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“That’s because this is real. You are awake.”

“No, I must be in a coma. You are telling me human-animal people are real,” I say, my voice trembling.

“Shifters. They are.”

“No, that is nuts.”

“Have I ever lied to you? About something important?” she asks.

“No.”

“They are real. They’re like us but have a little something extra.”

“You’re telling me the place I work is filled with people like this. Ryker and Harmony, her mates, and Bash are animals.” This can’t be real.

“I’m guessing, although I don’t know who Bash is. If he were with Ryker, he would probably be a vampire like him.”

“Ryker is a vampire?” I hold onto the counter.

“Yeah,” she says. She pushes me into a chair at the bar.

“A blood-drinking vampire?” I ask, grateful to sit, as my legs no longer support me.

“I hear that they eat food too,” she says, apparently hoping to soften the blow.

“I don’t know how to process this,” I whisper in disbelief.

“They’re just people. Different. With almost like superpowers.” She rubs my back.

“Like super hearing?” I ask, thinking of Ryker and his reaction to Samantha.

“They have excellent hearing. And fast,” she confirms.

“Like he can break someone’s wrist with nothing but one hand,” I say weakly. Everything begins to fall into place.

“Probably.”

“Ava, how can I work there now?” I whine.

“Don’t give up your job because of this. Keep your head down and your neck protected.”

“Shit! Why would you say that?” I yell.

“I won’t lie to you, remember? Do you expect a vampire to be all sweet and cuddly all the time? You’d have to go to a fox for that. I thought it would be rabbits, but apparently, they can be assholes.”

“Rabbits?” I think I may pass out. “What is Harmony?”

“She’s a panther. I would love to see her change. I bet she’s beautiful.”

“I can’t believe we are discussing animals that turn into humans.” I cover my head with my hand, rubbing my temples.

“I think it’s more like they are humans that turn into animals.” She smirks.

“Ava! This is not funny!” Fuck, I just realized Samantha is probably an animal of some kind or a vampire. “That Samantha chick must be part of that world. She’s going to kill me and eat me for taking her away from Ryker.” I drop my head to the cool counter.

“Wait, who?”

“A waitress there. She is having sex with Ryker. She kind of threatened me. Ryker got mad and took her away,” I mumble into the tile.