Catlin's Appaloosa(7)

Brock scoffed.“He said you’d gotten too close to the victim. You’re the most levelheaded person I’ve ever met,” he said, shaking his head.“So I know that can’t be the truth. Tell me what’s up.”

“It is the truth,” Catlin affirmed with a shrug.

Brock snorted. “What?”

Catlin crossed his arms over his chest and lifted a brow, knowing his friend had heard him.

“That’s the stupidest fucking thing I’ve ever heard you say!” Brock roared. The dark-skinned African American reached out, grabbed his shoulders, and gave a slight shake.“Why the hell would you jeopardize a case for some ass? This could ruin your career!”

An angry, nearly unintelligible sound came from the hallway. Catlin turned just in time to see Gallo leap forward. His lover’s blue eyes blazed with anger. He’d never seen the guy be anything other than timid, so this display of courage on his behalf shocked Catlin even as it turned him on.

Gallo’s skin began to ripple. White blotches appeared on his flesh, bones cracked and sinew popped as Gallo’s body grew and changed. His head lengthened, his sweats tore from his expanding body, and a scraggly black tail grew from his ass. Seconds later, a fourteen-hand appaloosa stallion careened between them, shoving his shoulder into Brock and knocking the man back several steps. The animal pinned its ears back and screamed a neigh of warning at the other man.

Catlin froze for all of ten seconds, his brain trying to work through what he’d just witnessed. Did Gallo really just turn into a horse? Seeing the small equine standing in his living room, he’d have to answer yes, even though he had no clue how such a thing could happen. Can Gallo change back? He had no idea, but he sure hoped so. Can Gallo understand me? He’d have to see.

“Gallo?” Catlin drew the one word out, using a low tone to both warn and soothe. An ear flicked back at him, showing him the animal paid attention to him. Now will he listen? Using the same tone as he’d used to get the man to sit in the wheelchair at the hospital, he said,“Back away from Brock, Gallo. He doesn’t mean any harm.”

Hooves scuffed the hardwood floor as the black appaloosa with white teardrop shaped spots moved first one step, then a couple more away from Brock. Catlin rested a hand on the animal’s shoulder. Thick muscles rippled under the fur, and Gallo’s head lowered. That was when Catlin saw the animal’s eyes. Intelligent blue eyes filled with remorse watched him, as if concerned he’d done something horribly wrong.

He didn’t like that look in the man’s—shapeshifter’s— eyes, but didn’t know how to reassure a horse. Can Gallo control this ability? “Gallo, can you change back?” he asked. How he managed to sound so calm, he had no idea. All he knew was he had to hold it together for his lover’s sake.

Slowly the horse folded its legs under it and settled on its belly. Then the process started all over again, this time in reverse. The tail disappeared, as did the fur. The head reshaped, the eyes moving back to the front of Gallo’s face. The bones and tendons again snapped and popped, and Catlin had to fight back a cringe at the painful sound. Seconds later, his lover lay naked on the hardwood floor, panting as if he’d just run a marathon.

“Hand me that blanket, Brock,” he ordered, pointing toward the folded cloth on the back of the couch.

Brock brought it, a wary look in his dark eyes. “What the hell is going on, Catlin?”

“I don’t know, yet, but I intend to find out,” he answered.

He wrapped the blanket around the shivering man’s body and scooped him into his arms. This is becoming a routine, he thought wryly. He glanced over his shoulder at Brock.“Don’t go anywhere.”

Brock snorted.“Hell, no, I plan on hearing whatever your new boy toy has to say about that freaky little ability.”

Gallo cringed, and Catlin turned and glared at his partner.“Don’t call him that,” he snapped.

“What?” Brock asked, surprised. “Boy toy? Or freak?”

The man in his arms huddled in on himself, tensing further in his arms.

Catlin growled.“Both, he’s neither.”

Without waiting for an answer, he strode down the hall and returned Gallo to his bedroom. This time he tucked him under the covers.“We’re going to need to talk about this,” he admonished.

“I didn’t mean to turn into my animal,” Gallo whispered miserably.

Smiling, Catlin tilted Gallo’s head up to meet his gaze.“Not that, baby. I told you to stay here, and you disobeyed me. We can’t have that happening again. Got it?”