“We’ll use Douglas’ office,” she said, sliding her hand into Nathan’s arm and leading him to the end of the hallway. “Liam, why don’t you and Naomi get him settled, while I go change into some regular clothes. I keep some spares in Troy’s office.”
Nathan found himself pressed into a chair, while Naomi called after Katerina, “Bring him some coffee!”
Naomi then settled in the chair beside him, smiling. “So, I guess you have questions.”
Liam laughed, easing one hip onto the heavy wooden desk that dominated the room. “I bet he does. I’m Liam McConnell, by the way.” He held out his hand, and Nathan shook it.
“Are you one of the vets?”
“Intern,” Liam nodded.
Nathan cleared his throat, not sure where to start. “So, uh. Jackalopes.”
“Yeah, I had no idea,” Naomi commented. “I thought they were an urban legend, too. Liam?”
“I knew they existed, but they stay well-hidden.” Liam was scrolling on Troy’s computer, and looked up. “Yep. Says here it’s known they’re still in existence, because burrows have been found, but there hasn’t been a verified sighting for decades.”
“I guess we have our verified sighting now, huh?” Naomi said with a grin.
Nathan envied her ability to take this lightly. Unless… oh. Right.
“Are you one of…” he asked, gesturing to the door where Katerina had disappeared.
“Shapeshifters. And yes, both of us,” Naomi confirmed, nodding toward Liam. “Not Dr. Shelton, although he’s engaged to Katerina, so he knows about shifters.”
Nathan found his hands were shaking, and he shoved them in his pockets. “I don’t even know what to say.”
The door opened, and Katerina entered, casually dressed in jeans and an oatmeal colored cable-knit sweater. “You’re taking it pretty well, actually.”
He stared at her, trying to grasp the new reality that this pretty, dark-haired woman had been a fluffy cat just a few minutes ago. “I am? I don’t feel like I am.”
She grinned. “Troy keeps a bottle of good bourbon for times like this. Can I offer you some?”
“No, no,” he denied. Not that the burn of whiskey wouldn’t hurt, but he didn’t want to get muddled. “I still have to drive home with my new… uh… jillalope?”
Naomi giggled, leaning into Liam, whose arm went around her waist. Feeling slightly disappointed, Nathan realized they were a couple.
Liam pressed a kiss to Naomi’s hair, and turned towards the door. “Now you’re settled, I’m going to leave you all to it, and head back to assist Dr. Shelton if he needs it.”
As he departed, Barbara from the reception desk entered, bearing a tray with a coffee pot and several cups, along with sugar packets and a bottle of creamer. Katerina hurried over to get it from her.
“Oh, hey, Barbara. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” The older woman was clearly curious, but she kept her professional air, closing the door behind her as she presumably went back to her duties.
Katerina poured out a cup and paused, looking inquiringly at Nathan. “Cream or sugar?”
“Black, please.”
It was all so polite, and casually friendly, which only added to the surreal quality of all this.
“You were the cat,” he told Katerina, hearing a faint note of accusation creep into his voice.
She sipped her own coffee, her golden eyes… just like the eyes of her cat… gleaming at him over the brim of her cup. “A Maine Coon,” she confirmed.
“I’m a clouded leopard,” Naomi said.
Nathan gulped. “And Liam?”
