“What about the red hair? Why was he always a redhead?”
Max took over the explanation. “It’s apparently because he’s an older shifter. He couldn’t get his hair to change to my blond unless he expended almost all of his energy. That’s why he always wore a hat to cover it so his imitation could last longer.”
Isabel nodded. “I know someone back in Alienn, Arkansas who is an alien shifter. She thought she was the last of her kind.”
“Do you mean Dixie Lou Grey’s friend, Miss Penny?” Bianca asked with a knowing smile.
“That’s the one. I heard a rumor that one time she and Dixie spent ten whole days on a luxury cruise liner enjoying a galactic trip, but no one on the cruise ever found out.”
The group stood and moved into Vilma’s large living room. The stately fireplace was just the thing for a cool October evening.
Once everyone had a nightcap in hand, Vilma asked, “So where is your uncle Milo tonight, Max? I was sorry he wasn’t able to join us for dinner.”
“He found a better place to live, but he had to take care of the paperwork earlier in the evening. Plus, he wanted to move his things out of the Pinehurst Inn as quickly as possible.”
“Did he see the giant cockroach?” Viktor asked. Her brother was ever on the hunt for stories about that vile, infamous insect.
“Probably,” Ruby said. “But he’d probably never admit it, being a big-game hunter and all.”
She patted her jacket pocket. “Oh. Max, I forgot to give this to you. Sheriff Merrow appropriated the lighter Hayward used to set the fire at Elenora Ellingham’s home during the Black and Orange Ball.”
“I’m not sure I want it.”
“Why not? It still works?” Ruby flipped the top open, pressed the striker and a blue flame lit up immediately.
Viktor made a face, bent at the waist and sneezed hard in her direction. The moment the spray of Viktor’s sneeze hit her, Ruby convulsed. Her perspective shifted and it felt like she was shrinking. The lighter fell from her palm to land on the rug. That weird urge to fly came again.
Before she could reason out what had happened, Viktor sneezed on her again. Her perspective changed in reverse. She closed her eyes, thinking she might actually hit her head on the crazy tall ceilings at Vilma’s house.
Ruby opened her eyes to see everyone staring at her. Every mouth hung open in shock. Even Vilma’s rock-steady butler, Rochester, looked like he’d seen a specter and he never lost his cool.
“What just happened?” Ruby asked. No one said a word. No one moved. They all just kept staring. She looked at her hands, arms and legs, patting herself down like she was checking herself for weapons.
Max moved closer and hugged her tight. “You just turned into a beautiful raven. You were perched on the back of the sofa. That was awesome.”
“What?! I did not.” Ruby looked around. Her family nodded as if validating his fanciful statement.
Vilma put her drink down, stood up and clapped her hands. “Amazing!”
“What about this is amazing?” Ruby asked. “How can I possibly be a raven shifter and not know it?”
“I think I have an idea.” Vilma moved closer. “There is some decades old gossip that I overheard my mother telling a friend once that I believe will make everything clear.”
“Gossip about what?”
“Not what, dear. Who. It was a rumor about your maternal grandmother, Iliana, that went around right before she married your grandfather.”
“I can’t wait to hear this,” Viktor said.
Ruby turned to him. “You can listen. But learn to hold your nose when you sneeze.”
“Well, stop using alien bauxite fuel lighters or pay the consequences.” He pointed to the lighter still on the floor where she’d dropped it. Max picked it up and slipped it safely into his pocket.
Vilma looked skyward as if trying to remember the story she’d heard as a girl. “It was rumored that Iliana ran away with her secret lover the week before she married your grandfather.”
“How does that explain me sneezing Ruby into a raven a minute ago? By the way, Sis, that is a super awesome skill to add to your private investigator skillset.”
Max squeezed her as if he thought it was also cool. She hoped so. This was a bit surreal, but explained a few things.
