s more like a curse. Don’t look at me like that. I know how much you struggled with it.*

“You all found your mates so early. You built your whole lives together.”

“And you didn’t have anyone to show you what life could be like before you found your other half.”

Peony sighed. She’d never admitted this to her mom before, but somehow it felt like she knew it already. “I felt like I was trapped in the prologue of my own life. Like I was waiting for the real story to start.”

“I’m sorry, sweetpea.” A troubled look passed behind her eyes, accompanied by a fluttering like heavy, feathered wings. “You don’t feel like that now, though, do you? We were so proud when we heard you made manager at the store. I hope you don’t think you have to leave it all behind. Your inner animal doesn’t change who you are. Whatever your story is now, it’s still yours.”

“I know that, now. And I am going to keep the bookstore.” And the rest of the building. Her thoughts soared with the possibilities.

“Good.” Fern squeezed her arm. “Mates are all very well, but you needsomethingto keep your mind off the bedroom.”

“Mom!”

“I’m just saying!” She patted her on the head and laughed as Peony grumbled and shied away. *Still, it is a big adjustment. If you need space— No, not only for that, don’t give me that look. I remember how hard it was to get a grip on my telepathy in the early days, that’s all. If we all get too loud and obnoxious and you can’t even find a quiet space in your own head, the cottage down by the boatshed is empty.*

*Thanks, Mom.*

Her mother’s love warmed her like a palm pressed against her cheek. Peony tried to echo the action, and Fern’s eyes shone.

“I love you too, sweetpea.”

Peony let her gaze roam around the room as her mom went back over to sit with her dad. She’d been too busy showing off Mordecai over dinner to explore whether she really could see her family’s inner animals behind their eyes while they were in human form. But now . . .

Her sister was curled up in Elaine’s lap on the chaise longue by the bookshelves. Her eyes were half-shut, but Peony thought she could see a glimmer of silver in them as she curled her hands over her tiny bump. Next to them, Uncle Theo was trying to convince Elaine to join him for a game of chess. He grinned, charmingly, and she was sure the sneaky glint in his eye was his winged snake. Heath was flat on his stomach in front of the fire, playing a board game with his sons. He wasn’t facing her.

*Hey.*She prodded him psychically, and he looked over his shoulder. There—a curious glance from something sharp-eyed and nest-proud. His griffin.

So many winged shifters,she thought absently.I wonder if Iris ever felt left out, not having wings?She’d always been so focused on the fact that her sister already had her inner animal, she’d never wondered what Iris’s own thoughts on it were. Except for how embarrassing she found it when her horn got stuck in things.

Across the room, her dad caught her looking and raised his eyebrows. “We’re all curious to see you shift, too, love. But that can wait for tomorrow. Hadn’t you better take your dragon to bed?”

Peony twisted to look over her shoulder at Mordecai.

He’d fallen asleep.

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