“Did you have plans for a Winter Solstice miracle?” Norris asked.
“That was going to be next,” Fen admitted. “But I guess it’s off now.”
Annabeth and Norris looked at each other, and she knew they were thinking the same thing.
“Bring it on,” said Norris. “We wouldn’t want to miss it.”
CHAPTER 10
Norris offered Annabethhis arm. He wasn’t normally quite that formal, but the occasion of bringing his mate to the party that would break his curse felt like it called for at least a little bit of ceremony.
It is a grand and momentous occasion,agreed his Dunkleosteus.
The Defenders were throwing two separate holiday parties, one for everyone who didn’t know about shifters, and one for everyone who did. Annabeth had originally been invited to the non-shifter party, but they’d decided to attend the shifter party so she could meet the magical pets.
She took his arm as they stepped into the elevator. She wore what she’d called a little black dress, which was actually a goddess-proportioned black dress, a little Star of David on a slim silver chain, and earrings shaped like Christmas tree ornaments. She looked absolutely glorious.
“I’m so lucky,” Norris said.
Annabeth smiled. “I’mthe lucky one.”
Norris was filled with the heat of passion...
...or maybe another kind of heat.
Please no,he thought. But the increasing heat was joined by an all too familiar swelling sensation.
I perceive that the curse will only be broken when we reach the place of the party itself,said his Dunkleosteus. After a pause that it probably thought was brief but felt eternal to Norris, the great fish went on,I do hope this elevator isn’t prone to stopping between floors.
You just had to mention that,Norris replied. He was torn between panic that he was about to become an armored fish that was much bigger than the space he was in, and panic that he’d become one the instant the doors opened and completely trash the party.
Annabeth hadn’t failed to notice what was going on. “Hang on, Norris. It’ll only be another moment.”
The ding of the elevator arriving was the most welcome sound he’d ever heard. He lunged out of the doors the instant they opened, almost colliding with Pete. A spiky green cactus kitten launched itself off Pete’s shoulder in bristling alarm.
“Take it easy,” said Pete.
