Sam cleared his throat, then held his wand in front of his mouth. “Thhhank you all for coming here today.” His magically amplified voice rung out over the crowd.
“Asss many know, I wasss born a sssnake and later in life, learned to ssshift into thisss form. I wasss amazed by your beautiful language and art and my favorite passstime, baking.” He looked to the princess and the blond gal, and they beamed at him like proud mothers. I grinned—guess that explained why he waved a little differently—he was new to human gestures. I’d never make fun of him for it, of course—it was just kind of cute.
Some clapping and supportive cheers rang out, but I looked to my left and noticed, at the back of the crowd, that police were working hard to keep back the jostling protestors with their anti-shifter signs. My stomach clenched, and I looked around again for Peter. I hoped he and Daisy weren’t caught up in any incidents with that crowd.
“But I sssoon dissscovered ssssome thingsss about being a man that were lessssss than beautiful.” Sam pressed his lips together, and his throat bobbed. His milky blue eyes teared up behind his glasses.
Madeline leaned over to her photographer. “Are you getting those tears?”
The shutter sounded as the guy captured the moment.
“Sssome people ssseemed to hate me. Jussst becaussse of the way I danccced or ssspoke. They hated me becaussse I am a ssshifter. I didn’t underssstand then. And to be honessst, I don’t underssstand today.”
Applause sounded, and there were whoops of support.
“I fight now for monssster rightsss becaussse they’re jussst creaturesss that the old King Roch usssed as weaponsss againssst you.” His throat bobbed again. “But it’sss the sssame for ssshiftersss. We’ve been usssed by the king to divide usss and distract usss from hisss crimesss. But the truth isss, we’re much more alike than different.”
I clapped along with the crowd at this. My old headmistress at the orphanage, Mrs. Rankle, had recently told me about the old king’s propaganda campaign against shifters. Forty years ago, he’d made the public frightened of us, likening us to the monsters that had rampaged the kingdoms. No matter that it was the king himself who had unleashed the monsters on innocent people. And sea slugs like Ludolf Caterwaul, the mob boss of shifters, had profited off it and used it to their advantage while everyone else suffered.
Sam lifted his chin, a small smile on his face, his cheeks flushed pink. I guessed he was gaining confidence as the crowd chanted and cheered for him. While I normally considered my cynical self a little too cool for school, I couldn’t help but be swept up in the moment. I cupped my hands to the side of my mouth and shouted, “Go, Sam!” My voice was lost in the cheers of the crowd, but Madeline glanced at me and winked.
“I wasss given a chanccce to bake in the palaccce.” He glanced over at the blond gal, who pressed her palms to her flushed cheeks and shot him a smile, her eyes wet. I placed her now as the former head baker who’d made headlines when she hired Sam about a year ago. Half the former palace staff had walked out on their jobs because they refused to work alongside a shifter.
“And now I want to make sssure other ssshiftersss are given opportunitiesss. We need to change the lawsss ssso that they’re not denied jobsss or placesss to live or anything elssse. And we’re ssstarting with the baking competition ssso that other ssshifters who love to bake can find their own placcce and friendsss in the palaccce bakery.”
The crowd erupted, most of the tumult of voices sounding supportive, though I shot a stink eye at the boos coming from the back.
BOO! HISS!
“Hey!”
I jumped at the hand on my shoulder, then turned and grinned as Peter slid up beside me. Daisy squeezed in between us and growled as someone nearly stepped on her paw. All I can see down here is thighs. Nothing but a sea of thighs. She huffed.
I bent forward and let out a woof, which no one could hear over all the voices and applause. You want me to hold you up, Days? You can sit on my shoulders. I winked.
Her ears flattened, and she bared her pointy white teeth, her dark lips twitching. Just try to pick me up and see what happens.
I shrugged and let out another woof before straightening. You’re probably right. Looks like you’ve been hitting the treats and have put on a few pounds. I’m not sure I could lift you. I kept my eyes up over the heads of the crowd and fought a grin as she snarled and growled at me.
How dare you! I’m in great shape. Want to race? I’ll run circles around you!
Peter, grinning, shook his head. “What am I going to do with you two?”
I rose on my toes and kissed his cheek. “We could always rehome her?”
He paled, and I nudged him. “Kidding. Geez.” I smirked. “Don’t tell her I said so, but I kinda love the furry mutt. I don’t know who else would keep me in line.”
Daisy, dark eyes narrowed up at us, whined. Well, looks like you’re telling the truth for once.
Peter beamed down at me and kissed the top of my head. I snuggled against his side for a moment, then rose on my toes. Sam was talking again and the crowd cheering, so I had to speak nearly right against Peter’s ear. “What’s the word around the precinct?”
I turned my head so he could speak into my ear. “Edna was calling to tell me the coroner’s report came in.”
I raised
