“More than likely.” Dustin focused on a picture on the mantel of Irene surrounded by the passel.
“You said my mother wasn’t infected when I was born. I take it she contracted the virus later. Did my father give it to her?”
“Yes. By her choice.” Dustin’s gaze shifted to a family photo of Seth with his parents, probably taken about the time Seth’s mother turned. Not wanting to look, Dustin tore his gaze away and continued pacing.
Seth shot to his feet and quickly overtook Dustin’s circuit around the room. He grabbed Dustin’s shoulders and held him in place. “She chose to be infected? What is this damn virus? What does it do? Is that why they died? Are you telling me I’m dying?”
“Whoa, whoa! Hold up. Your parents were a very close and loving couple. Your mother wanted to share everything. Your father was destined to take his aunt’s place as head of the community someday, and to provide the next generation with a leader. Since the doctor told them you might only be a carrier, your parents intended to ensure any additional children received a double dose.”
“What the fuck? Deliberately give kids a disease! That’s sick!”
Dustin kept his voice calm as he took Seth’s hand in his. “No, it’s tradition. If your mother had discovered earlier the whole truth about your father, she’d have done the same for you. Folks around these parts take their traditions seriously. The Channing-Frost virus is the glue that holds the town together. A common bond uniting us all—rich, poor, old, young.”
“I’ve never heard of the Channing-Frost virus. What is it and what does it do?”
“Have you ever heard your aunt referred to as ‘the Jill’?” “No, but Monica’s used the term. Though I’m afraid I don’t quite understand what it means.” Seth wore a puzzled frown.
“Your ancestors named the town Possum Kingdom for a reason, and settled the area, in part, because it provided a perfect environment for the species Didelphimorphia, or North American Opossum. A jill is a mature female opossum, a jack, the male. Young are called joeys, like kangaroos. Around here, leaders and their designated seconds bear the title ‘the Jill’ or ‘the Jack’, respective of gender.”
Seth took a sip of his beer, releasing a nervous-sounding chuckle. “You folks take the town name a little too seriously if you ask me. And if you’re about to share ‘One Hundred and One Ways to Prepare Possum’, I don’t wanna hear it.”
Dustin managed a halfhearted smile. “No, they didn’t want to eat them, they needed a similar habitat. Those with the virus share a kinship with possums. For instance, remember me telling you about possums not carrying rabies?”
“Yes.”
“We’re only susceptible to ailments that affect both humans and their animal counterparts.” He lifted his gaze to Seth’s face and watched a variety of emotions play across his lover’s expressive features. Seth released his hold on Dustin, stepping away.
“Stop beating around the bush and spit it out. What are you trying to say?”
Dustin took a deep breath, forcing the words out before he could rethink them. “The virus allows us to transform into animals; some at will, most upon the full moon. Carriers don’t change if the virus is too weak in their bloodstreams, though some opt for a fresh infusion. You were tested at five, and while you carry a potent strain, it seems to have stayed dormant. If not inherited, the virus can be transmitted via the saliva of a shifter in their animal form, like the one that bit you. I tested your blood at the office after you were bitten. It seems the virus in your system is active now. And if you’ve never woken up naked, curled in a ball under your bed surrounded by possum hair, it wasn’t active before you came here.” Dustin braced himself to intercept, should Seth run fleeing into the night.
“You… I… we… change into fucking possums? That’s stupid! I have never in my life done anything of the sort. What kind of sick bullshit is this? Is this some kind of a joke?”
Dustin remained calm, determined to be the voice of reason in an unreasonable situation. “No, Seth, this isn’t a joke. Remember when we were kids, how you never beat me at hide-and-seek?”
“Yes. You cheated, didn’t you?”
Tapping a finger against his nose, Dustin explained, “In a matter of speaking. Between having a keener sense of smell than you, and better hearing, I always smelled or heard exactly where you were. That’s also what alerted Irene whenever we got into mischief.”
“What are you trying to say? Tell me, already.” Seth backed farther away, blinking hard. Even from a distance of a few feet, Dustin heard the rapid beating of the man’s heart.
“You were a carrier. The possum that bit you was actually a relatively new shifter. Newbies not born with the virus often lose their human consciousness while in animal form. The poor girl smelled food. In the past, Irene always left food out on full moon nights, and Tiffany attempted to come nibble.” Dustin discreetly positioned himself between Seth and the exit. “She nibbled you instead.”
Seth’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.
“She brought your virus out of stasis. Have you noticed lately your sense of smell growing stronger? Have you been able to hear better?”
Seth gawked at Dustin a long moment, finally breaking eye contact to stare at the floor. “Yes,” he admitted.
Dustin resumed his pacing. “I believe when the next full moon rolls around, you’ll transform for the first time.”
“I like a good gag as well as the next man, but this one is wearing pretty thin, and I don’t like being the butt of jokes.” Seth’s face reddened clear up to his ears.
“I’m afraid it’s no joke.” Dustin rolled his T-shirt up and off his body, dropping it to the settee while toeing off his loafers.
“Not that I’m objecting to you getting naked, but what are you doing?”
“Proving a point.” Dustin’s blue jeans followed the T-shirt; he wore nothing underneath, figuring Seth to be the type to demand proof. “Now, look at me.”
