He blushed. “Yeah.”
I licked my lips and leaned toward Daisy. I was so used to hiding it when I spoke to animals that I felt intensely uncomfortable doing it in front of Peter. I groaned. Here went nothing.
I barked, woofed, whined, and snuffled—trying to remember everything Peter had asked. Peter knows I can speak to you now.
Daisy grew still, then let out a whine. You… told him the truth?
I nodded and woofed. And now that he knows… he wanted me to come here and translate.
Her eyes widened and she licked her lips, tapping her front paws in excitement. You mean… you’ll tell him what I say? So we can talk to each other?
I nodded. Yeah, flea bag. That’s what I mean. He wants to know what your favorite food is and if you’re feeling good and he wanted me to tell you that he loves you.
She rose, tail wagging and jumped up, resting her paws on Peter’s thighs. She barked and barked, a huge smile on her face.
I love you, too, Peter. You’re the best person in the world and I don’t really care about anything as long as I get to spend time with you but I love belly rubs and ear scratches and stealing eggshells out of the trash—wait, don’t tell him that—and the stalks of collard greens and bones, oh, I love bones so much. And I love you, Peter, I’m so happy you’re my human and I would do anything for you and—
Peter, tears in his eyes, gripped her by the loose skin around her neck and gave her vigorous pets. He laughed through the tears. “Shh! Okay, girl, it’s okay. Hush. We have to be quiet, it’s late.”
Daisy and Peter looked my way. My throat was tight, and even my stupid eyes filled with tears. Stupid tears. I held up a finger and pretended I needed a swig of my cider as I collected myself. It was just so… wholesome.
I set my bottle down and addressed Peter. “She said she loves you too and she’s very happy—clearly.” I finished passing on everything Daisy had said, then spent the next hour translating for these two.
I watched them gaze at each other and get visibly excited every time I passed along a message. If I could get anyone—I had someone particular in mind—to love me the way these two loved each other….
Finally, Peter glanced up and looked at the clock on the wall. “Oh, snakes! I didn’t realize how long we’d been at this.”
I gave him a tight-lipped smile. “I didn’t mind.”
“Jolene. You have no idea what this has meant to me.” He pulled me into a tight hug, and I snuggled against his shoulder. I could have just stayed there all night but Daisy woofed. Time to go, shifter.
I slowly pulled away from Peter and leveled her a flat look. Ah. There was the good old Daisy I knew. She sat in front of us, between the couch and the coffee table, and huffed. Did you tell him you’re a shifter, too?
I glanced at Peter, then woofed and whined. Not yet, flea bag.
She sniffed and looked away.
“One last thing?” Peter raised his brows at me.
“Sure.”
“Could you teach me any?”
“Any dog?”
He nodded, and I thought it over. I’d never even considered something like that. “I don’t know. I guess I could try. What do you want to know how to say?”
“How about… I love you?”
Peter turned to face me on the couch.
I nodded. “Okay. It’s a woof, followed by a whine, then a like, happy whine that rises at the end.” I demonstrated.
Daisy snarled. Moving fast, aren’t we, shifter?
I shot her a look and barked. I’m teaching him how to say it.
The dog huffed, clearly doubting.
“Okay, let me try.” Peter stared deep in my eyes. “Woof, whine, whiiinne.”
Daisy’s face split into a panting grin, her long tongue half hanging out of her mouth. Ha!
I grinned. “You just said you lurk longtime.”
He chuckled. “Well… that’s not what I meant….”
Our eyes locked. Had he just tried to tell me how he felt about me… in dog?
He shook himself. “Guess we’ll just have to keep practicing.”
I nodded, happy at the idea of spending more time with Peter. “Guess so.”
Peter and Daisy walked me home, down half the island back to the Darkmoon District. Peter gave me a long hug outside my door, then pulled back and his gaze lingered on my lips for a while.
“Maybe we can revisit what we were talking about earlier… sometime when Daisy’s not around?”
“Sounds like a good plan.” I grinned, happy to be held close in his strong, warm arms. “I’ll see you soon?”
He nodded. “Definitely.” He finally pried himself away and gave me a little wave.
Daisy, who waited in the street, gave me a long look. The tip of her tail wagged just the tiniest amount before she turned and followed Peter.
I fished my keys out of my pocket but hesitated as I reached for the lock. Peter and Daisy were pretty ridiculously cute together. And while I’d enjoyed being included in their moment earlier… I also felt kind of on the outside of it… and lonely.
I stuffed my keys back in my jacket and headed for Will’s clinic. I missed my friends, and despite the late hour, could stand some company tonight. I ducked into the street, sidestepped a staggering drunk, and leaped over a steaming sewer grate.
On one hand, I was giddy with the progress Peter and I had made tonight. He had feelings for me—my chest flooded with warmth. But I still hadn’t told Peter the hardest truth about myself—that I was a shifter.
And I knew I wouldn’t feel right starting any kind of relationship withholding a secret that big. I’d lived my life like that before—and lost everything, including my ex-fiancé, because of it. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
But still… I didn’t know how he felt about shifters, and cops in general typically saw us as petty criminals. Then again, Peter wasn’t the average cop.
I sighed—I’d gone round and
