Page 33 of The Goblin in the Sink Drain
“She already was,” he rumbled, his voice rolling like thunder. He bent a knee before me, and it was like a mighty redwood tree bowing to a passing deer. “How do you feel?”
“Arf.”
I tried slapping a hand over my mouth, but I smacked myself in the face with a paw. A soft whine slipped out of me before I could catch it, and sympathy warmed Rían’s gaze.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.” He lifted me gently out of the puddle of my clothes, careful to support my newly elongated spine, and carried me to one of the grooming stations. “Take a look.” He set me down in front of a mirror. “What do you think?”
A red miniature dachshund standing six inches tall and weighing maybe ten pounds stared back at me through soulful eyes. I would have laughed at the novelty had I been human, but all I managed was a sound between a snuffle and a huff. I never expected my first shift to go quite like this, but I had to admit that Fayne was right. I was adorable.
Before I knew it, my hips were bouncing side to side across the table from the force of my tail wagging.
“I think she likes it.” Fayne came to inspect her handiwork. “Are you good to go?”
With a rush of anticipation, I gave a firm nod and allowed Rían to cradle me against his chest again.
“How’s your arm?” He lifted it with infinite care. “Does it hurt when you put your weight on it?”
Careful to get my message across with exaggerated gestures, I shook my head to set his mind at ease.
Though, to be fair, I had barely used my arm—leg?—so I couldn’t say for certain whether it would cause problems later. But the way Fayne kept studying that injury like she could see beneath the magic, a tight smile on her face, made me think she had just proven something to herself.
“You keep hold of Ana.” Fayne gathered the supplies we needed from my stores. “I’ll get us where we’re going. I can give you both the rundown on the way, so you’ll each know what to expect before we start.”
From his distant expression, I doubt Rían realized that he had started petting me, showing my sensitive ears extra attention, but I was ready to melt into him and live there. His hands on me feltsogood. I leaned into him, angling my belly up, shameless as I asked for more. I blamed it on my current form because I would have been mortified otherwise.
With me safely in wiener mode, we returned to the SUV to begin the real adventure.
ten
Fayne parkedin the lot for a bustling grocery store and passed my harness and leash to Rían, who adjusted it to fit me. Satisfied I was ready to go, she got out holding her own supplies.
“The walking track is on the other side,” she explained as we joined her, Rían still holding me tight. “On the far side of the loop, behind the privacy fence, is the back forty of the pride lands.”
“There’s a dumpster.” He jerked his chin toward the rear of the store. “That’ll give you some privacy.”
“Ugh.” Fayne passed him her harness and leash. “I’ll be right back.”
As she stalked off toward the store’s docking bay, Rían scanned the area, but there was no one in sight.
“I’m not sure if I should be thrilled or terrified that she’s already involving you in her schemes.” He resumed scratching my ears. “Fayne isn’t quick to trust, but you won her over in record time.”
Content to distract him, I made a pleased sound and nudged closer.
“She might be retired,” he continued, “but she’s always kept a hand in. The itch is worse now, after she’s spent the last yearacting as my second while Liam was working undercover. I think that gave her a taste for action again. I might have to find a more active role for her.” He glanced down at me. “Fledging you will help. It will give her purpose. Not that it’s your job to give her purpose.” He shut his eyes a moment. “Sorry for talking your ear off.”
I pawed his arm, drawing his attention, letting him know I didn’t mind. I had never been a confidante for a man before. Sloane and I spent so much time together, a requisite for a bodyguard, there had been no gaps for secrets to fall in the cracks between us. Not really. This felt different. Important. Not because of the magnus thing. Rían was comfortable sharing his worries, like I could help shoulder his burdens.
That was a couple’s thing, right? You did that with people you trusted, whose opinions mattered to you. I had never experienced that bond with any of the guys I dated, but the relationships I had been in were a sham. Those brief periods were about not being alone for me and getting closer to my dad for them.
Damn it.
Not my dad.
Carmichael. Carmichael. Carmichael.
Memories of the stinging outline of his palm were enough to bolster my resolve.
“Ah. There we go. All done.”
