Peter squeezed my shoulder, and I fought against the tightness in my throat. “They said they’d brewed a cure, and that if I drank it, I might gain the ability to shift and my powers back.” I cleared my throat. “Or, I might lose all my magic permanently, including the ability to speak to animals.”
Heidi bit her lip. “Jolene… I’m so sorry.”
Will pressed his lips tight together. “What did you decide?”
Using my abilities to help solve murders, save all those trapped shifters, and bring down Ludolf had changed the way I viewed my situation. Plus, I couldn’t imagine never hearing another insult from Daisy again.
I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders. “I decided not to drink it. I see my ability to speak to animals as a gift now, and I’ve come to peace with not being able to shift or do other forms of magic.” I shrugged. “Not that I won’t miss soaring over the island or casting spells, but… it’s a mindset shift. I don’t see it as a curse anymore.”
Will nodded. “They talk about that in my anger management classes—changing your mindset.”
Heidi gave me an appreciative nod. “I’m proud of you.”
I grinned, relieved. “Thanks, guys.” I’d been afraid they’d think my decision was crazy, but I should’ve known they’d be supportive.
We ate in silence for a few moments, the rain tapping at the windows. As I thought about the healers and the cursed shifters, something else occurred to me.
I raised my brows at Heidi perched on her tall wooden stool, which she’d pulled around from behind the check-in desk. She wore red spandex shorts, matching leg warmers, and an oversized black sweater that hung open over one shoulder. “Heidi—you sad about the sloth?”
It’d only been about a week that she’d been caring for the trapped shifters in my apartment, but I knew she’d bonded with them all—especially the sloth. In fact, it seemed odd to see her without it resting on her hip, gazing adoringly up into her face.
Her brows pinched together, and she sighed down into her ramen. “Kinda, yeah…” She perked up, her lips pulled to the side in a mischievous grin. “He’s kinda hot, though.”
Will lifted a bushy brow at her. “Kinda?” He shook his head at me. “She’s crazy—the boy is fine.”
I choked on my ramen as I laughed. “Wait—what?” The only shifters I’d seen cured so far had been elderly activists who’d been cursed by Ludolf decades ago. “I didn’t realize you two were into octogenarians.”
Will shot me a flat look, and Heidi giggled and shook her head, her two ponytails dusting her shoulders. “No, silly! Ludolf only cursed him a few months ago.” She wagged her brows at Will. “John is hot, though, huh?”
Will scoffed and spun to face me again. “And head over tail for her.”
Heidi bit her lip, eyes shining. “You think?”
Will rolled his eyes. “He asked you out, didn’t he?”
I gasped. “What now? Heidi, that’s great!”
Peter nodded. “Congrats.”
Will leaned toward me and lowered his voice. “He’s got the energy level you’d expect of a sloth shifter, which is actually a nice balance to hers.” He rolled his eyes. “A huge improvement on her usual bouncer type.”
I flashed my eyes at him. “Thank the sea goddess.”
Heidi blushed and grinned wider than I’d seen in a long time. “Thanks, guys. I’m pretty excited.” She shimmied her shoulders, then grew thoughtful. “I mean, he said he still needs to let his family know he’s alive and try to get his job back—he’s a teacher—and see if he still has his apartment.” She waved it away like these were small things. But hopefully, with all the charges so publicly brought against Ludolf, John’s friends, family, and employer would be understanding.
“But he asked me if tomorrow night was good.” Heidi scrunched her nose and beamed. “Eee!”
Will sniffed. “And that’s moving pretty fast—especially for a sloth.” He looked at me, waiting for my reaction.
I shook my head at him. “How long have you been waiting to say that?”
His expression darkened. “Shut up.”
I smirked. “Well, Heidi, I’m very excited for you.”
Peter nodded. “I hope we get to meet the young man soon.”
I elbowed him. “Look at you, mister protective father figure.”
He blushed and dove back into his ramen. “I just like to make sure my friends are safe.”
“Aw.” Heidi bounced on her stool. “We’re friends?”
Will frowned at her. “Dur. I saved his dog.” He pointed his chopsticks at Daisy, who manically gnawed at the bone.
Heidi shot him a flat look and gestured at Will, herself, and me. “We saved his dog.”
I shook my head at said dog and woofed. You act like we don’t feed you. I fought a grin as she looked up at me, dark eyes wide. Have some dignity—you’re slobbering all over the floor.
Daisy glared at me and growled. You’re one to talk! You practically inhaled that soup you’re eating. She huffed and looked back down at her bone, grumbling to herself. And you drool all over Peter.
I chuckled, then grinned at Peter beside me. True enough.
“Ooh!” Heidi pointed with her chopsticks at the local newspaper, The Conch, which sat on the coffee table between us. “Did you see the paper?”
A magically moving image of Ludolf transforming from a heron to his human form took up most of the front page. The royal healers had cured him, and the haggard-looking Ludolf would soon stand trial—according to the headlines. Below it was Madeline L’Orange’s exposé.
I nodded and finished slurping up some noodles. “Madeline’s piece was pretty groundbreaking.”
Peter nodded. “It’s all anyone can talk about. The entire island is stunned that there’s a whole city of shifters living in the sewers below their feet.”
Heidi’s eyes widened. “What’s going to happen next? Are they going to move all the shifters out of there?”
I shrugged. “Yesterday, Prince Harry said he’d seek input from
