Laughing at Danger by Zenina Masters Page B

that he found for them was a nice, open space that would let him get a good run. There was nothing like a run to get a new shifter in line with their body.
    It took half an hour for Lyros to gain his hyena form. When he was standing next to her, she stroked his raised shoulders, and she finally shucked out of her clothing.
    He seemed surprised to see her height. She was taller than he was by about four inches and thirty pounds. The nice thing about being shifters was that they didn’t have to conform to the original beasts when it came to size. It meant that in this form, she was taller and it made her laugh softly.
    She nudged him with her shoulder and got him running in the strange loping run of their beasts. It evened out when they built up speed, and she ran him until he was flopped on the ground with his tongue lolling out.
    She nuzzled at his jaw and then shifted back to human. “Come on, Lyros. You owe me dinner and a wedding night.”
    He shifted under her until he was back to his glorious self. He gripped her hips and stroked his hand up her back. “That was amazing.”
    She chuckled. “It is, and now, you won’t accidentally shift while speaking to a human. There are things we can do in the house for practice, but a run is best.”
    “So, I am guessing that I have a new exercise regimen.”
    Lima sighed and smiled. “Good boy. Now, let’s get dressed. I am a little peckish after that exertion.”
    She stood and extended her hand to his, hauling him to his feet. She stared at his face, and to her surprise, the last traces of his injuries were gone.
    “You are healed.”
    He nodded. “I know. It happened during the balance ceremony.”
    She grinned and headed to her clothing. “Excellent. I look forward to your returned stamina.”
    He laughed, and they dressed before returning to the house.
    She enjoyed the view of the stone-cladded home as they approached it. “It is a lovely house.”
    “Thank you. I had it built when I first arrived. The property was a gift from the government for my service to the president.”
    “Which president?”
    “I will tell you later. Now, Teck will probably have dinner ready, but if he doesn’t, what would you like to eat?”
    She shrugged. “Omelette and a salad?”
    “I think that is manageable. I will have to contact the king and notify him of our connection. I am not sure what he is going to say.” He made a strange gesture with a twist of his lips.
    “Why not?”
    “I wasn’t precisely authorized to go in search of you. The king’s plan was to get warriors and other fey with a second shape to meet with their females if the seers could find one. I went in search of you on my own the moment that I was out of the medical facility.”
    “Aw, how sweet and dangerous.” She smacked his shoulder. “You could have hurt yourself.”
    “I would have been injured beyond words if you had found a shifter that you wanted to spend your life with. From the moment you came through that door, wordless and moving with confidence, I knew that the woman behind the fur was meant for me. When you tore the throat out of the guard, I knew it, but I also knew that I was going to have to work out before our first fight.”
    She laughed brightly at that as they entered the house. The smell of dinner was in the air, and they went in search of its origin. The head housekeeper was working in the kitchen with easy moves.
    “Lord Atherton, your meal will be ready in twenty minutes. Is your companion staying?”
    “Teck, this is my mate, Lima Pellin. We will be making arrangements for a legal ceremony, but she is going to reside here from this point onward.”
    “Are you sure, my lord? She looks a little skinny.”
    Lima shifted her head and her right hand where she ticked her claws on the granite of the counter. She shifted back to her human face. “That is because I am waiting for dinner, Teck. I blame you.”
    The housekeeper paused, blinked and laughed. “Ah. Now, it makes sense.