"One other thing," Katerina added, her wide gold gaze solemn as she addressed Barbara. "The list of contacts you'll have include some shifters who aren't coming forward publicly. You must understand that this list must be kept absolutely confidential."
Barbara smiled, her earlier nervousness replaced by a look of keen interest. "I understand completely. I'm looking forward to learning more and doing my part to help."
"That went better than expected," Troy said, turning to Douglas and Katerina after Barbara had left. "Both meetings."
Douglas nodded, running a hand through his hair. "I was pretty sure the staff would be supportive, but their enthusiasm was more than I'd hoped for."
Katerina slipped her small hand into Troy's larger one, her fingers warm against his palm. "Daniel looked ready to burst with questions. I bet he'll be hanging around the clinic even after he starts college."
"Wouldn't surprise me at all," Troy chuckled, remembering the teenager's excited expression. He squeezed Katerina's hand gently. "Ready to head home, kitty cat? We should probably get some rest before we head to Manhattan this afternoon."
"Yes, please." Katerina stifled a yawn. "It's going to be a long day."
Troy turned to Douglas. "Have fun at the viewing party tonight."
"Oh, yeah, I'm not about to miss it. I'm going to see if Jacinth wants to get someone in to watch the kids, while we come to the inn. We'll bring Talya with us, too, or life won't be worth living for weeks after." Troy laughed, as did Katerina, and Douglas slapped his friend on the shoulder. "Get some rest, both of you. This is going to be... interesting."
They said their goodbyes and headed out to the parking lot. As Troy settled behind the wheel, he glanced at his wife. Shewas gazing out the window, her expression thoughtful, fingers absently playing with a strand of her wild black hair. He started the engine but didn't put the truck in gear just yet.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
Katerina turned to him, her gold eyes bright in the slanting sunlight. "Just processing everything. It feels more real now that we've told the staff."
Troy nodded, understanding exactly what she meant. Until now, their plans had felt somewhat abstract, but telling the clinic staff had made everything suddenly, startlingly concrete.
Chapter 22
Harper curledinto Nathan's side on his comfortable leather sofa, a bowl of popcorn balanced between them. The familiar opening music of Marianne's talk show filled the room from his large flat-screen TV.
"I'm glad you didn't want to watch with the group at the inn," she confessed, leaning her head against his shoulder. "It was just going to be too many people, and I don't know most of them."
"No, this is better," Nathan agreed, pulling her closer, his arm about her shoulders. He dropped a kiss on her hair. "Are you nervous?"
"A little," Harper admitted. "I mean, this changes everything for all of us here, even those of us staying private. It'll put a spotlight on this area, at any rate."
Nathan gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze as the well-known talk host, Marianne Bishop, appeared on screen, dressed in a stylish royal blue suit with silver buttons catching the light. Her sunny blonde hair gleamed under the studio lights, styled in soft waves around her face. She sat poised in a cream-colored armchair, angled toward the matching two-seater sofa where Katerina and Troy relaxed side by side.
Across from them, another woman was seated in a matching cream armchair. Her resemblance to Katerina was striking – the same delicate features, the same golden eyes, even similar bone structure. But where Katerina's wild, short black hair defied taming, this woman's dark tresses fell past her shoulders in a sleek curtain. Her outfit, while elegant, was understated compared to Katerina's bold fashion choice. Katerina was dressed in a long, silky caftan that shimmered with gold and blue under the gleaming overhead lights, whereas the other woman wore a simple navy dress that emphasized her curves without drawing attention.
The differences in personality were clear, as well - Katerina projected her usual vibrant energy while the other woman carried herself with quiet grace. Beside the woman's chair stood a double stroller, its occupants hidden from view by a light blanket draped over the top.
"They look so much alike," Nathan whispered, his breath tickling Harper's ear. "That must be Melanthe?"
"Yes, and her twins in the stroller. I wonder if they're babies or kittens? We can't see them from here."
He shook his head. "This is just so wild."
The camera angle widened to show all four people in frame – Katerina and Troy on the sofa, and Marianne and the Katerina look-alike in armchairs, the covered stroller a silent presence beside her. A sleek glass coffee table separated the small group, adorned with a pitcher of water and glasses, and a vase of fresh flowers in muted pastels. The familiar studio backdrop sparkled with its signature golden accents, creating an intimate atmosphere.
"Good evening, everyone!" Marianne's warm voice rang out as the audience applauded. "Tonight, we have a very special guest with us. Many of you already know her - the brilliantfashion designer who's graced our show multiple times with her innovative collections and charming personality."
The camera panned across the enthusiastic audience before returning to Marianne's beaming face.
"But tonight, Katerina Kazakis is here, along with her husband, Dr. Troy Shelton, and her sister, Melanthe, for a completely different reason." Marianne leaned forward in her chair, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "As we've all seen in the news lately, shapeshifters are real. They live among us, and tonight, Katerina is here to tell us about her extraordinary life as one of them."
A collective gasp rose from the studio audience, rippling through the crowd like a wave, followed by enthusiastic applause and murmurs of amazement. Some audience members leaned forward in their seats, while others exchanged wide-eyed glances with their neighbors.
Next to her, Harper felt Nathan stir. She turned her head to meet his excited gaze, his fingers entwining with hers. "This is really happening," he whispered, his eyes fixed on the screen.
