I set his tuna dish on the floor. The bird flapped and contorted until he shifted into his other form. A large orange tabby cat blinked at me with the same dark amber eyes of the crow.
I gave him a scratch behind his ears as I put the kettle on for tea. “Eat your dinner, my friend. I have blueberries for dessert.”
His ability to change between two forms was unusual even for familiars. Since Master Gomfrey passed away, Archie had adopted me as his companion. With a wince, I gave silent thanks to the old apothecary who had taken me in as a teen. Master Gomfrey was one of the very few people I missed from my old life.
The phone rang and I nudged it on to greet my friend, Izzy.
“Mistress Isabelle, how fares thee?”
“Regge, seriously? I love your olden speak, but you’re a modern man now.”
“Whatevvvver.” I grinned into the phone. “Are you still in New York?”
“Yes. A couple more days, or actually, that’s what I’m calling about. Did Hunter text you?”
“What’s up? Is he ok?”
“Don’t worry. He’s fine. It’s just. There was a mishap at the Hotel Fulbright. They’ve had to close down for a while.” She cleared her throat. I heard her hesitation.
“What’s up, Iz?”
“The hotel has—er, had—some semipermanent residents who’ve had to move out. Until it’s renovated. Everyone is doubling up to give them a place to stay. I offered the house while Theo and I are in New York. Hunter said they could use his place too.” There was a pause. “And we thought that maybe… he could stay with you.”
“Wait. The hotel exploded?” I couldn’t care less about the hotel, but I needed a moment to adjust to the idea of Hunter. Hunter being homeless or Hunter being here.
“Well, not all of it. Only a couple of rooms. But it’s enough that the city inspectors have closed it down. And as a lot of the residents are…unusual, we’ve been helping them out.”
I jumped up to retrieve the whistling kettle. My hand trembled slightly as I poured hot water into a mug. Our paths hadn’t crossed in weeks. Hunter and I. “Um, okay.” I said into the phone.
“I hope that’s not a problem. The Fulbright is a bit like Pinkie’s. A lot ofothersseem to gravitate there, and some can’t check into a normal hotel. They have nowhere to go.”
“What about the warehouse? Can’t folks stay there?”
Izzy and Abraham had purchased an old warehouse three blocks from Pinkie’s Bar, turning it into a gym and meeting space.
“Abe’s moved a pack in there.”
“A pack of what—gum? Cigarettes?” I asked. What else came in packs?
“Wolves.”
Oh. Right. Werewolves. I would never get over how easily my friends accepted the fact ofotherlybeings in their world.
“Only six or seven,” Izzy continued. “But they tend to stick to themselves and there was no other place big enough. Hunter said you only had one bed, so he’s bringing an air bed. I was sure he would text you.”
My breath hitched. I steadied it as I studied my phone. Sure enough, there was a quick text from Hunter saying he’d call me later.
“I do understand. I wouldn’t want anyone to be homeless.” I’d lived on the streets of London for a few years before Theo rescued me and brought me to Gomfrey’s. The best thing I could say about that life was that I’d survived. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
“The good news is the pack are construction workers and they’re willing to help. If we can find the owners for permits and such. Hunter’s been doing a records search.”
“So he’s coming here? To stay?” My voice cracked. Of course the answer was yes. That’s why he texted. After weeks of silence.
Izzy’s tone softened. “Just for a bit. Is that okay? We’ve moved two brothers into his place. Hunter said your place was small, so we figured— I mean, you already know him and—”
“No,” I said. “It’s fine. So when—” My question was answered by the buzz of the intercom. I jumped to my feet, bumping the coffee table. The dishes rattled. “That must be him. I must go, Izzy. Fare thee well.”
I hit the buzzer to unlock the downstairs door. I didn’t even ask who it was as I stood there with my sweaty hand on the doorknob.
