"Finally! I was about to send out a search party."
"Hi Mom." Harper twisted a strand of hair around her finger. "Is Dad there? Can you put it on speaker? I have some news."
A rustling sound came through the phone, followed by her father's warm baritone. "Everything okay, sweetheart?"
"Yes! More than okay, actually." Harper's heart raced as she gathered her courage. "I... I met someone today."
Tell them!Reyna's excitement bubbled through their connection.Tell about mate!
"Oh?" Her mother's voice held carefully controlled interest. "Someone nice?"
"His name is Nathan." Harper closed her eyes, picturing his gentle smile. "And... well..." She drew in a shaky breath. "Reyna claimed him as our mate. The moment we met."
Silence stretched across the line for three heartbeats.
"What?" Her mother's voice shot up an octave. "But that's not... shifters don't have fated mates. That's just in those romance novels."
"I know! That's what I thought, too." Harper flopped back against her pillows. "But Mom, the instant Reyna saw him, she just knew. She started screeching 'mate! mate!' in my head so loud I could hardly think."
"Hmm." Her father's voice was thoughtful. "Is he a shifter too?"
"No, he's human. Well, mostly. The innkeeper thinks he might have some wild magic." Harper smiled, remembering Renee's theory.
"Slow down, honey." Her mother's voice held a mix of worry and excitement. "Start from the beginning. Tell us everything."
Harper smiled, warmth spreading through her chest as she thought of Nathan. "He's a musician," she told her parents, her voice soft with remembered joy.
"What?" Her father's disapproving tone crackled through the phone. "Like in one of those boy bands?"
A startled laugh burst from Harper. "Dad! That is so turn of the century. No one even talks about boy bands anymore."
"Well, what kind of musician then?" Her father pressed, skepticism heavy in his voice.
"He's a cellist," Harper explained, sitting up straighter against her pillows. "He teaches at the local music conservatory."
Beautiful music,Reyna chimed in.
"A cellist?" The relief in her father's voice was almost comical. "Oh. Well. That's... different."
"He comes from a musical family," Harper continued, eager to share more about Nathan. "Both his parents are professional musicians. And you should see his studio - he has this gorgeous Steinway baby grand that belonged to his great-grandmother."
"A pianist, too?" Her mother's interest perked up noticeably.
"Yes, he teaches piano, also, and violin. I haven't heard him play yet, but when he talks about music..." Harper trailedoff, remembering the way Nathan's eyes had lit up while they discussed music.
"So this Nathan..." Her father cleared his throat. "He seems to be taking all this supernatural business well?"
"Surprisingly well." Harper traced patterns on her comforter. "He already knew about shifters. Well, there's something else."
"Something else?" her mother queried.
"Yes," Harper said, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "But you have to promise - absolutely promise - not to tell anyone. Not even other shifters."
Her mother's sharp intake of breath crackled through the phone line. "Harper, what's going on?"
"Promise first." Harper twisted the edge of her comforter between her fingers. "This is serious."
"Of course we promise," her father's steady voice assured her. "You know we'd never betray your confidence."
