"Uh," Virginia said, obviously baffled by the way everyone's expressions had just changed. "Did...I say something wrong?"
"No," Commander Ash said. "You did not." Dai shrank down, feeling about two inches tall as Ash leaned forward, folding his hands on the table. "But it seems Daifydd has neglected to tell you some important facts. Firstly, that we are shifters."
"Real shifters?" Virginia flinched back a little. "Not just descended from them, like Dai?"
*What in the name of sweet green apples did you tell her?* Chase mentally demanded of Dai. *If I'd known you were lying to get laid, I would not have helped you out.* For once, he actually sounded completely serious.
*Kin-cousin, this is both unwise and dishonorable.* John's sonorous psychic voice undercut Chase's. His face was set in a mask of disapproval. *I cannot take part in your deception.*
The overlapping telepathic communication made Dai's head hurt. "I was going to tell her, when I found the right moment," he said, having trouble keeping all the conversations straight. He gestured at John, hoping to forestall any more awkward questions. "John here is another dragon shifter, but a different type of dragon. He's a sea dragon."
"Oh," said Virginia, her usual boldness subdued. She looked John up and down, or rather up and further up. "Um. Majestic and noble, huh?"
A small smile cracked John's stern face. "We like to think so," he said. He tilted his head, the gold hoops that ran up the edge of his left ear glinting. "Although, from my perspective, I am actually a human shifter. My people live in the depths of the oceans. We are born as dragons, and we die as dragons. Very few of us ever walk the land."
As Dai had hoped, Virginia's curiosity overcame her apprehension. She leaned forward eagerly, her brown eyes alight with professional interest. "You have your own culture? Entirely separate from any human culture? How—"
"I'm sure John would love to tell you all about his people, but it'll have to wait for another time," Dai said. Inwardly, a glimmer of hope grew to a flicker. If she was warming to dragons, maybe she wouldn't hate him when he revealed he was one. "In any case, you see now that dragons aren't all bad? Despite Bertram?"
"Hm." Virginia didn't sound convinced. "Sea dragons, maybe." She looked around the table again. "Somehow I'm guessing that you aren't all sea dragons."
"No," said Griff, smiling. "My mother is an eagle shifter." Virginia opened her mouth, but Griff was already moving smoothly on, leaving no opportunity for questions. "Commander Ash is the phoenix. And Chase is—"
"Ooh, ooh, let me," Chase said, bouncing from his seat. He struck a dramatic pose, as if about to recite a Shakespearean soliloquy. "After all, how can mere words convey my full glory?"
"Not in here, Chase!" Dai yelled...but it was already too late.
The room had been crowded enough before. Adding a stallion did not improve matters.
John grabbed for the table, stopping it from overturning, while Hugh and Griff squashed themselves flat against the wall. Dai encircled Virginia in his arms, trying to keep her away from Chase's hooves.
"My God," Virginia breathed. She reached out to stroke Chase's gleaming blue-black neck. He flirted his head, ears pricked, clearly delighted with himself. "You're a horse."
Chase gave an indignant snort. Virginia's jaw dropped open as he spread his wings.
"Enough!" Dai slapped Chase on the withers. "She gets the point, you're a pretty, pretty pony. Now shift back before you destroy the place."
The air shimmered, and the room abruptly seemed a lot bigger. Chase straightened his suit jacket, an unrepentant grin on his face. He winked at Virginia as he sat down again.
Virginia sank back into her own chair as if her knees had given way. "And...you're a phoenix?" she said to Ash, her voice wavering a bit.
"The phoenix," Ash corrected, his tone mild. "Forgive me if I do not demonstrate."
"Uh, right. Of course." Shaking her head as if still in disbelief about what she'd just seen, Virginia turned to Hugh. "And you are...?"
"Private," Hugh said flatly.
Dai cleared his throat, breaking the awkward pause. "Anyway, everyone here has special talents. Between us, I'm certain we can deal with Bertram."
He quickly outlined the events of the last day—well, most of the events—to the rest of the crew, filling them in on the details of Bertram's threat. "So you see, the first thing we have to do is protect the site, so that Bertram can't destroy it," he finished. He turned to John. "How are the clouds feeling today?"
"Clouds?" Virginia said.
"I have a kinship with water in all its forms," John said to her. He held out a hand, humming a short phrase under his breath. Virginia gasped, jerking her fingers back as a pint of beer ran up the side of its glass and snaked across the table to curl up like a kitten in the sea dragon's palm.
Griff looked mournfully into his now-empty glass. "I was drinking that."
"My apologies, oath-brother." Jo