River, on the other hand, was a work of art. Every one of his features was beautiful, from his long crimson hair that flowed like silk, to his smooth brown skin and full lips, to the glimmering scales that grew down from his luscious hips; he was simply stunning. My human form didn't compare.
"I'll show you," I said with a chuckle. "But don't expect much."
River frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, for one thing, I'm much older than you."
"So?" He spat the word like he was offended.
I smiled, amused by his outrage. "All I'm saying is, I'm just an old beaver. I'm not as beautiful as you."
River bristled, glaring at me, and let out a huff. "I don't care how beautiful everyone thinks I am. I just told you I hate it when people reduce me to my looks."
I felt a hot flash of shame. I had to be more careful with my thoughts and words. "You're right. I'm sorry."
River's shoulders relaxed as he sighed. "It's fine. Sorry I got mad." He tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. "Also, you keep saying how old you are, but forty isn't old."
I raised a brow. "I'm nearly twice your age."
"And?"
"Most shifters prefer a partner close to their age."
River let out a snarky scoff. "In case you didn't notice, I'm a mer. I'm not like most shifters. And even if I was, I still wouldn't care. Jim was my age, and look how well that turned out."
River's cheeks flushed. Our little argument was getting him heated, which I found quite sweet.
"And another thing, since you love fated mates so much," River went on. "My family's full of them, and they're all so different it's crazy."
For a moment I was speechless. I knew mixed shifter couples existed, but I'd never met any.
"They are?" I asked.
"All my cousins have fated mates for parents—hell, some of my cousins even found theirownfated mates and popped out kids already—and you won't find a single 'normal' couple among them." He put air quotes around the word mockingly. "My own parents are an interracial koi shifter and osprey shifter. So yeah, differences aren't a big deal." He crossed his arms. "Should I go on?"
I let out a laugh. "Sure, only because I want to learn more about your family. But you've made your point."
River smirked. "Good. Now hurry up and shift."
I took a deep breath and held it for a moment before slowly letting it out. "All right."
I stepped back from River to give myself space to shift. Closing my eyes, I summoned the ancient magic that every shifter holds deep inside their bones. It washed over me like a pleasant breeze, rearranging my body until it no longer resembled what it was before. The thick layer of fat and fur keeping me warm disappeared and I felt the damp chill against my skin.
I gasped as I reopened my eyes. I glanced at my hands, which weren't all that different from my beaver paws except being bigger and having opposable thumbs. I was also much taller. Now I looked down at River instead of the other way around.
Speaking of River, he was staring at me with his jaw agape, breathless. When he finally shook out of his daze and spoke, he almost sounded disappointed. "You have clothes on."
I looked down at myself. "Oh. Yes."
"Did you know that would happen?"
I nodded. "Some shifters of furbearing species, or those with hard shells or something similar, can incorporate their animal traits into human coverings when they shift. It protects us from the vulnerability humans experience from being totally naked."
"I see," River mumbled. He sounded a little annoyed but I didn't know why. He coughed. "A-anyway. You're, um..." He blushed. "Very handsome."
That made my cheeks flush, too. River's comment was shy but genuine. "Thank you."
River's gaze roamed up and down my body. I stood still. It was nice to be under his curious scrutiny. Then, as his eyes lingered around my waist, I felt stupid for not realizing why he'd been disappointed a moment earlier. Hewantedto see me naked.
