A sudden, sharp pain drove Leo to his knees.He clutched his stomach, his hands pressing against his scar.
“Leo.”Betrys crouched beside him.
“Shift forms,” Caspar said in a sharp voice.“Stand back, Betrys.Give him room.”
The agony came again, sharp and breath-stealing.He groaned and pressed against the scar in the hope of pushing back the torture.His flesh rippled beneath his touch.
“Shift forms,” Caspar barked at him like a drill sergeant.“Basics, son.Picture the cat now.Do it.”
Leo pictured the cat in his mind, focused on it hard instead of the pain radiating from his middle.Cat.Cat.Black cat.Part of him was aware of the transformation beginning.He heard a cry from Betrys, stifled when Caspar snapped a command.He struggled to hold the cat in his mind, struggled to focus, struggled to complete the change.
“Keep going, Leo.”
Caspar’s calm voice was a beacon.He focused on each instruction and willed his mind and body farther into the shift.He reached the point of no return and relaxed a fraction, knowing instinct would do the rest.A long moment later, he crouched in feline form, harsh pants rasping up his throat.
“Here, drink some water, lad.”Caspar waved a hand and a bowl of water appeared beside him.
“He…you…oh my goddess,” Betrys muttered.
Leo was too exhausted to bark out a laugh.He lapped at the water, just thankful the excruciating pain had subsided enough for him to think.
His com-circle buzzed.
“You’d better answer that,” Caspar said to Betrys.
Leo couldn’t have changed back if he’d wanted, not with his limbs shaky and weak.
“Hello, this is Betrys.Leo’s stomach is giving him trouble.Caspar says he has a parasite and it needs to be cut out.No, you can’t talk to him.He…he…he changed into a black cat.He can’t talk.No, no he seems better now.Yes, I think you should come and collect us.Leo needs help.”
“Tell Saber, I cannot aid Leo,” Caspar said.
Leo heard Betrys relay Caspar’s words.
She paused and nodded.“We’ll be ready for you.”She ended the call.“Felix and Casey are coming to collect us.Casey has a little medical training and has seen this happen to one of her men.”
Leo growled in acknowledgement, too exhausted to move.This wasn’t the way he wanted to expose his other self to Betrys.
Betrys gaped at the black cat.At Leo.No other word for it because her mouth was hanging wide open.
“I take it you didn’t know,” Caspar said, his rich voice full of amusement at her expense.
“He followed me around from the moment I arrived at the resort.I scratched him behind the ears and told him he was beautiful.I…I rubbed his belly!”
Caspar chuckled.“I’m sure he appreciated you running your hands over him.Don’t fear, lass.The boy is fine.The parasite doesn’t appear to enjoy him in his feline form.He hasn’t hurt you, has he?At least that wasn’t the terrified screaming I heard earlier, and my appetite is satiated.”
Betrys lifted her chin, despite the embarrassment heating her cheeks.“You, sir, are not a gentleman.”
Caspar laughed again.“My race are voyeurs, and I don’t intend to apologize for our foibles.You should try it some time.The erotic sights are most invigorating.”
Aware of Leo’s gaze on her, Betrys crouched beside him and ran her hand over his silky black coat.“You are beautiful,” she whispered.“How are you doing?Do you feel a little better?Can I see your scar?”
He flipped over onto his back in acquiescence and displayed his belly.Betrys drew in a swift breath.The scar bulged and…and it moved.
“Can I touch it?”she asked, deciding the best path was to request permission.
When he didn’t offer an objection, she reached out and placed her hand on top of the bulge.It pulsed under the press of her fingers.
“Can you feel something in there?”Caspar asked.
