by Erin Johnson
The prince nodded thoughtfully. “That makes sense. I’m sure Sam was frightened—he’d want to go somewhere familiar and comforting.”
Pine needles crunched under our feet, and the foliage overhead crowded out what little light the moon cast. We climbed over fallen logs and pushed aside huge ferns as we moved deeper and deeper into the royal forest. Crickets chirped, mostly chatting about the weather, and an owl hooted somewhere nearby, talking to itself.
Not many mice out tonight, hmph. I’m hungry.
An owl. Would the royal healers soon have a cure for my own curse? I glanced toward the sky, the leaves mostly blocking it. Oh, to soar again. I shook it off—time to focus, Jolene. I kept my ears pricked for any hissing.
Soon, Daisy and Francis stopped moving forward and began to circle a little clearing with a dense cluster of bushes and grasses.
“I believe he’s somewhere nearby—his scent is strong here.”
The princess folded her arms and shot the vampire an arch look. “Oh, yeah? His smell is extra lispy?”
Peter fought a chuckle by coughing into his fist.
Daisy snuffled and huffed, nose to the ground, making sharp turns and doubling back. She let out a low whine. A snake is definitely nearby.
I curled my lip and glanced down at my feet, lifting one, then the other. I could talk to animals, but that didn’t mean I still wanted to run into a strange snake in the middle of the night.
After I was sure I wasn’t about to be bit, I crouched down and pictured Sam in my mind. “Hiss.” Sam? Saaamm? I waited, ears pricked, then hissed again. Sam, my name’s Jolene, and I’m here to help. I’ve got your friends with me. It’s safe—you can come out now.
To my left, a bush rustled, then some of the knee-high grasses swayed. Daisy lifted her head, and Francis tipped back upright unnervingly quickly.
A little green snake slithered closer to my foot, and I forced myself to hold my ground—even though part of me wanted to shriek and leap into Peter’s arms.
I gulped and hissed again. Sam?
The snake’s forked tongue darted out, tasting the air, and then it hissed as it passed me by and headed toward the princess. Yesss. It’sss me, Sssam.
The princess looked at me with wide eyes until I nodded. “It’s definitely him.”
“Oh, yay!” She clapped and dropped down to a crouch. She set Iggy’s lantern down on the ground beside her and used one finger to gently stroke Sam’s scaly head.
I hissed again as the prince crouched down beside her and waved at the little snake.
Sam—it’s safe now. Why don’t you change back?
The snake turned its head toward me, its lips curved up in a constant smile, though his tone was tremulous. I tried. I wasss too ssscared.
I nodded and licked my lips. Peter bent forward, his warm hand on my shoulder. See that sack your vampire friend is holding? The man who ordered the attack on you is in there. You’re safe now—safer by far than you were before.
The little snake’s tongue darted out again. Okay. I’ll try again.
It took another few moments, but in a whoosh of magic, the snake disappeared and Sam Snakeman, in human form, sat on the ground in his place.
“Sam!” The princess lunged forward and threw her arms around him, tackling them both to the ground. He still wore his suit and bowtie from when he’d given his speech, but neither of them seemed to care that they were both getting covered in dirt and leaves. Peter helped me back to my feet, and Daisy trotted over. We both petted her head—to my surprise, she let me.
I woofed at her. Good work, girl.
She grinned up at me. Thanks. She snapped her jaw shut and woofed again. But don’t call me “girl.”
I nodded and woofed back. Fair enough.
39
Starters and Enders
“Yum.” Heidi closed her eyes in bliss as she slurped up a noodle.
I grinned, chopsticks poised over my bowl of ramen. “They didn’t have this up at the palace?” I scooped a piece of pork into my mouth.
Will swallowed his bite and jabbed his chopsticks in my direction. “That’s about the only thing they didn’t have, sister.” He flipped his white lab coat back and scooted closer on his rolling stool. “I’ll miss that place—it’s much more my style.”
I grinned and slumped happily down in one of the lobby chairs in Will’s clinic, my booted feet propped up on the coffee table next to a pile of glossy magazines. Peter, who sat eating beside me, tipped his head and leaned it against mine. Daisy lay at our feet, a thick bone propped between her huge paws. She gnawed on the end of it as rain tapped at the roof and the metal door that led to the alley.
I felt a sense of peace that I hadn’t felt in, well… ever. I snuggled against Peter—I was dating a great guy who accepted me for who and what I was. I kept up great banter with his adorably prickly dog, and my friends and I and all the shifters on the island were finally free from the tyranny of Ludolf Caterwaul. All that, plus a bowl of ramen from our favorite cart, made me one happy gal.
I pointed my chopsticks at Will. “What are you going to do now with all that extra money from not paying Ludolf ‘protection’ fees?”
He looked down at his steaming bowl for a long moment, then looked up, uncharacteristically serious. “I’m a surgeon, right?”
I frowned at him in mock confusion. “A what now? You’ve never mentioned that before.”
Heidi snickered, and he shot her a flat look.
“Har har.” He shrugged his beefy shoulders. “I can operate on people, and now I have experience operating on animals….” He lifted a bushy brow. “I figured I’d open a practice where I saw shifters—a perfect marriage of the two.”
I nodded. “That’s actually a great idea, Will.”
He shot me a sassy look. “Actually?”
I rolled my eyes. “I just mean, I wouldn’t have thought of it. I’m sure you’ll be rolling in it in no time.”
He nodded, primly. “Me, too.”
Peter lifted a palm. “Maybe you can start with all those cured shifters that were trapped in the animal sanctuary for so long. I’m sure they need some good medical attention.”
I nodded my agreement.
Will finished a bite. “Have the royal healers cured them all?”
“Yeah.” I bit my lip. I hadn’t been sure how to tell my friends this part… I wasn’t sure they’d approve. “After we booked Ludolf last night and we joined you guys at the palace, I had a talk with them.”
Heidi put her bowl down in her lap, and Will leaned forward.
I took a deep breath and blew it out. “The healers said my files were among the ones the prince and princess recovered and that they’d been working on a cure for me.”
Heidi gasped and opened her mouth to speak, but Will waved at her. “Let her finish.”
I gulped. “They said that most of the cases were pretty straightforward, but mine was different. The way the curse interacted with my abilities was unique. Being able to speak to animals was a side effect that complicated things. That, plus the fact that I’d been cursed for years and my magic was suppressed, fueling the curse, apparently made curing it tricky.” I gave a hollow chuckle. “You know me—always complicated.”
Peter squeezed my shoulder, and I fought against the tightness in my throat. “They said they’d brewed a cure, and that if I drank it, I might gain the ability to shift and my powers back.” I cleared my throat. “Or, I might lose all my magic permanently, including the ability to speak to animals.”
Heidi bit her lip. “Jolene… I’m so sorry.”
Will pressed his lips tight together. “What did you decide?”
Using my abilities to help solve murders, save all those trapped shifters, and bring down Ludolf had changed the way I viewed my situation. Plus, I couldn’t imagine never hearing another insult from Daisy again.
I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders. “I decided not to drink it. I see my ability to speak to animals as a gift now,
and I’ve come to peace with not being able to shift or do other forms of magic.” I shrugged. “Not that I won’t miss soaring over the island or casting spells, but… it’s a mindset shift. I don’t see it as a curse anymore.”
Will nodded. “They talk about that in my anger management classes—changing your mindset.”
Heidi gave me an appreciative nod. “I’m proud of you.”
I grinned, relieved. “Thanks, guys.” I’d been afraid they’d think my decision was crazy, but I should’ve known they’d be supportive.
We ate in silence for a few moments, the rain tapping at the windows. As I thought about the healers and the cursed shifters, something else occurred to me.
I raised my brows at Heidi perched on her tall wooden stool, which she’d pulled around from behind the check-in desk. She wore red spandex shorts, matching leg warmers, and an oversized black sweater that hung open over one shoulder. “Heidi—you sad about the sloth?”
It’d only been about a week that she’d been caring for the trapped shifters in my apartment, but I knew she’d bonded with them all—especially the sloth. In fact, it seemed odd to see her without it resting on her hip, gazing adoringly up into her face.
Her brows pinched together, and she sighed down into her ramen. “Kinda, yeah…” She perked up, her lips pulled to the side in a mischievous grin. “He’s kinda hot, though.”
Will lifted a bushy brow at her. “Kinda?” He shook his head at me. “She’s crazy—the boy is fine.”
I choked on my ramen as I laughed. “Wait—what?” The only shifters I’d seen cured so far had been elderly activists who’d been cursed by Ludolf decades ago. “I didn’t realize you two were into octogenarians.”
Will shot me a flat look, and Heidi giggled and shook her head, her two ponytails dusting her shoulders. “No, silly! Ludolf only cursed him a few months ago.” She wagged her brows at Will. “John is hot, though, huh?”
Will scoffed and spun to face me again. “And head over tail for her.”
Heidi bit her lip, eyes shining. “You think?”
Will rolled his eyes. “He asked you out, didn’t he?”
I gasped. “What now? Heidi, that’s great!”
Peter nodded. “Congrats.”
Will leaned toward me and lowered his voice. “He’s got the energy level you’d expect of a sloth shifter, which is actually a nice balance to hers.” He rolled his eyes. “A huge improvement on her usual bouncer type.”
I flashed my eyes at him. “Thank the sea goddess.”
Heidi blushed and grinned wider than I’d seen in a long time. “Thanks, guys. I’m pretty excited.” She shimmied her shoulders, then grew thoughtful. “I mean, he said he still needs to let his family know he’s alive and try to get his job back—he’s a teacher—and see if he still has his apartment.” She waved it away like these were small things. But hopefully, with all the charges so publicly brought against Ludolf, John’s friends, family, and employer would be understanding.
“But he asked me if tomorrow night was good.” Heidi scrunched her nose and beamed. “Eee!”
Will sniffed. “And that’s moving pretty fast—especially for a sloth.” He looked at me, waiting for my reaction.
I shook my head at him. “How long have you been waiting to say that?”
His expression darkened. “Shut up.”
I smirked. “Well, Heidi, I’m very excited for you.”
Peter nodded. “I hope we get to meet the young man soon.”
I elbowed him. “Look at you, mister protective father figure.”
He blushed and dove back into his ramen. “I just like to make sure my friends are safe.”
“Aw.” Heidi bounced on her stool. “We’re friends?”
Will frowned at her. “Dur. I saved his dog.” He pointed his chopsticks at Daisy, who manically gnawed at the bone.
Heidi shot him a flat look and gestured at Will, herself, and me. “We saved his dog.”
I shook my head at said dog and woofed. You act like we don’t feed you. I fought a grin as she looked up at me, dark eyes wide. Have some dignity—you’re slobbering all over the floor.
Daisy glared at me and growled. You’re one to talk! You practically inhaled that soup you’re eating. She huffed and looked back down at her bone, grumbling to herself. And you drool all over Peter.
I chuckled, then grinned at Peter beside me. True enough.
“Ooh!” Heidi pointed with her chopsticks at the local newspaper, The Conch, which sat on the coffee table between us. “Did you see the paper?”
A magically moving image of Ludolf transforming from a heron to his human form took up most of the front page. The royal healers had cured him, and the haggard-looking Ludolf would soon stand trial—according to the headlines. Below it was Madeline L’Orange’s exposé.
I nodded and finished slurping up some noodles. “Madeline’s piece was pretty groundbreaking.”
Peter nodded. “It’s all anyone can talk about. The entire island is stunned that there’s a whole city of shifters living in the sewers below their feet.”
Heidi’s eyes widened. “What’s going to happen next? Are they going to move all the shifters out of there?”
I shrugged. “Yesterday, Prince Harry said he’d seek input from the shifter community about how to handle it. Initially he’d talked about clearing the sewers out, but I told him a lot of people considered it home.”
I thought of my old headmistress at the orphanage, Mrs. Rankle, and how she’d bought her place with her retirement money. I also remembered the prince welcoming my landlady’s thoughts—he was going to get an earful.
Peter nodded. “It’s about time things changed—in a lot of ways. My chief, McCray, is all about reforming the police department. She, Inspector Bon, and I are heading up a task force to root out corruption.” He waggled his brows at me. “And we’re starting an initiative to get more shifters on the force.” He nudged me with his elbow.
Will frowned as he looked between us. “What is this?”
I shook my head. “Peter wants me to be a cop.”
Will nearly choked.
Peter lifted his chin. “You’ve got great instincts, a keen mind, and are great at getting people to talk.”
Will sniffed. “Pushing their buttons, he means.”
I shrugged. “That too.”
Peter nodded. “Couple that with your ability to speak to animals and you’d be invaluable.”
I turned and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.” I shook my head and turned back to my friends. “For now, I plan to keep consulting with Peter and Daisy.” I’d originally taken the job out of desperation for rent money, but it’d turned out to be pretty fun—and life changing.
I held up my chopsticks. “But I’ve also decided I’m going to open up my own practice.” I grinned. “Since I basically live at Peter’s now—”
He beamed at me.
“—I’m going to base it out of my old apartment. That way, it’ll be accessible to people here in the Darkmoon District.” I gave a firm nod. “I’ve still got my license, and I’m hoping attitudes toward shifter lawyers are changing. Besides, with the prince and princess making changes to laws and ordinances, they’re going to need some legal input.” I waggled my brows.
Will nodded. “Smart.”
I thought so. I’d realized how important it was to me to feel like I was making a difference. I wanted to see justice done, and by working with Peter and Daisy and taking up law again, I’d certainly be doing a lot of that. It was basically the best of both worlds.
“Ooh! Did you guys see about the bakers?” Heidi beamed at me.
I nodded, smiling. When we’d brought Ludolf to the jail last night, Mimi Moulin had been waiting for us with a sample of her sourdough starter. She said she’d heard about us capturing Ludolf and trusted me.
I’d been surprised—not only by her gesture, but also at how fast news of Ludolf’s capture had spread through the Darkmoon. I probably shouldn’t hav
e been surprised though—for all its grittiness and poverty, it was a pretty tight-knit community.
Peter spoke around his mouthful of noodles. “Mimi Moulin let us test her sourdough starter—it proved that Polly Pierre had stolen her recipe all those years ago. Her daughters were disqualified.”
I snorted. “I mean—Elin was already in jail for accidentally murdering her mother instead of her sister.”
Will shrugged. “Easy mistake to make.”
I smirked. “Yeah, quite the family. I doubt Tonya was going to carry the team to victory anyway, but it was some redemption for Mimi.”
“Plus, now she’s the new royal baker!” Heidi grinned. “That’s so exciting, right? A shifter as head of the palace bakery? That’s a big deal.”
I nodded. It was a big deal… and big progress.
I leaned over and grabbed my beaker of cider from where it sat on the linoleum beside me and raised it in the air. “A toast.”
Peter reached forward and grabbed his own beaker off the coffee table, and Heidi and Will raised their boiling flasks of cider (the clinic was short on cups).
I smiled at all of them, even down at Daisy. “To being free—finally.”
Will nodded and held his drink up. “And to maturing.”
Heidi beamed around the room. “And to friendship!”
Peter looked me over, his eyes shining. “To love.”
We leaned in and clinked our makeshift glasses, then spent the rest of the night eating, laughing, and drinking together. Life was good, and as I thought of the future, it only looked better and better.
Thank you for reading The Big Fang Theory. I hope you enjoyed it, and the entire Magic Market series!
Have you read my other series,
Spells & Caramels? It also takes place in Bijou Mer and features some familiar faces.
Imogen Banks is struggling to make it as a baker and a new witch on the mysterious and magical island of Bijou Mer. With a princely beau, a snarky baking flame and a baker’s dozen of hilarious, misfit friends, she’ll need all the help she can get when the murder mysteries start piling up.