Page 44 of Toward Immortal Ruin

“Are werewolves the only immortals that turn into something else?” she asked. “Do vampires turn into bats?”

“No, they don’t turn into bats, though I’d love to see you ask one of them that,” he chuckled, the vibration soothing. “The occasional Raeth does have the ability to turn into an animal, as well.”

“Like what?”

“Well, wolves, tigers, bears, panthers. Predators, mostly.”

“Do any of your, um, people have that ability?” Suddenly timid after all the excitement, she wrung her hands. “Is it like a werewolf turning? Would I be able to ask them what it’s going to be like for me?”

“It’s exactly like a werewolf.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “The abilities of the first alpha of the werewolves were derived from a Raeth with a wolf shape. Had the original been a panther, well, they’d all have been werepanthers, I suppose.”

“Do you happen to know, Nero—does it hurt?”

“Shifting?” Nero drew in a contemplative breath. “It’s both euphoric and excruciating. The first shift is inevitably the hardest: bones and muscle have to reform, ligaments and tendons have to stretch and recede. It’s difficult, even when it’s expected. Which is why the werewolves only turn those who are healthy.”

Eden’s blood ran cold. Nero must not have noticed.

“Werewolves transmit their immortality through the bite, and no alpha worth their salt would bite anyone without vetting them first. It’s imperative that recipient’s body is strong enough to endure the first shift.” Nero studied her as he spoke. “With you, that vetting process didn’t happen, because you were bitten by a werewolf who wasn’t in control anymore.”

The scenario played out in Eden’s mind as Nero continued to speak. If she wasn’t strong enough, she would die. She didn’t need him to spell it out, just like he didn’t need to hear about her reality and her fears now. She couldn’t let Nero see how scared she was.

“You didn’t answer my question, Coffee Shop. Come on, curious minds, can I pick the brain of a Raeth shifter in your clan?”

“Yes, several of my people have the ability to shift into animals.”

When excitement bloomed, it nearly overrode her anxiety. “Can I meet one of them? What do they turn into?”

“Esmerelda can shift into a lynx, and Geoffrey can shift into a bear.” He paused, then proudly added, “And I shift into a panther.”

“A panther?” Eden leapt to her feet. “Nero, will you show me? Please? You won’t hurt me, right?”

Slowly, Nero stood, his movements graceful and languid. “My panther has wanted to meet you since we met, and no, I’ll never hurt you. I’ll warn you, though, my cat is the reason I’m a snuggler.”

Eden eagerly followed him, her hand in his. Breathing in the salty air, jitters sparked within her. Though she’d already experienced teleportation several times, seeing him shift into a large predator would clear away any last traces of doubt. Rooting through her memories, she focused on what she knew about shapeshifters. In some cases, it was magic based, while in others, it was purely a physical change. On the heels of that thought came another.

“Do you have to … undress? Should I give you privacy?”

He gave a booming laugh. “No, professor. With our abilities, we can take clothing in and out of the shift. No disrobingnecessary. When I call upon my cat, he’s happy to leap to the surface. I’m certain it’ll be the same for your wolf.”

Nero’s beast had indeed been keen to leap.

In a half-second shift, too swift for her eyes to process, the predator emerged. Before her stood an honest to goodness panther, black as night, with piercing emerald eyes locked on hers with the intelligence of the man.

Practically vibrating with the force of his purr, the animal’s soft black ears twitched as if uncertain. Slowly, one big paw moved forward, and the panther prowled closer. Half a step more, and he was suddenly an arm’s length away.

Worst case scenarios began to play out before her mind’s eye. Every primitive instinct within her was shouting that this predator would harm her—that those three-inch-long fangs could take her life without a second thought. But even as the thoughts entered her mind, they dissolved. This was Nero, and he would never harm her, no matter what form he wore.

Eden reached for him, and the panther rubbed his massive head into her open palm as if he’d never wanted anything more. Her delighted laugh made the panther chuff, the soft, soothing sound vibrating through to her soul as the cat gently pushed his head into her palm.

“You’re absolutely gorgeous, Nero.”

She meant every word. Running her hands through his dappled black fur was a dream become reality. As she murmured to him how beautiful and soft he was, she was struck by the fantastical nature of this situation. Days ago, petting a panther had been a logistical impossibility.

When a pair of women appeared on the lawn beside them, she realized she hadn’t noticed their approach.

“I take it he’s told you everything, then?”

Startled, Eden’s balance teetered sending her from a crouch to her butt. It forced a laugh out of her while Nero bared his fangs at the new arrivals.

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