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Meryn placed her hand on his. “I wouldn’t have said anything if it wasn’t important. You know that.”
Avery nodded but still didn’t say anything.
Meryn looked around. “Therian, derived from therianthropy, defined as the mythological ability for a human to change into an animal. In the human world, one of the most famous examples is lycanthropy or werewolves.”
Aiden nodded slowly. “And Avery is a shifter. That makes sense.”
Meryn looked over to Avery.
“What she doesn’t want to say is my shifting is different. I am not a lycanthrope or an ailuranthrope, not a wolf or a cat.”
“Right, you’re a red fox,” Warrick said.
Avery shrugged. “But I don’t have to be just a fox.”
Meryn grinned. “He is probably the coolest shifter ever. He can become anything.”
Zoe looked around. You could hear a pin drop.
Aiden shook his head. “You know what, lately, I refuse to question these new revelations.” He looked down at Avery. “Can you help find Gage and the others?”
Avery frowned and looked to Meryn. “Can I?”
Meryn nodded and tapped on her laptop before rotating it to show Avery. “Can you become a fennec fox?”
Avery nodded. “Easily. It’s even close in size and shape to what I normally change into. Why?”
Meryn pointed. “Fennec foxes have like supersonic hearing and are best at hearing things underground. They can hear the vibrations of their prey scurrying around.”
Avery nodded enthusiastically. “I can go searching for them!”
Meryn held up her hand, and he high-fived her.
Avery looked down at the floor. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to tell anyone about my abilities. I think that’s why my family was hiding. But, I never would have kept this to myself if it meant someone dying.”
Meryn nodded. “I know. That’s why you’re amazing and super cool.”
Nigel nodded. “Like super-super cool! I want to be able to turn into any animal. That sounds incredible.”
Avery blushed but looked proud. Moments later, his form wavered, and he became the smallest fox she had ever seen. But, what was more impressive, was that his clothes shrunk down to fit him.
Magnus clapped Warrick on the back. “I do not think you will ever have to worry about your mate. He just stole the heart of everyone present.”
Meryn rubbed Avery between his huge ears. “You’re so fucking cute!”
Warrick gently picked up his mate. “I have my walkie-talkie. I’ll call out if he finds anything.”
Nigel and Neil stood. Neil looked down at Meryn. “We’ll go with them. If Avery finds them, it may be through a hole smaller than Gage and the others can get through.” He paused. “The guys would probably have a time getting through a human Avery-shaped hole too.” He grinned. “We can reshape the stone to create larger openings.”
“Good call,” Meryn said.
The boys jogged after Avery and Warrick.
Zoe watched as the impossibly huge warrior cuddled a fox that was smaller than his bicep. “How remarkable.”
*****
Meryn chewed on her lower lip. “Shouldn’t they have found something by now?”
