the way the doc shook their hands warmly.
Horvan went over to him and gave him a hug. “Hey, Doc. Good to see you.”
The doc patted his arm. “I swear you’re bigger than the last time I saw you.”
“Sure, he’s bigger, but I’ve put on weight,” Crank flung out.
The doc arched his eyebrows. “Have I touched a nerve?” His gaze flickered to Rael, and his smile intensified. “You must be Horvan’s partner. Hashtag didn’t tell me much, except that you existed.” He walked over, his hand extended, still smiling. “That was a shock in itself. Horvan Kojik settling down.”
“Hey, why does everyone act like it’s such a surprise?” Horvan retorted.
There was a moment’s pause before the doc, Hashtag, Roadkill, and Crank burst into laughter. Horvan muttered something about “so-called friends,” but no one was paying him any attention.
Rael shook the proffered hand. “I’m Rael Parton, Dr. Tranter.”
He waved his hand. “Please, call me Doc.” His gaze alighted on Dellan. “Oh my.” The room fell silent as he crossed the floor to where Dellan sat.
Doc Tranter knelt gingerly beside him. “Hello, my friend,” he said quietly. “I am so very happy to see you here.” He held out a hand, and Dellan sniffed it before nudging it with his head. The doc stroked him, inhaling deeply.
Horvan came over and joined them. “I know you’re more used to dealing with humans, but anything you can tell us would help.”
Doc smiled. “I can tell you one thing. He smells healthy. That’s important.” He opened his bag and withdrew a stethoscope. “I’m not going to assume he knows what this is, so please communicate it to him.”
Rael knelt beside Dellan, his hand resting on Dellan’s back. The doc is going to listen to your heart and lungs, to make sure you’re okay. He won’t hurt you.
Dellan gave a little snort. Good man.
“Yes, he is a good man,” Horvan agreed.
The doc listened carefully to Dellan’s heart, his expression neutral. Then he listened to his lungs. He looked at Dellan’s eyes. “Beautiful,” he murmured. Finally he sat back on his haunches and put away the stethoscope.
“Well? What can you tell us?” Rael asked.
“Other than he appears to be healthy? Very little.” He glanced at Horvan. “What’s his appetite like?”
“From what I’ve gleaned, normal for a tiger. He’s eating more now than he was on the way here.” Horvan helped the doc to his feet. “Let’s sit somewhere more comfortable.”
“That would be much appreciated.” Doc went to the nearest couch and sat, leaving his bag at his feet. He sniffed the air. “Is that coffee I can smell? I’d love some. Anything would be preferable to that muck they gave me on the plane.”
“I’m on it.” Hashtag headed for the coffee machine.
Horvan sat at the other end of the couch, while Rael stayed with Dellan. “We think he was drugged.” Quickly, Horvan told him about the female tiger shifter and the way the men had injected her with something.
Doc frowned. “You think they gave her something to force a shift?” He shivered. “That’s diabolical. Who would create such a drug, and for what purpose?”
“So we thought that’s how they kept Dellan in his present form.” Rael gazed earnestly at the doc. “And if that’s the case, how long will it be before the drugs are out of his system and he can shift back?”
Doc gave Roadkill, Hashtag, and Crank a wry smile. “I imagine you three have had quite an education this last week.”
Crank snorted. “Not so much as you’d think.” He pointed to Horvan and Rael. “These two know diddly squat about shifters. But yeah, as for finding out shifters even exist? That was… unexpected.”
“Not to mention totally cool,” Hashtag added, his eyes gleaming as he handed the doc a mug.
“Can we get back to Dellan, please?” Rael asked anxiously.
Doc gave him a compassionate glance. “Okay. In a human, we’re talking two to four days, max, for drugs to leave the body. I don’t know much about tiger physiology, but let’s assume there’s little difference. How long has he been out of their clutches now?”
“Fifty-six hours, give or take,” Horvan told him.
The doc nodded. “Then all you can do is wait. He could shift today, tomorrow, or any day after that. But it’s not just the drugs. From what you’ve told me, there’s a possibility that Dellan might be keeping himself in tiger form.”
“Is there nothing we can do?” Rael’s heart sank.
Doc sighed. “All you can do is what you’re already doing—make him feel safe and loved.