of gratitude.
“Any luck?” Roadkill asked him.
Crank nodded after slurping his coffee. “We’ve got us a 1964 Huey.”
“How did you manage that so fast?” Rael was seriously impressed.
Crank narrowed his gaze. “I have friends you don’t even wanna know about. I called in more than a few favors and got what we needed. Be happy with that.”
“1964?” Roadkill speared Crank with a hard stare. “You sure that bird isn’t going to fall apart midair?” Crank merely returned his stare. “Fine. So we’re in business.” Roadkill rubbed his hands together. “Excellent.”
“Are we any clearer where we’re flying it to?” Crank asked. “Because I’ll need to organize someone to fly it on once we get into the motor home.”
“I’ve already done that.” Roadkill glanced at his phone. “Pickle is going to meet us in Gary, Indiana.”
Crank laughed. “Good ol’ Pickle.” When he caught Rael’s inquiring glance, he smiled. “So called because he spends most of his life pickled. He loves his booze, that one.”
“And he flies?” Rael was horrified. “I wouldn’t be drunk in charge of a motorcycle, let alone a helicopter.”
Crank chuckled, then glanced at Roadkill. “How far along are you with the motor home?”
“I was waiting on you to agree on the departure point, but I’ve researched southern Illinois and northern Indiana, based on what Horvan said. We have several options.”
Rael loved their confidence.
Crank inclined his head toward the bedroom door. “He’s still at it?”
Roadkill nodded. “But Horvan should be back soon, and he’ll make sure Hashtag stops to eat. You know what Horvan’s like.” Crank’s lips twitched.
“What is he like?” The exchange intrigued Rael.
Crank snickered. “A mother hen. Not that we’d have him any other way.”
Roadkill widened his eyes. “Oh my God. Even better.” He grinned. “Mama Bear.” The pair of them burst out laughing, and Rael had to fight the urge to join in.
Horvan was going to hate that.
“While we’ve got you alone….” Crank lowered his voice. “Can we ask you something?”
“Depends on what you want to know.” Rael was curious to see where this was leading.
Crank looked at Roadkill, who leaned forward. “What does it feel like when you shift?”
Rael smiled. “It’s the most exhilarating feeling ever.”
“Does it hurt?” Crank asked. “Because I remember watching a werewolf movie once, and it looked fucking painful. His snout grew out, then his hind legs, and oh my God, watching his spine—”
Roadkill whacked his arm hard. “Did you see any of that when they shifted? No, you did not. So obviously we can forget werewolf movies.” He rolled his eyes.
“It doesn’t hurt,” Rael assured Crank. “You just… concentrate, and it happens. And as you might have noticed, it helps to be naked first. Otherwise it gets messy.”
“Have you ever shifted by accident?” Roadkill asked.
Rael bit his lip. “Once. I was young, barely out of puberty. Me and my best friend were in my bedroom, and I think we were arguing about something. Anyhow, he got me so pissed, I shifted. I guess it was the heightened emotions or something. I shifted right back, but the damage was done.”
Crank’s mouth opened. “Was he the one who fainted?”
Rael nodded. “When he came round, he was shaking like a leaf. Finally I got him to calm down. I had to tell him what I was.”
“Isn’t that dangerous? What if he tells people?” Roadkill shook his head. “I’m not sure how I would have reacted at that age.”
“He never told a soul back then. And I’m certain he won’t now.”
“Why?”
“Because his wife would kill him,” Rael said with a chuckle.
“Huh?” Both Roadkill and Crank stared at him, clearly perplexed.
“We lost track of each other once we went to college. But years later he got back in touch. Turns out the girl he was dating? She was a shifter.” Rael laughed. “I wish I could’ve seen her face when she saw his lack of reaction to her revelation. She must’ve expected him to freak out.”
“What kind of shifter is she?” Crank seemed fascinated.
“Puma. Wes tells me about nights when they’re on the couch and she lies on her back so he can give her belly rubs. And there’s this thing he does with a flashlight? Drives her crazy. She’s just a big kitty, after all. Like me.”
“My turn.” Roadkill regarded him with interest. “Are you aware of your lion when you’re human? Can you feel it?”
Rael shrugged. “Sure. I can always feel it. It’s like a comforting presence in the back of my mind.” He grinned. “At least until someone drives stupid or gets into the