Leo followed Saber and guided Betrys along the gravel path.His mate could shift.He didn’t know how or why, but none of that mattered.The woman both he and his feline had claimed was perfect for them in every way.
She lurched against his legs, and he smoothed his hand over her glossy head, his mouth kicking up into a grin, without him giving the order.
Saber opened the door to a waft of meaty scents.“Company, Eva.”
His wife came from the small kitchen, a wooden spoon in her right hand.“Problem?”
Saber’s com buzzed, indicating an incoming call.“Hope not.Yeah, Joe?You got the kid?”His brother’s shoulders relaxed, and Leo knew it was good news.“Good job.See you soon.”
Leo waited until Betrys walked inside and closed the door.He crouched beside her.“Did you hear that, Betrys?Joe and Sly have Ricci.He’ll be here soon.”
A low rumble sounded in her chest.She stumbled over to a couch, then seemed to realize she was in feline form.Her cry wrung his heart, and he hurried to her.
“Saber and I will help.Don’t worry.Everything will work out, sweetheart.”
She shook, a low rumble coming from her throat.This had to be confusing for her—hell, it was unheard of in their world.Maybe their mother would have an idea or two, but in most cases, humans or humanoids never shifted, couldn’t transform into felines.
“How is this possible, Saber?”
“I’ve no idea.My best guess is that the genes of our people and Betrys’s race work together, are related in some manner.Maybe it was because you bit her.We could do tests—”
“No tests,” Leo cut in.“We’ll just deal.As long as Betrys and Ricci are safe and Iseult isn’t a threat any longer.The rest we can deal with.”
Betrys growled, and Leo grinned.
“Betrys,” Saber said.“Shifting back to human form is much easier than the initial shift.It’s nothing to be frightened of.”
“Step by step.”Leo kept his gaze on her brown eyes.In her feline form, they bore splotches of amber.Unable to resist, he scratched her behind the ears.“No sweat.”
She wrinkled her nose and rose to her feet on shaky legs.
Saber crouched beside her.“Focus your mind, Betrys.Picture your human form.Can you do that?”
Leo stiffened until he realized Saber didn’t intend to touch Betrys, and the tension bled from his muscles.Their father had talked them through the change in the same manner.Of course, they’d known what to expect since they’d grown up with knowledge of their heritage.Nothing happened, and Leo frowned.“Picture my brothers walking into this room with your son, Betrys.Think how glad you are that he’s safe and how much you want to touch him, to hug him, and reassure yourself that he’s here.That he’s safe.”
Betrys growled, and when Leo placed his hand on her back, her muscles quivered and vibrated beneath his touch.
“That’s good,” Saber said.“Think of wrapping your arms around your son.”
In his peripheral vision, Leo noticed Eva whisk into the bedroom and return with a robe.God, he loved his sisters-in-law.They were both incredible women.
The instant the change took over, going exactly as it should, Leo stepped back to give Betrys room.He and Saber watched, their tension palpable, and Leo’s breath eased out when her limbs reshaped into her more familiar form.
The second she knelt naked and whole at his feet, Leo laughed and swooped down to lift her to her feet.
“Here,” Eva said.“Put this on.”
Leo helped her don the robe and noted the defined black cat tattoo at her mating site.Satisfaction filled him, made his smile widen, made him want to scoop her into his arms and lay a possessive kiss on her rosy lips.He did none of that, giving her space instead.
A honk came from outside the door.
“Better let Bluebird inside,” Leo said.“He’s a hero.”
“He distracted Iseult.”Betrys stared at her fingers as if ascertaining they were back to normal.“Is she really dead?”
“She’ll never hurt anyone again,” Saber said and opened the door to let the chubby blue bird walk inside.“I thought Iseult was gonna lose it when Bluebird gobbled down her offspring.I hope Bluebird doesn’t suffer any ill effects.”
“Ugh!Bluebird ate those things?”Eva pulled a face.“How?Last I saw, they were in a jar.”
