Gemini’s voice grew calm, like the discussion of how evil I was or whether I should be allowed to live never took place. “No one will hurt Celia. I promise. We just never met a shape-shifter with any trace of humanity left. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but the sister you know will soon leave you and fall into a pit of darkness so great, only a coldhearted killer with a thirst for power will remain.”
“Jesus,” Koda muttered from somewhere in the hall. “How many kills do you think she’s made?”
Taran’s voice stiffened. “She’s never killed anyone who hasn’t deserved it. And Celia is anything but coldhearted.” The back of my sisters’ feet appeared beneath the dust ruffle. I could almost picture them crossing their arms and scowling at them. “Maybe you should leave. Celia’s been humiliated enough.”
No one moved for the longest time. Finally, Aric’s big hiking boots stepped forward. “I apologize if we’ve offended you. Her…situation caught us off guard. Will you allow me through?” His voice rumbled with concern. “I just want to make sure she’s safe.”
Emme’s small feet parted, followed by Shayna’s and Taran’s. Aric peered beneath the bed skirt at my shaking form huddled in the corner. “She’s scared senseless.” His eyes softened. “She’s no shifter. I’m sure of it. She’s just…Celia.” He reached for me, but I scuttled farther into the corner. “It’s okay, sweetness. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“I’ve got an idea.” Liam hurried downstairs to the kitchen. When he came back, he stuck his head under the bed and poked me in the nose with a carrot.
Take that carrot and ram it up your ass, Liam.
Aric frowned. “Liam, get the damn carrot out of her face.”
Liam ignored him. “It’s okay, Aric. I got this one. Come on, little bunny. No one’s going to eat— Ouch!” He dropped the carrot when I bit him.
“She may look like a rabbit, but she’s still Celia. Don’t freaking patronize her,” Taran snapped at him.
Shayna spoke up. “Why doesn’t everyone head downstairs? Aric and I will look after Celia.” She stuck her thin arms under the bed. “Come on, dude.” I allowed Shayna to pull me out. She held me close and kissed the top of my head before placing me on the bed.
The wolves wouldn’t budge. Aric growled low and deep. “If she wanted to kill me, she would have tried long before now. Leave us. I don’t want her frightened.”
Gemini nodded once and led the others out. Taran and Emme followed, but not before Emme shot me a nervous glance.
Aric backed away and leaned against the dresser. I hoped it was just to give me space and not because I finally creeped him out. Shayna smiled at him. “When Celia was about nine years old, she got really sick. We thought she had the flu. We found out later she was undergoing some kind of magical growth spurt.” She took a seat next to me on the bed. “When she started feeling better, our parents took us to the zoo to pick up her mood. They had new tiger cubs, and we won an opportunity to pet them. When Celia touched the golden cub, she fell into a violent seizure, similar to the one downstairs.
“Our parents rushed her to the hospital. The doctors thought it had been related to her illness and released her after they did some neurological testing. That night she turned into a golden tigress more than three times her size.”
I still remembered that night vividly. My mother prayed and doused me with holy water. I was beyond terrified and sought comfort in my father’s arms. My large paws wrapped around him. Taran and Shayna kept yelling, “Don’t eat Daddy. Don’t eat Daddy!” I tried to talk, but all that came out were growls and roars. Despite the fear I sensed in my father, he helped calm me. “It’s okay, sweetheart. Daddy’s here.” My father had been my rock and my strength. His soothing words helped me to relax. As I calmed, I returned to my human form.
“She eventually learned to control her change,” Shayna continued. “But if an animal brushes against her and she isn’t prepared, she’ll turn into that animal.” She giggled. “That’s why we don’t own any pets. Although…if Celia could just walk around as a tigress all day long we could adopt a kitten. For some reason, another animal doesn’t force her change if she’s in her tigress form.”
“It’s probably because her beast is so strong.”
Shayna nodded. “Yeah. I guess that makes sense.”
Aric fixed his gaze on my small, furry form…and smiled with understanding no sane wolf should have gathered so quickly. “What about the other animals she’s come in contact with? Can she return to those forms?”