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“For her?” Kim shakes his head gravely. “She’s gone. Even I know there’s no coming back from the dead.”

“I know people who’ve tried to do that. It doesn’t end well.” I sit back down and cross one leg over the other. “Actually, I just meant… do you think you’ll wait until you find someone else? Someone you want to marry? Or do you think your wife was the one?”

Kim frowns. His face is a picture of confusion and I instantly feel guilty for having asked such a personal question when he’s still recovering from everything that happened.

“I’d like to fall in love again,” he says. “But I can’t see it happening. I can’t imagine anyone ever comparing to her.”

“It is still very fresh in your mind.” Mack’s voice sends droplets of pleasure skittering down my skin. Like warm rain on summer leaves. “Give yourself time.”

Kim smiles at him, but he’s still squinting a little. “I really need some new glasses,” he mutters.

I’m about to ask him whether I can go find him some from his apartment – wherever that is – when a yelp breaks out from underneath the bed. Kim’s bed.

“Snow?”

Another yelp. A sound that’s somewhere between a growl and a bark.

The bed shakes.

“He was under there the whole time?” Kim asks, moving to lift the sheets and peer underneath.

Mack chuckles, but then his face drops. “Something’s wrong.” He tries to get out of bed but his legs waver and he drops to the floor. Undeterred, he joins Kim pulling the sheets aside and peers into the dark space beneath the bed.

“Snow? Buddy?” He reaches in. “Is it the spell? Is it wearing off?”

He looks up at me. “The shrinking spell was supposed to wear off today. But something doesn’t feel right.”

As he speaks, he grips his side and rolls over, crying out in pain.

I drop to my knees too, but as I do, the bed shakes and starts to rise up into the air. There’s a deafening growl. A roar. The bed breaks in half and its pieces go flying across the room.

Then there he is… Snow. He seems bigger than before, more muscular. All heaving energy and power and soft white fur.

Kim scrambles backward, muttering, “Holy fuck, he really is a polar bear.”

Snow is panting. He paces back and forth, yawning, growling, flexing his muscles.

“I think he’s okay.” Mack sits up, leaning on the bedside table that’s positioned between his bed and where Kim’s was. “He’s just adjusting.”

Snow pants loudly. He shakes his head, his entire body, then makes a funny trotting motion.

The door clatters open. Kole and Tanner rush in, followed closely by Sam and Thornfield.

Thornfield, for the first time, looks something bordering on shocked. Then he grins. “Well, well,” he says. “Nice to meet you at your full capacity, bear.”

Sam rushes over and hugs Snow’s side. Tanner claps his shoulder like he’s one of the gang, and Kole nods approvingly. “Have to say,” he looks at Mack, “I much prefer him like this. He looked kinda ridiculous as a dog.”

At that, Snow huffs.

“You must be hungry,” Sam says.

“I made sure he got supper,” Tanner replies, “but he’s a little bigger now and could probably do with some fish.”

At that, Snow’s eyes brighten and he licks his lips.

Helping Mack to his feet, I laugh and say to Thornfield. “Don’t suppose there’s a zoo around here with a large supply of spare fish, is there?”

“No,” he says, rubbing his chin. “But there’s a stall on the market.” He reaches into his pocket and takes out a wedge of cash. Handing it to Sam, he says, “Take this. Buy all the fish.”