“So you say yes when you bark?” the witch asked, and Radek made a desperate sound, fidgeting under the weight of her gaze.
Her mouth twisted. “And is your fur green?”
Yev exhaled, as if he didn’t understand her method either. “Say no, Ember.”
So Radek whined.
The witch cocked her head, taking hold of his jaw. “Hmm… Let’s try something else.”
She walked off to the area with all the objectionable ingredients and grabbed a small glass container filled with clouded eyes suspended in some sort of brine. Radek backed away on the table, but Yev grabbed him before he could have rolled off, and stroked his back with a shush. The witch pulled one eye out of the jar and wrapped it in a white handkerchief.
“It won’t hurt. If you’re a man, come here and don’t act like a baby,” she said, urging Radek forward, so he reluctantly approached her, trusting Yev to keep him from harm. “Good. Now hold your eyes open.”
When Radek did as told, she squeezed the handkerchief until it leaked a clear liquid, which dripped into his eyes. Radek fought the sense of revulsion at where the drops originated, but the itch they caused redirected his attention quite efficiently. Yev’s hand always felt soothing on Radek’s furry flesh, and as it trailed along his back over and over, he could have almost relaxed. Almost.
“Curious,” the witch said, shining the flame of a candle into Radek’s stinging eyes.
“What is it?” Yev urged her as she put away the drenched handkerchief.
“If he were cursed, his eyes would have become human, but this is his true nature. He’s a changeling.”
Radek let out a ‘hn?’ and cocked his head, so she continued.
“I’ve known a few in my time, but that was decades ago. A changeling can live out their whole life not knowing what they are. Like a cuckoo, the mother waits for an opportunity to plant her child in an unsuspecting human’s home. That’s why a woman should never turn her back on her newborn after sundown.”
Yev huffed. “So why is he like this if he claims he’s human?”
Radek barked, but stilled when the witch shushed him with a tap to his nose.
“He’s been awoken to his nature. This usually happens following a traumatic event involving his mother’s species. The only time I’ve ever witnessed such a thing was when a woman shifted into a cat after her own moggy got hit by a car. I’ve never seen her again.”
That was… terrifying. What the hell was this supposed to mean for him?
“Are you saying he’ll stay like this?” Yev whispered, but he could lower his voice all he wanted. Radek would have still heard him.
The witch clicked her tongue. “Not necessarily. Most changelings die shortly after they awaken, because they don’t know how to survive in their new form. They die of hunger or fall victim to predators.” She grabbed Radek’s stump, and this time, her touch was surprisingly gentle despite her nails resembling claws. “He’s lucky you found him. Maybe he’ll learn to understand his nature and find a way to control it. Whatever caused his transformation must have been extremely stressful. I can’t just snap my fingers and shift him back, but once he calms down, gets accustomed to what he truly is, he will assume his human form again yet stay aware that he is a changeling. So relax little thing, you’re in good hands.”
Radek growled at her in frustration. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Was he to spend years living as a mute animal? What about his life in Cracow? And as much as he resented his mother, he didn’t want her to suffer, thinking she’d lost her son.
The witch frowned. “Shush! You want me to heal your paw or not?”
Radek went silent, and his muscle tension eased when Yev slid his warm hand along his back once more.
The witch smiled. “Very good. Massage is perfect for relaxation. You should also give him lemon balm tea, and I’ll give you a herb mixture to burn in your home every night. Do you commit to taking care of him? There’s other people I could ask if you don’t want to. We don’t know how long it’s gonna take.”
Yev’s Adam’s apple rolled up and down his strong neck, and Radek could distinctly smell the sharp odor of sweat. Was Yev having second thoughts?
Radek whimpered and pushed his muzzle at Yev’s chest. He didn’t want to end up with some strangers god-knows-where. He wanted it to be Yev.
The steel gaze settled on him in hesitation. “You heard what my brother said. It could be dangerous if you stayed, but maybe… I will be here for the next few months. It’s possible you’ll turn back before I need to leave.”
Radek barked in agreement and stood on his back legs, pushing the front ones at Yev’s shoulders. He met Yev’s gaze, helplessly trying to communicate how much he longed for him to agree. He was so, so grateful already. If Gawron had caught him that first night, Radek could have ended up on the fox farm—murdered and skinned. If no one had found him in the snares, he could have been eaten alive or starved. If Yev hadn’t taken him in, the vet would have put him down. Yev was his savior, and the only person Radek trusted.