Silver Fox (Silver Shifters 2)

When she walked into the kitchen, Xi Yong and Isidor were at the table, holding hands and gazing adoringly into each other’s eyes. Doris was so startled that she stopped in her tracks. There had been so much going on in the house that apparently that had been happening right under her nose and she’d never even noticed.

She must have made a small squeak of surprise, because the two young men jerked apart and shot her identical guilty looks.

“Oh, don’t act as if Joey and I aren’t in the same boat as you two,” she said tartly, and their expressions gave way to relieved grins. “I’m glad you’ve found someone, Isidor. Maybe this’ll get my matchmaking mother off your neck at last. And just let me know if you need someone to run interference with the rest of the family. Right now, though … do you know where Joey is? I need to talk to him.”

“He’s …” Xi Yong began, and hesitated. “Outside. Taking a walk.”

Her heart thundered. “Will he be back in soon?”

Xi Yong got an odd, distant look on his face, and then he said, “I think so. Yes.”

“Can you … have him come upstairs when he gets back? I need to talk to him. It’s important.”

Xi Yong hesitated, then gave a single firm nod.

“Thank you. I’m delighted for both of you. Really.” She got two happy, shy grins as she left.

Doris felt as if the entire household must be roused by now, but everything was still dim and quiet. She went back to her room and got dressed. It would be morning soon anyway. The household would be getting up. Where was Joey?

A door closed downstairs. She tried to stop herself from going to the closed door to listen to what was happening downstairs. Oh, heck, why not give in. She listened at the door, but heard nothing. Maybe if she opened it …

She opened it—onto Joey’s chest.

“Hi,” he said softly, looking down at her. His cheeks were pink with cold, and he was wearing the clothes he always seemed to go outside in, a sweater with no hat or mittens. As if he didn’t feel the cold at all.

“Hi,” she said, suddenly breathless. She was both very glad she’d decided to get dressed, and very sorry.

“Xi Yong said you wanted to see me?”

“Yes.” She stepped back to let him in. “Yes, please. We … need to talk.”

“I know,” he said, quiet and serious. “We do.”

SEVENTEEN

JOEY

Now that it had finally come to this, he was more relieved than nervous. She didn’t look angry or upset. Just curious.

He’d just discovered that Xi Yong and Isidor were mates. Joey was happy for them, but not surprised. Things like that tended to happen around him. It was part of his fox’s power, to help and catalyze love.

Speaking of which, his fox yipped impatiently. Our mate wants us! At last!

“Come in!” Doris exclaimed, and pulled him inside. She shut the door behind him. “Or else they’ll all be in here, and I want answers first!”

“I’m not going to argue.” Joey smiled at her.

He sat on the foot of the bed. After a moment, she sat at the head.

“Do you want to go first, or should I?” Joey asked.

Doris bit her lip, then clearly made a decision. She squared her shoulders and turned to face him. “Okay,” she said, and huffed out her breath. “I know this is going to sound weird. Which is why I didn’t want anyone else hearing it. Remember the kids were talking about wolves and red horses with antlers?”

Joey’s heart hammered. “The qilin.”

“Lon said one was a wolf, then suddenly, ah, wearing their skin. What that means in seven-year-old-speak is naked. One moment a wolf. The next a person. As in . . .” She looked away, as if she couldn’t quite get the words out.

He said slowly, “As in turning from wolf to human?”