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Harper stepped into the West Side Inn's dining room, immediately enveloped by the warmth of conversation and laughter. The space had been transformed, with tables arranged in a horseshoe pattern to encourage mingling. Finger foods, pastries, and desserts covered every surface, their enticing aromas filling the air.

Angus stood near the fireplace, deep in conversation with Nathan and Troy. His rich laugh carried across the room as Troy gestured animatedly. Nathan caught Harper's eye and smiled, making her heart skip a beat.

"There you are!" Katerina bounded over, her golden eyes sparkling with excitement. "Did you see the latest poll numbers? Support for shifter rights has jumped fifteen points since the interview!"

Harper hugged her friend, marveling at how much had changed in such a short time. "You were amazing on that show. So poised and natural."

Katerina's eyes lit up with mischief. "Ohmigod, Cat had so much fun during the interview! She won't stop talking about it in my head. The mental dialogue just goes on and on about how exciting it was to show her true self on camera! And all the people tagging her on social media!" She rolls her eyes. "Did you know #CatPurrsTroy has gone viral?"

"CatPurrsTroy?" Harper all but fell over giggling. "That's way too cute! And yeah, I know exactly what you mean about the internal dialogue. Reyna's the same way - once she gets excited about something, the chatter never stops." She tapped her temple playfully. "It's like having a perpetually enthusiastic roommate up here."

Jacinth glided over to join them, her long black hair flowing behind her like silk. "What's so amusing?" she asked, her mahogany eyes warm with curiosity.

"We're comparing notes on our chatty alter egos," Katerina explained, grinning. "Cat's been absolutely buzzing since the interview."

Jacinth nodded, her mahogany eyes dancing with amusement. "Oh yes, Cat is quite the celebrity now. I heard you say she's even got her own hashtag trending?" Her lips curved into a teasing smile as she regarded Katerina. "How does it feel to be overshadowed by your own cat? I mean, your feline self is getting more social media attention than your human self these days."

Katerina swatted playfully at Jacinth's arm, her golden eyes sparkling with mirth. "Hey! I'll have you know that my human Instagram following is still growing too." She tossed her wild black hair over her shoulder in mock indignation. "Though I have to admit, Cat's fan base is pretty impressive. The number of cat memes people have made..." She shook her head, unable to suppress her grin. "I've made a TikTok account for Cat now, and Troy took a bunch of videos of her today, out in the back yard and with the horses, for me to post. You would not believe how fast I'm gaining followers, likes, and comments, and it's only been twenty-four hours since I created her account!"

Harper watched the exchange with amusement, feeling the warmth of friendship and acceptance wash over her. The open bantering about social media still amazed her. Just a few weeks ago, such a conversation would have been unthinkable. Now here they were, joking about trending hashtags and social media followers for their shifter forms.

Katerina's playful swat at Jacinth set off another round of giggles among the three of them.

Harper's gaze drifted to a corner of the lounge where Talya and Remi had their heads bent together, both intensely focused on their cell phones. The teenager's dark hair mingled with Remi's spiky black locks as they peered at their screens. She had to laugh, as the two had, from what she was told, bonded over technology when Remi was a time traveler, and that bond seemed to have held over now that Remi lived here in the modern day.

"Look at those two," Harper murmured to her friends. "The techie twins."

Jacinth snickered, her mahogany eyes dancing with amusement. She shook her head, her silky black hair swaying with the movement. "She's nagging him to learn more. For someone who made billions investing in tech companies, Remi is surprisingly resistant to actually using the technology himself."

Katerina's golden eyes widened. "Wait, what? He invested in tech companies?"

"Oh yes," Jacinth said, her voice rich with irony. "You hadn't heard? IBM, Microsoft, Apple - apparently he bought shares in all of them back when they were just starting out. He's got quite the portfolio now." She watched as Talya gestured emphatically at Remi's phone screen, clearly trying to explain something while the young-looking Djinn frowned in concentration. "But getting him to actually use any of it? Talya's had to drag him kicking and screaming into the world of computers and cell phones."

Harper observed the pair across the room, hiding a smile as Remi's brow furrowed in confusion. Talya's patience seemed endless as she demonstrated something on her own phone, then watched expectantly as Remi attempted to replicate it.

"I don't understand," Harper said, turning back to Jacinth. "If he believed in the technology enough to invest in it, why is he so resistant to using it?"

"That's just Remi," Jacinth replied with a fond smile. "He can spot a good opportunity - be it for investment or mischief - from a mile away, but when it comes to embracing change himself?" She shrugged. "Let's just say he's more comfortable with the way things were done in the sixteenth century. Though Talya's determination might finally be wearing him down."

Harper's gaze drifted across the room to where Zahra and Renee huddled together in deep conversation. The sight gave her pause - the elegant Djinn with her flowing red hair and ethereal beauty made an odd contrast with Renee's more down-to-earth presence. Yet there they were, heads bent close, speaking in hushed tones. Zahra gestured emphatically while Renee nodded, her dark eyes serious.

The inn's front door swung open, bringing a rush of cool evening air and familiar voices. Becca and Jake strode in, their arrival sparking a chorus of greetings from around the room. Becca's honey-gold skin glowed with happiness as she waved to everyone, her stormy sea-colored eyes bright with excitement. Jake stayed close to her side, his hand resting gently on the small of her back as they made their way to the buffet table.

Harper watched as Jake and Becca made their way through the buffet line. Jake's plate quickly disappeared under mounds of roasted chicken, sliced ham, and an impressive variety of cheeses. Harper snickered. Wolves. Huh. A few token vegetables found their way onto the edge of his plate, though Harper suspected that was more from Becca's gentle nudging than personal preference.

The lavish buffet had been arranged by the Shifter Council, allowing Renee to join in the community celebration instead of managing the food service. Burnished serving trays stretched across the banquet tables, their metallic surfaces catching the soft illumination. The caterers had exceeded expectations - the spread featured a wide variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables, and fruits arranged in artistic displays across the banquet tables. An entire separate table groaned under the weight of decadent desserts, from chocolate-dipped strawberries to delicate pastries dusted with powdered sugar.

A familiar warmth pressed against Harper's side as Nathan approached, an arm sliding about her waist, pulling her close against him. Harper's heart fluttered at his touch, and she smiled up at him, leaning into his embrace. The gentle spice of his cologne mingled with the underlying notes that were uniquely Nathan, wrapping around her like a cozy blanket.

Mate , Reyna sighed happily.

Harper glanced around the room at the unlikely gathering - shifters, Djinn, and humans all mingling freely. Kelly from the bank was chatting with Maroulla, while Douglas and Ethan debated something with animated hand gestures.

"That's what community is all about," Angus said, appearing beside his wife. His dark eyes twinkled with wisdom and warmth. "Supporting each other, celebrating our differences, protecting our own."

Lydia, standing before the fireplace with her husband, Alex, raised her glass, drawing everyone's attention. "I'd like to propose a toast," she announced, her voice carrying across the room. "To new beginnings, unlikely friendships, and the strength we find in standing together."

The room erupted in cheers and clinked glasses, the sound echoing off the inn's high ceilings. Harper felt Nathan's arm slip around her waist as he joined her, and she leaned into his embrace, savoring his familiar warmth and the subtle scent of his cologne.

Harper turned in Nathan's embrace, her amber eyes meeting his warm brown gaze. The conversations and laughter around them faded into a gentle murmur as she lost herself in the tenderness of his expression. His fingers traced delicate patterns along her spine, sending pleasant shivers through her body.

Nathan's free hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing softly across her freckled nose.

"My very own foxy lady," he whispered.

Harper's heart thundered against her ribs as he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers in a sweet, lingering kiss. She melted into him, her fingers curling into the soft fabric of his shirt.

When they finally parted, Harper's cheeks were flushed pink, but her smile radiated pure joy. Nathan's eyes crinkled at the corners as he returned her smile, his expression filled with affection and promise.

"I never expected this," Harper whispered, gesturing to the room full of their supernatural and human friends, then back to Nathan. "Any of it. But now I can't imagine being anywhere else."

Nathan pulled her closer, resting his forehead against hers. "Me neither. Who knew finding an injured jackalope would lead to all this?" His voice was warm with wonder and contentment. "Finding you, discovering this amazing community... it feels right."

Harper nodded, her heart full to bursting. Here, surrounded by friends who accepted her completely, wrapped in the arms of a man who loved both her human and fox nature, she felt truly at home. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, supported by the strength of their unlikely but powerful community.

If you enjoyed Foxy Lady and think other readers would enjoy it too, I’d love if you would leave a review !

Our mischievous Remi has been time traveling to the 21st Century, where he meets the charming Djinn, Jacinth, and becomes embroiled in the paranormal community there as an infrequent (because he’s not supposed to be there!) but welcome visitor. I wrote up a fun short story, When Worlds Collide, which tells how Remi and Jacinth first meet. It also serves as an introduction to the Magic of Wishes and Dreams paranormal romance, taking place in the 21st Century in the Hudson Valley north of New York City. When Worlds Collide is free for my newsletter subscribers.

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