Working at the bank had accustomed her to interacting with customers, but usually just individually or in pairs. Now her inner fox was growing frantic, overwhelmed by the crowd, small as it was. The urge to flee upstairs to her bedroom's sanctuary was almost overwhelming. But she squashed the impulse - this situation was her doing, after all. Contributing to plans that would protect their shifter population was the least she owed them.
Katerina looked down as she pulled her buzzing phone from her pocket, the movement drawing Harper's attention from her glass. The cat shifter's golden eyes narrowed as she read the message.
"One of the cooks called in sick at Kazakis," she reported. "So Kester can't be here. He asks if we could record the meeting."
"An excellent idea," Maroulla approved, her brisk tone carrying the weight of authority. "That will be easier for us all, I believe."
Katerina tapped a bit on her phone, then lay it face up on the table. "It's recording now."
“I’d like first to discuss who from here will be coming forward publicly,” Maroulla began. “Katerina, of course, and Kester, and their sister, Melanthe.”
"Jake and I were going to go public at first," Joe explained, settling into a chair with his coffee. "But Rebecca's situation changes things. She’s… fragile. According to Jake, all of this is stirring up old wounds. Ever since that Djinn fellow came threatening to send her back to Salem, she's been plagued by nightmares, and this whole affair has only intensified them. Jake thinks his going public would be too hard on the peace of mind she's been slowly regaining, and I share his concern."
“But we do have Alex and Lydia,” Katerina said. "As you all know, Ethan is president of the bank where Lydia works, and his sister, Kelly, is on the board. We've spoken with them, and they’ve agreed to support her in coming forward, and the spotlight that will potentially put on the bank. Lydia and her husband, Alex, are lynx shifters," she told Harper. "Alex works on a local construction crew run mostly by the bobcat shifters.”
Harper snickered, her inner fox perking up with amusement at the revelation. "Bobcats? Really? Like, the company that makes all that construction equipment?"
Joe winked at her, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "There's a reason the company was named Bobcat."
"Ohh!" She couldn't help but laugh at the clever double meaning. The construction company's name had seemed so ordinary before, but now she saw it in an entirely new light. She loved that the supernatural connections were everywhere, hiding in plain sight.
Maroulla tapped away at her open laptop, pausing to glance up from her work. "We need to address the broader implications of revealing ourselves to humans," she announced. "Especially you, Katerina, and Kester."
"My public revelation will naturally put a spotlight on the vet clinic, given my marriage to one of the owners," Katerina said. "Douglas and Troy are planning to gather their staff and have... well... 'The Conversation' about what we are, before I make any announcements.
Harper's brow furrowed as she tried to keep track of all the connections. "Douglas... that's Jacinth's husband, right?" she asked, seeking confirmation.
Katerina nodded, her golden eyes warm. "Yes, that's right. Douglas, Troy, and our friend, Suzanne MacPherson, are the three partners who own the vet clinic."
"And they're all... human?" Harper ventured, her voice lowering instinctively even though they were among friends.
"Yes. Suzanne and her husband, Mac, have known about shifters for a while now. Mac is also a veterinarian, although he works at a different clinic."
Harper's inner fox perked up its ears, curiosity piqued. She leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "So they've been aware of the supernatural world for a while?"
"Oh yes," Katerina confirmed with a nod. Her eyes twinkled. "Although, there was good Scotch involved when Troy and I told them."
Harper felt a wave of relief wash over her. Knowing there were other humans besides Nathan who had successfully integrated into their world, who understood and accepted them, eased some of the anxiety that had been gnawing at her. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for a future where they could all coexist openly.
“Talya’s unhappy about not being allowed to come out, too,” Jacinth reported, with a roll of her eyes. “She thinks it would make her ‘cool’ at school. But Douglas and I have put our foot down, firmly. We’re not risking her. She’s new enough to being in America that she simply cannot comprehend the danger that all of us here understand so well.”
Maroulla agreed, nodding her silvered head and peering at them sternly over her black-framed glasses. The elderly woman's lined face grew even more serious, her light brown eyes sharp with concern. "Absolutely not. We are not under any circumstances putting children at risk." Her brisk tone brooked no argument. "We have teams monitoring social media. So far it seems to be fairly evenly divided between those ranting, and those supporting." She straightened in her chair, her bearing regal despite her age. "It helps that we have so many shifters, and humans who know about them, already in place in law enforcement and in the military. But we also need to protect those in sensitive occupations."
"Like you, Liam," Maroulla said to the physician, who'd settled in beside Joe with cups of coffee before both men. "We can't afford for doctors to lose hospital privileges, or for teachers to lose jobs." The authority in her voice reminded Harper why this woman had risen to such prominence in the community.
"We do worry the veterinary practice will be targeted, and we've discussed that," Katerina explained, concern darkening her amber gaze. "That extremists might try something. Kester's concerned about his restaurant as well. Not during business hours when we're present, but it's almost a certainty that someone might trash the places, either the clinic or the restaurant, after dark."
Seated beside Jacinth, Alyssa stirred. She'd been so quiet, Harper had almost forgotten she was there. The Djinn'spresence had faded into the background while the others spoke, but now her aquamarine eyes flashed with purpose.
"As to that," the Djinn woman said, her musical voice carrying an undercurrent of authority, sitting oddly with her youthful appearance, "I bear a message from Damien. The Vampire Council has also been deliberating, and they are offering night-time security for businesses and homes that might be at risk."
Her delicate features hardened with determination, suggesting this wasn't a casual offer but a serious commitment from the vampire clan.
Harper turned to stare at her, conscious of her dropped jaw. Her heart skipped a beat as she processed this new revelation. "V-vampires?" The word came out in an embarrassing squeak, her fox instincts urging her to bolt for safety.
Katerina, however, went into a peal of laughter, joined by Jacinth. Their combined mirth rang through the room, making Harper's cheeks burn with self-consciousness as she tried to regain her composure.
“Oh, my gosh! I can’t wait to tell Troy!” Katerina gasped.
