An oddly wistful half-smile tugged at Griff’s mouth. “Quite the reverse, actually.” He raked his hand through his blond hair as if he was debating something with himself, then sighed. “Might as well get this out of the way. Hayley, do you mind if we all go out into the garden?”
“Um, okay.” Hayley’s heartbeat sped up a little, with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. It was one thing having Danny turn into a cute little cub, but Griff would be a full-size male lion…
She led the way through the house and out the back. One of the reasons Hayley had picked this house in the first place was because it was right at the end of the street, with a secure backyard that wasn’t overlooked by any of the neighbors. One thing she still hadn’t gotten used to about England compared to California was how small everything was. Brits might have mastered the art of pretending they couldn’t see straight into each other’s properties, but Hayley preferred actual privacy.
Not that she’d ever imagined she’d be using it for this.
Griff cast a swift, appraising look around at the high fences, nodding in approval. “This is good. We’re safe to practice here. But…Danny, I’m afraid I can’t show you my lion.”
Danny’s bottom lip stuck out. “Why not?”
“Danny,” Hayley said warningly, though she too couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed. “It’s not polite to pry. I’m sure Mr. Griff has his reasons.”
“I do.” Griff sat down on the grass, his left leg stretched out awkwardly. “And the reason is that I can’t.” He tapped the center of his chest. “My lion’s stuck in here, Danny. He can’t get out, not the way that yours can.”
“But I thought you were a shifter,” Hayley blurted out.
Griff’s eyes flashed a brilliant, animal yellow. “I am a shifter,” he said, and the hairs on the back of Hayley’s neck rose at the deep, primal growl in his voice. “I am more of a shifter than most. I am descended from generations of shifters, on both sides of my family. I have inner beasts, I can touch minds with the beasts of others, I have a m—” He paused fractionally, as if thinking better of whatever he’d been about to say. “I have all the instincts of a shifter. In every way that matters, I am a shifter.”
“I know you’re a shifter,” Danny said, sounding more puzzled than alarmed by Griff’s sudden outburst. “Who says you aren’t? They’re mean. And stupid.”
The barely-leashed savagery vanished from Griff’s eyes. “Ah, you’re a kind wee soul,” he said gruffly. “Kinder than most.” He glanced up at Hayley, looking a little ashamed of himself. “Sorry. Sore spot. I’m sure you can imagine what other shifters think of one of their own who can’t actually shift.”
Her heart went out to him—even if it was still beating hard at the shock of the sudden reveal of the raw, feral strength hidden behind Griff’s amiable exterior. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. That must be…very hard.”
“But why can’t you shift?” Danny demanded, with a little kid’s unabashed rudeness. “You’ve got a lion, just like me. I know you have.”
Griff beckoned to him. “Come here, lad. Let’s see if I can show you.” He cupped the back of Danny’s neck, drawing him close until their faces were only inches apart.
Danny stared deep into Griff’s eyes for a long moment. Then he jerked back, his own widening. “That’s not a lion.”
“No, it isn’t.” Griff released him, letting out a long breath. “That’s my eagle. My father’s a lion shifter. But my mother’s an eagle shifter. That’s why they named me Griffin—that’s a pretend beastie that’s half-lion, half-eagle, ye ken.” His mouth quirked wryly. “My ma and da don’t have a lot in common, but they do share the same terrible sense of humor.”
“So if your father’s a lion and your mother’s an eagle, that makes you…both?” Hayley asked.
“And neither.” Griff grimaced. “My eagle and my lion don’t get along. Shifters aren’t supposed to have two animals. Neither one of mine will let the other one fully take control. If I try to shift, I end up tugged back and forth between lion and eagle.”
That sounds awful. And painful. From the way both Griff and Danny talked, Hayley had the impression that a shifter’s animal was like some sort of alter-ego in their minds. The idea of having two of them, at odds with each other…it was amazing Griff wasn’t completely schizophrenic.
“But you said your sisters are lions,” Danny said, his forehead wrinkling. “How come they only got one animal, but you got two?”
“Because…ah, just unlucky, I suppose,” Griff said. Hayley wondered what he’d decided not to say. “Four of my sisters are lions, and three are eagles, and I’m neither fish nor fowl nor good red herring.”
Danny frowned. “If you can’t shift, how’re you gonna teach me?”
“Lad, I’ve studied more theory than most shifters even know exists. I taught all seven of my sisters how to control their animals.” Griff poked Danny playfully in the ribs, making him giggle. “And they taught me how to wrestle a lion. Come on. Shift back, and I’ll show you.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Griff
Griff hummed to himself as he put the last few plates in Hayley’s dishwasher. He smiled a little, thinking of John as he started the machine. He hoped the sea dragon shifter was having a good time at the pub right now.
On a Sunday evening, they always went down to the Full Moon together to meet up with the other firefighters on Alpha Team. It was usually both the high point of Griff’s week, and a kick in the teeth. Alpha Team were his closest friends…but also a reminder of everything he’d lost.
The afternoon with Danny and Hayley had been similarly bittersweet. Romping with the cub should have been pure joy, but even as they chased and wrestled and pounced, Griff had kept being stabbed by pangs of wistful longing. Much as he tried to just enjoy the moment and be content with what he could have, he couldn’t help wanting more. He couldn’t help wanting to be more.
Danny should be his cub.