Page 20 of Riding A Cock-Horse
“No, you've told me things that are very personal; so, I can share with you. Do you remember what Theo told you about us? How, in the shifter world, you’re born your animal and then shift into human form?”
“Yes.”
“See, after that first shift, we can’t transform into our animal again till puberty. It's a protection mechanism in our species—since children can't really control themselves the best—but my little sister, Angela, was different. Something was wrong with her; she started shifting immediately after she turned two. It was quite a shock for my mum and dad, and she had to go live out in the country with my aunt and uncle.”
I can see the muscles tensing around Jack’s neck and collarbone. Pressing a swift kiss to our connected hands, I wait silently for him to continue.
“I rarely got to see Angela, but I loved her. She was the sweetest thing, and my parents doted upon her so much. They planned to move to the country so we could be with her as soon as possible, but were waiting until my school year ended.” Jack’s hands begin to shake as he takes another deep breath. “Angela’s favorite thing was to shift and chase lorries as they would go driving by my aunt and uncle’s farm house. One day, when she was outside playing, she ran in front of one. It hit her and killed her.”
I gasp, a hand flying to my mouth.
“Oh, Jack, I’msosorry,” I tell him with all the heartfelt sorrow I feel. “I can't even imagine how your poor parents or you handled it.”
“Yes, it was very hard on all of us. As Theo said earlier, children are cherished because they're just so rare for shifters. There's so many extenuating circumstances that have to be in place for our kind to have babies. My little sister was a gift—a wonder—and her loss really affected my parents. They completely withdrew. It was actually Harry's parents who were taking care of Angela, and I'm closer with them—they're more like my parents than mine are. After Angela died, my parents just retreated into themselves. I spent my summers and most weekends with my aunt and uncle. It was great because Harry's only a year older than me; so, he's like a sibling—but it's not the same when you actually lose one. Don't tell Harry I told you this, but he was the one who was supposed to be looking after Angela.”
I cringe.
“Oh, no.”
“I don't blame him, or anything,” Jack hastily adds, “and I really hope nobody else does because we were just little kids ourselves. Eight year olds aren't really supposed to be in charge of four year olds—especially when that eight year old is, well,Harry. Sometimes I think he acts the way he does because he's trying to hide all the hurt inside of him.”
Jack stares off into space, his shoulders slumped. I bump him with mine in a friendly manner.
“Hmmm, maybe. Or maybe he's just a perverted sex fiend like me for no reason at all.”
Jack quirks a smile before relapsing into silence again.
“It's hard being a shifter,” I whisper more to myself than to him.
“Yeah, it really is.”
“You know, when I was a kid, my friends and I would play ‘What kind of animal do you want to be?’ I’d always pick something cool—like a mermaid.”
Jack rolls his eyes.
“There you go picking things that don't exist again.”
“Hey! What would be cooler than being part fish while still being part human?! I could eat tacos and swim—tell me that's not a win-win!” This makes Jack laugh, and I feel some of the tension ease around us. “What I was saying, though, is when you're a kid, it's just a game. So, you don't think of the ramifications of it. But nothing has ever been more serious to me than what's happening right now. I can't even imagine the kind of stress your kind constantly lives in—especially if you're a Primary. I just wish there was something I could do.”
Jack nods.
“We've all been hoping that for all of our lives.”
It’s right then and there that I make a decision.
I'mnotgoing to die on the battlefield with my ass biting me.
I'mnotgoing down without a fight—and that fight is to make things right for Primaries.
Someone clears their throat behind me making me jump up and spin around. It’s Arthur and standing next to him is a man that is undoubtedly his father—they are absolute replicas of one another. Except Arthur's father is older, and his hair a little bit grayer and darker. Interestingly, both wear the same solemn looks. Before Arthur can say anything, his father slants him a frown.
“I thought she wasyoursweetheart?”
At this, Arthur blushes, and I bite my cheek to keep from smiling.
Nothing makes me want to jump a man more than when he blushes.
It screams, ‘Take control of me and make me your bitch’—but only in the best way.
