Page 129 of Shifter Situations

I nodded my head. I’d always thought it was too.

“Before that, we were together every day, and we’ve not been more than a few days without seeing each other as adults. Since I was born, Jack has constantly been around, first as my friend and then as my brother.

“We’ve had a mental connection since before I even understood that I could read minds. We were toddlers, playing with blocks in the palace while we shared thoughts.”

I snorted to myself. “Adolescence was interesting.”

After watching them soak up my words, I decided to address what Novak had said to me. They either got it, or they didn’t.

“Sometimes it doesn’t occur to me that you guys can’t just hear what’s going on in my head because the only other person that I’ve ever been this close to has always just... Heard me. I’ve never needed to say everything out loud.

“But we haven’t known each other as long as I’ve known Jack, so it’ll take me a little more time to remember that I need to say the things out loud. It took me a while to remember that with York too. I’m trying to be conscious of it, but I’ve never opened up to anyone as quickly as I have with you guys.”

“It was months,” my druid grumbled. He chortled when I kicked at him.

Stone regarded me, cocking his head as he asked, “How old were you when Amelia went missing?”

“I don’t know for sure.” I pursed my lips, counting backward. “Three or four months old. Maybe... I was born in April, and she went missing in August.”

“Whoa. Wait,” Novak demanded, holding his hand out to stop me. “Your birthday is in April?”

I squinted at him. “Pretty sure that’s what I just said, yeah.”

“April, what?” he pried, grinning at me.

“The seventeenth.”

“The druid’s birthday is in April too,” Stone informed us.

I cackled. “I know, but he’s a Taurus.”

“You believe in astrology?” Palmer glanced down at me, where I still had my head cushioned on his thigh.

“Mmm, only when it fits,” I responded.

My cheeky comment made him roll his eyes at me.

“Palmer loves that shit,” Briggs confided.

“He says I’m a Leo,” Novak whispered. “Can you believe him? I don’t look like a Leo.”

“You act like one,” I told him honestly.

My vampire scoffed, haughty as he replied, “I’ve never met anyone named Leo who looks this handsome.”

“Don’t entertain him,” my mage warned. “He’s being obtuse.”

“So... Birthdays?” I inquired.

Palmer smirked at me. “I’ll tell you all the dates, but you’ll have to guess whose is who.”

“What happens when I win?”

“You win.”

“I want chocolate-covered popcorn.”

“Okay,” he agreed hesitantly, narrowing his stormy gray eyes. “And if ye lose?”