Page 19

Alex coughed into his hand.

Nykos gave him a look before turning back to me. "You blocked a trained telepath because he irritated you?"

"Not exactly."

"What exactly?"

I considered how much explanation was necessary. "I altered myself several years ago so telepaths can't pick up the biological and magical responses they normally use to identify emotions or hear thoughts."

Nobody spoke.

Alex had stopped moving.

Corian's expression had gone neutral.

Halver's attention was fixed on me with enough intensity that I became aware of every inch of space between my chair and his.

Nykos looked stunned.

I lifted one shoulder. "It worked."

His mouth opened.

Nothing came out.

He glanced toward Corian, back to me, then muttered, "Shit."

I almost laughed.

Corian recovered first. "We're going to come back to that later." He turned to the last of them. "Halver's a shifter."

"What forms?"

"Animal," Halver said. "If I've studied them closely enough."

"Complete transformation?"

"Yes." Halver's mouth shifted, just barely. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he looked back down at his plate.

Corian reached toward the file, then stopped before touching it. His expression changed again, whatever embarrassment he'd shown earlier giving way to something firmer.

"There is one other thing."

Nykos's irritation returned before Corian finished the sentence.

"Just give it to her."

Corian looked at him.

"No."

Nykos leaned forward. "Why are we discussing it like there's something to decide? It's hers."

The edge in his voice caught me off guard.

I glanced between them.

Corian didn't argue. He reached into his pocket and set a small white crystal on the table.