Chapter 40 Secrets and Surprises
SECRETS AND SURPRISES
RAYA
“Oh, um,” I bite my lip, glancing at Asher.
He nods in encouragement as his hand squeezes my thigh.
“It’s not that big a deal,” I say, Asher interrupting me with a huff of disagreement.
My mom’s eyes narrow as they flit between us, and my dad leans back in his seat with his arms crossed.
“Well in that case,” Dad says. “Out with it.”
I look at Asher for help, unreasonably nervous to tell my shifter parents that I, a shifter, can successfully shift.
Ridiculous.
Asher raises his eyebrows and I nod at him, my eyes pleading.
“She’s gotten quite good at her shifting,” he says as he turns to my parents.
My mom’s chin tips up with pride, one side of her mouth curving as she winks at me. Meanwhile, my dad’s eyebrows shoot up and his eyes warm, a smile stretching across his face.
“We never had any doubt,” Mom says. “We knew you’d figure it out.”
“You should show them!” Reverie says, then her feet start tip-tapping on her pillow. “Oh, oh! Can I pick?”
“Pick?” Dad asks.
“Her animal,” Reverie says, like that should have been obvious.
I laugh, her enthusiasm combined with her acting like it’s normal eases my nerves.
“Sure, Rev. You can pick.”
She steps off her pillow and flies up in front of my face, then crosses one arm and props her other elbow on it, with her chin resting on her fist. She searches my eyes for some unknown sign.
I raise my eyebrows as we all wait.
She gives one decisive nod, then streaks back to her pillow and stands as tall and straight as she can.
“A wolf,” she says, and Asher immediately grins, apparently agreeing with her choice. I eye the two of them, wondering what they know that I don’t.
“Okay, wolf it is.”
I stand and go to the bathroom, leaving the door ajar behind me, then shed my clothes and take a deep breath. I close my eyes and turn my attention inward, finding that bright, pulsing essence beneath my skin. I smile, tip my chin up and push my shoulders back, then I pull.
The shift ripples over my body, tingles race across my skin as fur sprouts in their wake and my limbs reshape, my back curls, my face elongates. I haven’t fully shifted into a wolf before now, and I’m curious what I look like. Unfortunately, I’m too short to see in the mirror above the sink.
I nudge the door open and lope back into the kitchen.
Reverie leaps into the air, her wings fluttering madly as she whoops and claps.
Asher leans back in his chair, a tiny smile curving the corners of his mouth as he takes in my new, full wolf form.
My dad’s eyes are glassy, and both my parents stand, round the table, and kneel in front of me.
“Oh, my beautiful girl,” my mom says. “Look at you.”
She reaches out a hand and runs it through my fur, and I can’t help but lean into her touch.
I’ve never had this before. It’s something everyone else in my family has experienced for years, and I didn’t truly know what I was missing until now.
An involuntary whine comes from my throat, and I flatten my ears to my head, not having meant to let the emotion out.
I nudge the top of my head into my dad’s chest, and they both wrap their arms around me, holding me tight.
“We are so proud of you,” my dad whispers. “So proud.”
I back up, feeling overwhelmed with so much attention focused on me, and turn toward the bathroom. I’m preparing to shift into human form again when Asher softly calls out behind me.
“You want a picture, little shifter?” he says. “So you can see your wolf?”
This man somehow knows me better than I know myself. When I stop and turn around, then sit in front of him, he quirks a smile and pulls his phone out of his pocket. I prick my ears up and look right at the camera as he takes a picture.
“Perfect.”
I turn into the bathroom and he pulls the door closed behind me, then I allow myself to tingle back into my human skin, letting out a sigh filled with hope and relief, wonder and satisfaction.
When we pile back into the car, mine and Reverie’s bellies full to bursting, I unzip the top of the bag so Reverie can peek out and chat with us. I can feel her buzzing with anticipation through the backpack, and I suspect it’s equal parts excitement and nerves.
“Got a surprise for you when we get there,” Asher grins as he glances over, but instead of looking at me, he looks down at Reverie.
“For me?” she squeaks, and he nods, a pleased smile on his face as he navigates the road with one hand steady on top of the wheel.
Reverie’s eyes are practically bugging out of her face as she turns them on me, and I shrug. I have no idea what it is, and he refuses to say another word about it the entire drive.
When we arrive, I turn and snap the front blinds closed so the neighbors can’t see in.
As soon as I turn around and unzip the bag, it becomes clear what that surprise is.
What used to be an open space in front of the backyard windows is now full of houseplants—all sizes and variety, from a rack of trailing of pothos and scindapsus, to tiny African violets on the sill, to a full, leafy monstera and towering fiddle leaf fig in the corner.
Reverie shrieks with glee, diving into the mini-jungle and disappearing among the leaves.
“You…” I turn to him, heart in my throat and tears pricking behind my lids as I blink to hold them at bay.
“It smells so good in here!” Her tiny voice is muffled from the plants surrounding her as I stare into Asher’s fathomless eyes.
“Me?” he asks, quirking a brow while swiping a thumb under my lower lashes, collecting the tear before it falls, then pulling me into him.
“I love you,” I whisper.
His eyes widen and his fingers tighten where they rest on my waist. Asher leans down, crowding my space as his eyes search mine.
“Say it again.”
His voice is low, quiet. A timbre that would be threatening under any other circumstances, and I suddenly wonder if he’s ever been told that he’s loved. I sincerely doubt his family was one for such sentiments, and I don’t know if any of his previous relationships got to that stage.
“Ash,” I cup his jaw between my palms as I continue. “My heart beats for you. My shifter yearns for you. I’m my best self because of you. I love you so freaking much it’s unbelievable—”
His lips crash to mine, cutting off my declaration, and I playfully smack him as I lean back.
“Hey, I wasn’t done!”
He touches his forehead to mine and closes his eyes for a moment as we breathe each other in.
“Raya,” his voice grates and he stops to clear his throat. “Raya, my sunshine.”
He stops again, throat bobbing, and my heart thrums when I realize—he may have never felt love from others before, but he might have never felt it for someone else either. I have no doubt he loves me; he shows me every single day. I don’t need the words if he’s not ready to say them.
“It’s okay,” I whisper, but he shakes his head with a muttered “no” before confirming the thoughts that are flying through my head.
“My little shifter. I’ve never felt this way before, and I don’t have all the words you deserve, but I do have these ones. I love you. I love you so much, Raya, and I’ll work on it. I’ll find all the words for you, but for now, this will have to do.”
Asher sweeps me into his arms and kisses me like his life depends on it. I melt into him. He says he doesn’t have the right words, but this is all I need. His words were perfect, and I’m full to bursting with joy.
“EW, you guys!” Reverie’s voice snaps through the air and we jump apart.
I’m not sure about Asher, but I was so wrapped up in him that I completely forgot Reverie was here, in his house, in the same room as us.
She’s standing on the lip of a terracotta pot, the massive monstera a wall of green behind her, with her hip cocked, dainty arms crossed, and a scowl on her face.
“Sorry.” I realize I’m panting in an effort to try to catch my breath after that kiss. “These plants, though!”
Her face instantly lights up again. “Right? They’re so pretty, and lush, and perfect. And oh my gosh, they smell so good!”
Not sure what that means, maybe earthy? Regardless, I’m happy she’s happy, and I’m especially touched that he went and spent… stars above. This must have cost a fortune.
Asher likely reads on my face that I’m about to ask if I can pay him back, because he presses a finger to my lips and shakes his head before I speak a word. I narrow my eyes before nipping at it, relishing when his eyes darken in response.
“Careful, little shifter,” he murmurs, brushing past me as he walks over to the small jungle.
“You like it?” he asks.
“I love it. I love it, I love it, I love it!” Reverie shoots into the air for a birds-eye view, her hands clasped against her chest as her entire body vibrates, her special brand of glittery dust falling to the leaves below and coating them in a light shimmer.
“Good. I wasn’t sure what to get, so if there’s anything else you need or want that will help you feel more comfortable here, please let me know.”
I groan. He has no idea what trouble he’s putting himself in.
Reverie doesn’t waste a second.
“Do you have marshmallows?”
“Uhh,” he looks to me for help, but I quirk a brow back. He got himself into this mess with the over the top plant spree and open ended offer, he can very well learn to navigate it. “No? I don’t think so.”
“M&M’s?”
“Um, no.”
“Honey sticks?”
“I… Honey comes in a stick?”
Poor guy, he looks bewildered now and I bite my lip against the grin I can’t contain. Reverie’s wings droop and his eyes flare with alarm. I decide to step in before he pulls out his phone and orders a deathly amount of sugar.
“Sugar is like a drug to her. Too much can be dangerous, a little doesn’t do much, but in between there is a euphoric, loopy feeling. It’s been a learning curve for all of us over the years, I’ll catch you up.”
We settle into the kitchen and I share the notes folder Zuri and I compiled. It details everything we know about sprites. After filling a glass of ice water, I bring up the conversation we’ve both been avoiding.
“I’m supposed to go back into the office tomorrow,” I say.
Asher nods, his lips pinched. “I know. I’m going to be at the coffee shop down the block, so if anything happens, I’ll be right there.”
My heart swells with affection that he’s not trying to control me or take this decision away, even though we both know my safety isn’t guaranteed. I assume this means he has a plan finalized.
“What are you going to do?”
Asher thumps his elbows on the table and leans forward.
“I’ve debated so many times if I should tell you or not.”
My heart trips and his eyes flick to the pulse in my neck.
“I assume you’ve decided not to?” I ask, and he looks away but nods. “Can I at least know why?”
“I don’t want anyone to suspect your involvement.
Your reactions need to be authentic. I’ve got pretty much everything worked out, and after this week, I hope it’ll be taken care of.
They won’t bother us anymore, and although I trust you, if there’s any inkling that you know what’s coming or are involved in any way…
I can’t risk that. I can’t risk them thinking that. ”
What is he planning?
Part of my brain worries he might sacrifice himself to his family, or give in to his dark urges to protect me, but my protective instincts won’t let me fully face that possibility.
“Will you be in danger?” I ask.
“Being anywhere near them is dangerous, but I won’t put myself in any more danger than is necessary.”
That’s not the least bit encouraging or satisfactory, and in fact only increases my anxiety.