Page 48 of Secret Pucking Unicorn

“I’d get bread and tea and a bucket to relieve myself in until I admitted it. If I protested, then the lights would be turned off. When I’d admit it, they’d hug me and tell me I was a good girl but should stop lying. I’m not a liar, I swear.” Tears stream down my face.

Daphne is crying with her head against Logan’s chest, cuddling the bump Birdie is making in her middle. I take a quick glance around and see a mixture of shock and sympathy on everyone’s faces. Except for Declan. His face is full of rage and he’s snarling. Is his wolf about to appear?

Sophie says something in Gaelic I don’t catch. It’s been too long since I’ve been around it and I was never fluent anyway. Whatever it was, it seems to calm Declan down. He closes his eyes and takes some deep breaths, causing his t-shirt to tighten around his chest. I get distracted by the play of muscles outlined under the cotton.

“It happened,” he says, quietly. “It was the first time I shifted. Puberty is when it starts for most shifters. You were there in the field, upset because you had a spat with Sophie or something. I hated seeing you upset. Apparently, your powers were burgeoning too, and your emotions called out to my unicorn, and I shifted.”

“I’m not a witch, I don’t have any powers. I can’t make you shift. Like I can point and say ‘shift.’” I fling my hand out and there’s a loud honk. Everyone gasps and I turn my head. Where Brick was standing is now a pissed off Canada goose.

“Holy shit,” Coach says.

Stone giggles and jumps back when the goose tries to peck his knee.

Suddenly, I’m lightheaded and slumping against the wall.

“Oh my god. I broke Brick!” I yell before I break into hysterical sobs and fall to my knees.

That breaks everyone out of their shock, and suddenly it’s pandemonium. Brick shifts back to her human form and stands there with her arms crossed. She’s fully clothed and I realize Dec has clothes on too. How the hell can you go from being an animal to back to being a fully clothed human?

“It’s shifter magic,” Bedard says, apparently reading my mind. “Something with wearing natural fibers and magic. Scientists are studying it.”

I tune him out and through my sobs I say, “Brick…Bridget, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that. I don’t know how I did that. I hope I didn’t hurt you. I don’t know how I made you a goose when you’re a moose. I’m sorry.”

I’m flailing as I apologize and Trevor comes behind me, pulls me on his lap, grabs my hands and puts them in the pocket of my hoodie.

“Let’s put those away. They’re dangerous,” he says.

I know Trevor’s trying to make a joke to lighten the mood, but the truth is, my hands are dangerous. I randomly pointed at someone and turned them into a goose. That’s not normal.

Brick heaves a sigh. “It’s okay Randi, you didn’t break me. You compelled a shift. I am a goose shifter. Our parents have a mixed marriage. Mom is a Canada goose shifter and dad is a moose. Very Maine. The kids can take after either parent. I let people assume I’m a moose because who is going to take a goose goalie seriously? Especially a female one.”

“That’s how it is with me and my brother,” Logan says. “I’m an eagle like Dad and he’s a cougar like Mom.”

“I’m way more afraid of geese than moose,” Daphne says.

This is all fascinating, but it’s not addressing the fact I have magical powers I know nothing about and can’t control. That’s a big problem. Oh my god. I can’t catch my breath. I know I’m hyperventilating, but I can’t stop it.

“Randi, breathe. Calm down.” Trevor is running his hand up and down my back, trying to soothe me. I’m trying, but it’s difficult. It takes all my effort, but I calm down for a moment.

“Daphne, leave,” I say between my sobs. “What if I hurt you or Birdie? I’m dangerous.”

I watch both her and Logan’s faces go pale. They hadn’t thought of that. Judging by the way Trevor’s hand stalls while rubbing my back and the gasps from around the room, no one else did either. I don’t know if it’s possible. I know absofuckinglutely nothing, but I can’t take the risk.

I turn in Trevor’s lap and bury my head against his chest and start crying again. I never fully stopped, but now it’s less sobbing and more whimpers and tears. What am I going to do?

“Who are you calling?” Sophie asks.

My head pops up. Is someone calling the cops on me? Can I go to jail for this? They don’t burn witches at the stake anymore, do they? Maybe ones who can’t control their powers?

I try to scramble out of Trevor’s hold and escape, but he tightens his grasp.

“He’s calling the cops, I’m going to be burned at the stake. Let me go,” I cry.

“What? No.” Declan drops to his knees next to me and tries to take me into his arms. Trevor won’t let go of me and I’m clinging to him like a koala. Dec stops trying.

“Miranda, love, I’m calling my mother. She will know what to do. She loves you. You know you can trust her.” He shows me his phone screen with her contact info up. I think for a moment and then nod. He hits the button to make a video call.

“Declan. Happy New Year.” Nora Mackenzie sounds happy as she answers. Her tone changes. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

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