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Although the dwellings were buried deep in the mountain’s stone, a skylight at the top of a long tube allowed the starlight to show. I didn’t know how that worked, only that it did. And I fell asleep while the constellations wheeled above me, reminding me that all my worries were infinitesimal in comparison to the vastness of the universe surrounding our small planet.

My dreams, instead of being filled with tension on work-related matters, were of sailing through the velvet depths of space. Passing stars in all colors, novas and supernovas, and so many things I had no names for, but only the ability to appreciate their magnificence.

I’d have said I loved my work, thrived on the wheeling and dealing, on helping my company to grow and succeed, but as I rode a rocket to somewhere, a voice came from nowhere and everywhere. “It’s time. You’re not one of them. You can be yourself now, in all that means.”

I woke rested and feeling as if I’d shed a weight that my shoulder never should have borne. Sure, I’d enjoyed the ride while I worked at my job, but in fact, I’d let it absorb me in an unhealthy way. Time to relax and enjoy myself with my familyand others at Animals. I kicked off the duvet and got my shower things. The bathroom attached to my room was gorgeous, walls carved from the natural stone and one of those with a drain in the floor so the whole room was, technically, the shower.

Having slept in, the skylight was casting a ray of sunshine on my pillow when I returned to the room to get dressed and go find the kitchen before it was too late for breakfast. Although Karma had said there was always something available, I didn’t want to put the chef through any extra work if they were already starting lunch prep.

“Cousin Dimitri!” Karma was seated at a table in the kitchen, along with several other people, when I arrived. “I was just about to go do some shopping. I’m glad I didn’t miss you. Here, take my seat.” She stood up and carried a mug to the industrial dishwasher. “Try the waffles. They’re very good.”

I tried the waffles. One of the cooks brought them over to me, and my mouth watered. They were crisp on the outside and fluffy inside, topped with a mountain of fresh strawberries and peach slices and whipped cream. The maple syrup was warm, the bacon crisp, and the coffee rich and strong, and it made the coffee I’d thought was so great in the city look pretty pathetic.

The people at my table were employees who lived in the housing. They filled me in on what it was like to work for my cousins and assured me the food was always this good. After breakfast I walked around the inside of the club, taking in how big it was and what it looked like in daytime. There were people sweeping and cleaning others working on the lighting, and someone was setting up some kind of equipment in the DJ booth. I didn’t know what I’d thought about nightclubs, but probably that they were a lot less busy during the day.

Warren and Karma had told me to make myself at home, but they were busy people, and I didn’t see either of them again until after sunset when we met for dinner in the kitchen. The chefswere getting ready for the evening, but they had a staff meal all set up, which I’d been invited to join, consisting of a choice of a pasta made with burst cherry tomatoes or burgers topped with avocado and bacon and cheese along with a cake that was made in honor of someone’s birthday. Chocolate. So. Good.

But my ease that had lasted all day after my dream was fading, replaced by a growing restlessness that Warren noticed when we were finishing up eating. “Why don’t we go in and have a beer and you can see the club all lit up. I heard you had the self-guided tour earlier, but I think you’ll be amazed at the difference between then and now.”

I was about to say yes, when Karma laid a hand on her mate’s arm. “Warren, maybe Dimitri would like to shift first. I think we forgot to tell him where to go to do that here.”

Warren tapped his forehead. “We didn’t. Just so you know, it is fine to shift in the club, so long as you don’t get out of hand.”

“I’d never—”

“I’m sure, but most people prefer to go out back. The employee parking lot, where we had you leave your car has a trail leading down to the desert floor. It’s really a magical place to run. My bear loves it.”

“You don’t mind if I go?” They were so kind, it seemed a little rude to take off on my own when Warren would be busy and Karma didn’t shift, and was also busy.

“Not at all.” Warren pointed to the back door, where I’d entered the kitchen. “Go, and when you’ve had a chance to blow off steam, come and find one of us. The club can be a little overwhelming on your own some nights.”

The cliff at the end of the parking lot was high above the desert, but while I stood there, deciding what to do or how to do it a dragon shifter arrived a few feet away, stripped and left their clothes on a bench before launching into the sky. My bear growled, demanding to be free, and I hurried to undress beforehe ruined my clothing. I wanted to get down there and run in the moon and starlight. My bear could already feel the sand under his paws. He emerged, huge and magnificent, and loped down the path.

Chapter Six

Tyler

When Gary offered me a ride to Animals one afternoon while I was taking out the trash, I was hesitant to accept. I hadn’t gotten permission for a day off, and, as much as this job sucked, it was the only one I had and it was also my housing. I could hardly afford to lose it.

Gary reminded me that only one person had checked in since I’d been here. And he was right. Everybody else was a permanent resident, and most nights were quiet. As far as people needing me went, I could probably put out the sign on the bell that basically told people to bog off. I could ignore it the way the owner did, and most likely not have anyone notice. But still…

“Come on, you need to let that fur out,” Gary insisted.

Why did Gary have to be right? My fox was suffering from all my life choices.

“Fine, but if I get caught, I’m blaming you.” I wouldn’t. No need to get him in my mess. But it was fun to tease him.

“Go ahead. Blame away.” He dangled his keys. “Let’s go.”

It took the promise of buying him a beer to get Gary to agree to give me a half hour to shower and change. I’d been working on one of the units that had been vacant for a long time and was disgusting.

Animals was closer than I’d thought it was. The parking lot was pretty full, and it made me happy I’d be surrounded by shifters again. As much as I was happy to not be mated to Joseph, it was hard not being around other shifters.

“You said I can shift here?” I asked. The last thing I wanted to do was to go to shifter spaces and break a rule so I can never return.

“Yeah. Just go around back. It’s fabulous—one of my favorite places to fly.”

Sounded perfect, even if the experience would be different because my feet stayed on the ground.