“We found out Rowan’s a shifter. He just didn’t realize it.”
She looks stunned. “He didn’t realize it?”
I nod, knowing it’s not my place to share our suspicions about his aunt and uncle tampering with his magic. “How do children learn to change?”
“Oh, well.” She shakes her head, looking flummoxed. “You have to want it—reallywant it. It happens naturally those first dozen times. We used the old shifter trick of encouraging them to run with us, and both our children shifted for the first time while we were playing in the backyard. On their wobbly toddler legs, they were frustrated that they couldn’t catch us, and then the magic took over. It’s instinct, really.”
“How did they change back?”
“For Jeffrey, we brought out a new firetruck we’d been saving for him. He wanted to play with it badly enough that his magic responded. For Sable, all it took was ice cream.”
“So, it just happened? Because they wanted it to happen?”
“That’s right. As you get older, you learn how to control it. Adult shifters aren’t subject to the whims of our desires. We change at will.”
“Rowan seems so upset right now. I can’t imagine he doesn’t want to change back.”
“He’ll need a sudden boost of emotion, something that will push his magic to take over.”
Just like it did when he thought he was going to get caught in my bed.
“We can work with that,” Ryder says. “Thank you for your help, Hazel.”
“Anytime—Jeffrey, don’t climb on that.” She sighs. “I should get them back to the shop. If you want to talk more, feel free to stop by later.”
As soon as she goes, I turn to Ryder. “Now what?”
“I have an idea,” he says with grim determination. “First, we need Rowan.”
“He’s not at the tea shop anymore,” I admit. “He probably wanted to stretch his wings.”
“Where do you think he went?”
Would he go to the cottage with my parents there? Could he even fly there in the rain?
“I’m not sure.” A gust of wind blows rain sideways, rendering the umbrella temporarily useless. I shiver as the cold droplets pelt me, glancing down at my T-shirt. I really need to go home and change. “I should go. Do you want to meet at the tea shop after the bakery closes? Hopefully, Rowan will be back by then.”
“You’re sure you don’t want a ride home?”
Though it’s tempting, I’m sure Arista needs him, and I don’t want him to get in trouble for ditching work. “No, I’ll be all right. A bike ride might help me clear my head.”
“Call if you need me, okay?” He looks up at the umbrella, unsure what to do with it.
“I can’t carry it while I’m on the bike,” I remind him. “I’m fine. You go.”
He grimaces, shaking his head. “That won’t do. If you’re going to brave the weather, I’ll brave it, too.”
And with that, he opens the rock shop door and leans in. Depositing the soggy umbrella in the stand by the entry, he calls, “Thank you for the umbrella, Ansel.”
“It’s still raining,” the sorcerer responds from the counter. “You can keep it for a while longer.”
“Chivalry demands I give it up,” Ryder says gallantly.
“Whatever.” Ansel shakes his head like he thinks Ryder is an idiot. “Close the door—you’re getting water on the floor.”
Chuckling, Ryder releases the door and returns his attention to me. We stand together, huddled under the small awning, probably looking ridiculous.
“We’re going to fix this,” he promises. “Rowan won’t be an owl forever.”
