“I didn't have time to tell you before, but Sammy Smiles is a shifter too,” Chase told Connie. He hated to drop all this on her at once, but he knew she was tough. “He's a shark. The Parliament of Shifters—that's a sort of government for our kind—has a tough time controlling sea-based shifters. Sammy's got a whole criminal gang made up of sharks and the like.”
“Oh,” Connie said. He could practically see her mind racing as she digested this new information. “My plane… it's in the sea. If he can turn into a shark, that means he'll be able to find it, right?”
“Yes, but we're going to get there first,” Chase said confidently. “I contacted a friend while I was carrying you back to land. He's already on his way to your plane, and he'll keep it safe. No shark will get past him.”
Killian shot him a curious look, but didn't ask for details. “I haven't been able to locate Sammy Smiles yet, I'm afraid. I've never met him, nor met anyone who has, so my pegasus can't track him.”
“Mine can.” Chase bared his teeth in a feral smile. “And I'm going to pay him a little visit.”
Killian sighed. “I was afraid you were going to say that. I suppose there's absolutely nothing I can say to dissuade you.”
“Nothing whatsoever,” Chase agreed cheerfully.
Killian sighed again. “Then I'll stand guard over your mate while you do so. I'm assuming even you aren't daft enough to take her with you on a trip down a shark's gullet.”
“I'm not his mate,” Connie said sharply.
“Ah.” Killian's eyes flicked from her to Chase and back
again. “Connie, my idiot cousin has a remarkable ability to stuff all four hooves down his own throat when he’s trying to explain himself. Perhaps I could be of assistance? I would be happy to answer any questions you have about shifters in general. Or, indeed, Chase in particular.”
*You are only going to tell her good things about me, right?* Chase sent anxiously to him.
*Do you want the conversation to last more than thirty seconds?* Killian sent back acerbically.
Connie considered Killian, her expression warming a little. “Yes. Thank you, I would like that.”
Killian turned back to Chase. “Connie and I will be fine here. I'll sense if the wyvern approaches again, and get her to safety. Are you ready to go see Sammy now?”
“Not yet.” Chase clapped his hands together decisively. “First, we all have to go to the pub.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Connie stared up at the full moon painted on the dusty sign outside the old, whitewashed building. “When he said we were going to the pub,” she muttered to Killian, “I thought he was joking.”
“So did I.” Chase's cousin let out a long-suffering sigh as he held the oak door open for her. “I really should know better by now.”
They followed Chase into the pub. Connie was startled by how cozy and clean it was inside, a stark contrast to the grimy, forbidding exterior. Even though it was only early evening, the pub was well-populated by a mixed crowd, lounging at the polished bar or relaxing in mismatched antique chairs.
A general cry of “Chase!” went up as soon as he showed his face. Chase dispensed cheery waves and a few words of greeting as they cut through the crowd.
“I take it you're a regular,” Connie said to him.
Privately, she was a little surprised. She would have thought Chase would favor the sort of sleazy gambling dens that her father liked to frequent. But this pub was clearly intended for socializing, rather than hardcore drinking and shady deals.
“The Full Moon is the local shifter hangout,” Chase said. “At least, it's the respectable shifter hangout. Rose makes sure everyone behaves themselves. Right, Rose?”
“That's right,” the curvy, kind-eyed woman behind the bar agreed amiably.
Personally, Connie had never seen anyone less intimidating in her life. But for all she knew, Rose could turn into a bear or a tiger or who-knew-what. She still could barely believe that there was an entire society of shifters that she'd never even suspected existed.
“Connie, Killian, this is Rose Swanmay,” Chase introduced them. “She runs this place. Rose, this is my cousin Killian, down from London. And this is Connie. You don't need me to tell you who she is.”
Rose smiled at Killian, then did a double-take at Connie. “Your mate!”
Chase shot Connie a See? I told you so sort of smirk. She rolled her eyes at him.
“It's lovely to meet you, Connie.” Rose looked thoughtful for a moment. “Just to check… you do know he's a shifter, don't you?”