cVX #3
Rex lowers to his haunches. “Are you dizzy?” His hand hovers near my shoulder, but he doesn’t touch me. “I have an elixir for that as well. I always have a medicinal pouch with me, just in case.”
“Cool,” I squeak out. “But I’ll be fine.”
Maybe.
Rex sits on the ground next to me, close, but with enough distance that my personal bubble is protected.
My imagination has run wild, and part of me believes that he’s reading my mind, that he knows I need that boundary right now.
Or maybe he’s simply being polite. Who the hell knows what’s going on anymore?
I screw the lid back on the jar, then give it back to Rex, still not meeting his gaze.
The only sounds are the bubbling creek, rustle of leaves from the light wind blowing through the trees, a series of squawks from a jay, and the crackling of sticks.
Hopefully the last sound is a rabbit and not that stupid mountain lion again. That’s all I need.
But the main thing it tells me is that we are definitely alone, and that no one heard me screaming like a lunatic. I’m on my own and need to work through whatever is happening to me right now.
I stare at my palms. I suppose I could start with the magical lotion then work my way up to the guy sitting next to me being a cryptid. Because if he actually is, it still doesn’t explain why he looked like a Viking bear before.
“So, who’s this healer?”
“Edgel. He’s local, one of the only Howlers left in the area.”
I try not to roll my eyes. No point in getting the monster riled up. “Where are the other ones?”
“There are a few in other sections of the park, but we don’t socialize.” Rex sighs. “The rest moved, got tired of living in caves, or were bored with the country life.” He shakes his head. “I can’t understand why they want to live in a city.”
He spits out the word like it’s a piece of spoiled food, and on this one thing at least, I can heartily agree. I stare at my hands, still not convinced that this is real. Maybe I hit my head, and I’m having a vivid hallucination.
“And this stuff the healer made, I’m not going to have a bad reaction to it since I’m not a, you know, Howler?”
I finally feel confident enough to peer up at Rex. I’m met with his soft smile and an affectionate gaze. Not sure what that means, but I’ll take it any day over bared fangs.
“Everything he does is made with natural ingredients. Local herbs and plants. Then he adds his own magic to them after they’re prepared.” Rex straightens. “Actually, he’s someone you should meet, being that this is your field of interest. I’ll take you there sometime, if you’d like.”
Part of me perks up at this suggestion. The other part is shaking me by the collar and yelling that it’s all bullshit.
An idea forms in my mind. A horrible, reckless proposition that could spell my doom. But hey, what’s life without a little danger?
“This thing with the cream…” I hold up my palms. “That’s pretty amazing. But I think you’d have me a hundred percent convinced if I saw your Howler form.”
Rex winces. Bullshit. I knew it. I grin inwardly. Let’s see him get out of this predicament. I can’t wait to hear what ridiculous excuse he gives as to why he can’t change forms.
“Are you sure?” He asks. “You were so scared when you saw me that last time.”
“I can handle it.” I shrug. “I was just caught off guard before, that’s all.”
Apparently, I’m as good at slinging bullshit as he is.
Rex’s brow creases and he bites his lip. I hate to admit it given the circumstances, but he’s sort of adorable.
He looks up at me and locks gazes. “And you won’t turn me in, or go to the authorities or anything like that? I’ve never done this for anyone before. The Monster Network vehemently advises against it.”
I refrain from commenting on the Monster Network remark, because seriously, my brain can only handle so much weirdness in one day.
“I promise. I won’t say a word to anyone.”
I cross my heart with one finger, and Rex gives me such a bright smile I start feeling guilty about thinking he’s a lying nutjob.
Rex rises to his feet and so do I. He towers over me as it is, and if he should truly transform into the thing I saw, I should be in a position to run.
“Wait.” Panic rises in me. “You’re not going to be like the Hulk or something. Like, forget who you are and start ripping everything—and everyone—to shreds?”
Rex's head jerks back as if I’ve slapped him. “No! Of course not. I’ll only ever protect you. That’s what I was doing when the mountain lion attacked you.”
Regardless of his reassurances, I cross my arms and give him a wide berth. “Okay, just checking.”
Rex pauses, pressing his lips together and rubbing his forehead before meeting my eyes again. “I’ll never hurt you, Darien. I promise.”
I open my mouth to respond, but the words are stolen as the muscles in Rex’s body begin to morph. Expanding, ballooning, his bulk increasing with such force I’m sure his skin will peel off like a banana.
Instead, fur sprouts across his torso and limbs, claws curling where fingernails used to be. Then the part that stood out so vividly in my mind—his horns. The moment they extend all the way out from his skull, I’m done.
But instead of running, I collapse.