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The door to his bedroom shut a few moments later.
Cookie didn’t waste a second in running across the hall and into my room.
“Now what?” I whispered as she shut the door.
“I’m not sure, but kudos on the quick thinking. You’re getting much better at being interrogated.” She gave me a thumbs-up and nodded.
“What are we going to do? What if I’m useless after tomorrow?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I’m telling you, it’s not going to be that easy, and I’m more confident now than I was before.”
“Why?” I asked, leaning in, hanging on every word.
“Because I’ve been doing some digging, asking a couple questions here and there. My money is still on his not being able to undo anything. You’re fundamentally different. Don’t worry. This isn’t going to be easy for him. We’ll figure something out.”
There was a banging sound in the hall, and we both froze. After it fell quiet again, she said, “Just stay calm. We’ll figure it out.”
The second she left my room, I went and picked up the newspaper sheet that had given up my plans. The one I thought I’d tossed in the fireplace. There in the corner were two ashy mouse prints.
That two-timing little rodent.
“Where are you? I know you’re nearby.” I got on my knees, looking under the bed, then moved to the dresser.
There was a telltale squeak behind me. When I turned around, the mouse shifter was standing in my room, a pillow over his privates with his other hand up in a gesture of surrender. “Just give me a chance to explain.”
“Why did you do that?” I moved closer, not caring that he was naked. It might’ve been better. He was more vulnerable to a takedown. “I should set mousetraps all over this place.”
He sucked in a breath.
“And what is your name, anyway? Just so I know what to call you when I’m telling Kaden about his little two-timing shifter.”
“I had to do it.” He let out a squeak, making me wonder if he was more mouse or man.
“Why? And don’t lie, because I will set out those traps.”
He took a step back. “Because I was afraid you were going to get yourself killed. I didn’t tell him anything, though. I just saved that scrap of paper from the fire and left it somewhere conspicuous.”
“Bullshit. We’ve been having meetings for a week, and you’ve surely heard every word.Nowyou think I’m going to get myself killed?”
Keeping a hand on the pillow, he pointed to the newspaper. “Those people she thinks you should talk to? Convert to your cause? I’ve seen what each one of them is capable of. I could tell you stories that would keep you awake at night. You can’t trust a single one of them. Duplicitous and scheming.”
“You couldn’t have said something to me? You had to rat me out?”
His mouth popped open like I’d slapped him.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “Bad choice of words, but you still should’ve come to me.”
“Would you have listened? Would it have altered anything?”
“I would’ve listened.” He was right on every other point. It didn’t matter if it was dangerous. It had to be done. It was the only way I’d be able to live with myself. I walked to the window, wishing he’d just leave.
“It doesn't matter anyway. He won’t be able to undo it,” he said, his eyes pleading silently for forgiveness.
“What do you know of this?” I asked.
“I hear things. A lot of things. I’ve never heard of the transition getting undone.”
I wished I could feel completely relieved or happy, but I couldn’t. I might be able to get my revenge, but I’d still stuck Kaden with me.
