“Cut that out,” Bobbi snapped at Reginald. She turned to the nanny, a middle-aged, copper-skinned woman with a round, creased face and hair pulled up in a bun. She was a crocodile shifter, which actually made a strange sort of sense. Crocodiles, unlike many other reptiles, had strong maternal instincts and were fiercely protective of their young. “I’m Bobbi Simpson, from Shifters, Incorporated.”
“I am Gopika, nanny to Prince Reginald.” Her accent was that of an Indian woman educated in an English school. “Thank you so much for coming. You are a coyote, yes? So you have sharp teeth and you are very cunning. Reginald, dear, please do stop that!”
“Why should I?” Reginald folded his arms across his chest and pouted. “Who’s going to make me?”
“I will,” Pixie snapped. “And show that woman some respect, or I’ll beat your ass.”
Everybody except Bobbi gasped.
Reginald’s eyes flew open with shock. Then they filled with tears. He took a deep breath as if he were about to let out a mighty bellow. Before he could say anything, Pixie pointed at a group of businessmen who were standing by the check-in counter. “See that fat guy over there? Run over there, and kick him in the shins.”
Before Bobbi could protest, before anyone could say anything, the prince leaped off the sofa, ran over, and kicked the man in the shins, with Pixie in hot pursuit.
“I am SO sorry!” Pixie cried, grabbing Reginald up in her arms. “My little brother is out of control these days! We need to adjust his medication. Reginald, say sorry.”
“Sorry,” he smirked.
The fat man glared at him. “He doesn’t need medication. He needs incarceration. Get that brat away from me before I press charges.”
Pixie rushed back to Bobbi. “Up to the room, now,” Bobbi snapped.
They all trooped over to the elevator.
“All right, what did you do?” Bobbi said with resignation as the doors closed.