“Konrad? The Konrad who lives in my building?”
“Ourbuilding. I moved into your old apartment.”
She heard Merry gasp, then squeal.
“That’s fantastic! I can’t wait to get home and welcome you with a big hug.”
“Yeah, I was going to save it for a surprise, but now I—” Her voice broke, and she couldn’t continue. Sobs rose to the back of her throat and threatened to burst out.
“Roz, what is it?”
She coughed. “We fell in love. I was so happy. Then—” Her throat clogged again.How the hell do I tell her the love of my life is a werewolf?
Merry made a soft, sympathetic sound. “Oh, honey. Whatever happened, I’m on your side. You know that, right?”
“There are no sides. It’s not like that. I—” She sniffed. Somehow she had to find the courage to tell her. The only person whomightunderstand this was Merry. “Do you remember when you told me about Jason’s secret?”
“God, yes. I’ll never forget it. You were so brave and understanding. I thought you’d call the men in white coats on me, but instead you just listened. I can’t tell you how much that meant.”
“Well, maybe now you can return the favor. Konrad was holding something back, and I knew it. I didn’t want to push him because he’s—” She was going to say,the best thing that’s ever happened to me,but knew she’d choke up if she said the words. “I’m sorry. This is hard.”
“I know,” Merry said softly.
A quiet moment of understanding passed between them, and Roz steeled herself, calling on courage she didn’t feel at the moment.
“Merry, apparently Jason isn’t the only shapeshifter in the building.”
“I know. There’s his uncle Ralph and Nathan too.”
Roz sat up straight. “Nathan?”
“Yeah, he’s able to shift into a raven. He even battled off Morgaine’s pet owl that Jason was up against in falcon form. He would have been toast if Nathan hadn’t intervened. I didn’t tell you about them, because I didn’t think it mattered. It was enough to accept that my husband was a shapeshifter, and I didn’t know you were going to move into the building. I’m not sure I’d have let you, if I’d known.”
Roz chuckled. “That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
Merry joined in the brief moment of humor and said, “What does Konrad have to do with this?”
“Konrad’s a shifter too.”
“Really?” Merry sounded not only surprised, but pleased.
“Yeah. Don’t get excited, though. He’s not a pretty bird like your husband or Nathan. He’s a werewolf.”
“A…a what?”
“You heard me right. Awerewolf.A big, furry doggie with huge teeth and supernatural strength. Not the kind you’d want to sit on your lap.”
Merry’s side of the line went eerily quiet. At last she said, “That explains how he and Sly managed to save my life the night I was attacked.”
“He what? Saved your life? What attack?”
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want it getting back to my father, and the fewer people who knew, the better. It happened the day after I moved in. I had just returned home from work, exhausted, and wasn’t paying much attention when I walked from my car to the back door of the building. Somebody jumped me, and Konrad and Sly rescued me from a would-be rapist. He had a knife to my throat. They tossed him off me like he was a sock puppet.”
“Dear God! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“As I said, I couldn’t risk my father finding out about it. He’d have dragged my ass back to Rhode Island faster than Jason can throw a baseball.”
“How did they save you?”
