He wasn’t sure about this and told her so. After she called him a baby, he smiled at her as he bowed before her when she told him to behave. Then she told him to think of any animal, any of them, and shift.
All he could think about at that moment was a hawk. It was his favorite of all the creatures of the earth. It had beauty, poise, and killer instincts that rivaled his own. When everyone applauded, he took a moment to realize that he’d done it. He was a hawk.
Someone asked if he could fly, so he took to the air as if he’d been born to it. As if he knew exactly what to do to make it happen. Don was able to soar throughout the building and around the heads of the people below him. Stopping when all he wanted to do was go out into the fresh air, he landed before Melisandre, and this time felt the need to bow before her for what she’d given him. Even if he never flew again, it had been the best few minutes he’d ever felt.
“As you can see, whatever it is you’re shifting to, you’ll have complete knowledge of how to make the bird or anything do what is needed.” She thanked him, and he shifted from the hawk to himself without any issues. He was also fully clothed in what he’d had on prior to shifting. “There are a few things I’d like to go over. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but you might well learn more by trying things than you will if I were to go over each bit of magic.”
They spoke about things he’d been thinking about, things like helping Melisandre when she needed it. The queen told them about payment, which he sort of got lost in. His thoughts were mostly centered on the upcoming project he had to start.
By the time he was ready to get back home, he had so much going through his mind that he thought he might be better off carrying around a notepad and pen. CJ told him he could easily use his phone, but he’d never been that good with electronics and favored using a stationary phone instead. Mostly because he would forget where he put his phone and have to either replace it or retrace his steps for hours, only to give up.
When they were back at the house, he realized it wasn’t nearly as late as he’d thought it was. He knew there was a time difference when going into the other realm—CJ had told him that. However, it was only two in the afternoon, and he asked CJ if she wanted to go and look at homes with him.
“Unless, of course, you wish to live with Bancroft for the rest of our days.” She looked so horrified that he burst out laughing. “All right. I’ve been looking around for Fergus a place to stay and found a few that you might like. We’ll need staff, and it’s my understanding that we’ll use faeries for that. Melisandre said it would be safer for all of us if we were to have them around more often.”
“I’ve been looking as well. I didn’t think of us living together when I started out. I had just decided I didn’t want to live with Pfeiffer anymore. And after I have a talk with her about all this, she might not want to even live around here anymore either.” He asked her if she really thought that. “I don’t know. I think I’m hoping for the best but planning on the worst-case scenario.”
“If it will help, I can go with you.” She said she wasn’t sure what would help. He hurt for her in this. “Whatever you need, I’m there for you. However, I’d not wait too long. She’ll have magic. How much or even what she can do will be a surprise to her no matter how she finds out.”
They decided to get it over with. First, they stopped by the home he’d been looking at and got out to look around. The realtor was going to meet them at seven tonight, so they wanted to get a little sneak peek at it now. He was blown away by what she’d thought of in a home for herself.
“According to the information, it has fifty acres around the house that is all good soil. Not that it would matter all that much. Once I moved in, it would have been very good anyway. The other faeries or I would have fixed that for me. Well, us, I guess.” She read off the things she had on the place as he walked up to the circular front porch. It wrapped all the way around the house and was wide enough to have plenty of chairs for sitting. “There is a fishing pond out back. Also, a barn that I’m told needs to be repaired in places. It has electricity, as well as heat and air. The river runs through the property in several places, and there is a boat as well as a boat house that would be ours.”
“I want it.” They were laughing as they walked around the property. “The land back here, it is rich smelling. Also, it looks as if at one time there was an expansive flower and rose garden.” He moved along the stone wall that led him to a large tree with several benches under it. “I’m sure this will be a beautiful setting come next spring.”
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