Page 26 of The Shapeshifter’s Secretary (Charmed Away Temp Agency #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Tony was ushered inside and into a big recliner in the living room. The house itself was clean and well organized, with nothing on the floor to trip over or bump into, which was nice. It was decorated in earthy colors, with a few art pieces that depicted ancient references to thunderbirds. Tony knew most thunderbirds were born in the plains and lived among Native American tribes before the war. He read about that after meeting Zephyr. He’d done an embarrassing amount of research on thunderbirds and shapeshifters after meeting them. He couldn’t help it. He wanted to know more about them and he was too embarrassed to ask.

Taron hovered by his side, his expression more closed off than normal. Tony didn’t like it. Taron was always smiling. It felt wrong to see him frown. When he paced closer, Tony caught his hand, drawing it to his face so he could nuzzle it. He wasn’t going to ask again if Taron was okay, it was obvious he wasn’t and he didn’t want to talk about it. Tony just wanted to show him that he cared and was there if Taron needed him.

It seemed to help a little. Taron sat on the arm of his chair, his thumb brushing over Tony’s cheek. It was a soothing gesture, and Tony leaned into it with a sigh. He almost wanted to agree to move in with Taron just so he could have this kind of comfort all the time. Maybe after they dated for a while, they could discuss it.

He was daydreaming a little bit about what it’d be like to date both of them when Zephyr’s phone rang. He answered it, speaking in a language Tony wasn’t familiar with, and went to the front door to open it. There was no one out there currently, but he could see the front of the house from his chair and there was a car headed their way. Taron stiffened beside him, his body only getting more tense the closer the car got. He was practically a statue when it parked out front and a middle-aged man got out and came around to open the passenger door. The old lady who got out didn’t look scary, but Taron had been here before. Maybe she wasn’t a nice person? Was Taron worried she’d be cruel to him? Tony wouldn’t allow that. He wouldn’t be mean about it, but he’d rather stay in pain and leave than put Taron through any discomfort.

He opened his mouth to offer to go when the couple finally stepped into the house. To Tony’s surprise, she zeroed in on Taron and chuckled, her eyes crinkling from all the wrinkles.

“I told him you’d be back. He didn’t believe me. Welcome home, Chidi.”

“Hello, Shima,” Taron said politely, some of the tension easing from his posture. “You haven’t aged a day.”

She scoffed, raising an eyebrow at him. “You’re one to talk, Nayeh. Your form has changed since I last saw you. Your spirit remains the same.”

Tony had to crane to look at the woman, and that got uncomfortable, but it felt weird to turn away again. Instead, he slowly stood, using his new cane for support, so he could look at them properly. The old woman’s gaze swung his way, and she hissed through her teeth, frowning at him.

“Chidi, who hurt you?”

“Uh…” He always got tongue tied when people asked him that. Not everyone wanted to hear the story, and he never liked telling it. There wasn’t really an easy way to say it without people asking for gritty details.

Zephyr stepped in to rescue him, saying something in their language to the woman. The man who came in with her looked sharply toward Tony, then back to Zephyr, his voice gruff as he spoke. Zephyr shook his head.

“He’s human. He’s no threat.”

Tony’s eyebrows jumped up. They thought he was a threat?

The other man glanced at him, eyes narrowed suspiciously, but the old woman waved him off. “Of course, he’s not. His spirit is too gentle for that. You brought him here to see me, yes? What for? I cannot regrow limbs.”

That startled him. Most people couldn’t tell he lost his leg unless he showed them. He only ever wore slacks or pants, so he could hide it. Most just assumed he injured his leg somehow. They didn’t know it was gone.

“Shima,” Zephyr scolded.

She gave him a look that said she wasn’t sorry for what she said. She was old enough that she probably didn’t care if she offended anyone. It made Tony a little uncomfortable, though. He glanced at Taron uneasily, and Taron stepped closer, putting his hand on Tony’s arm.

“Relax, a thaisce. She is blunt but not unkind. You’re okay.”

His reassurance made Tony feel a little better, but the old woman’s eyes narrowed, and she hobbled closer, staring up at Taron suspiciously.

“You didn’t come here for Zephyr.”

Taron shook his head, his smile apologetic. “No, Shima. I came here for Tony. He’s hurt, and we’re worried about infection.”

She made a noise that was similar to a grunt, with a whole lot more annoyance to it. Tony felt like he was missing a big part of the story, and it left him floundering a little. Why did it feel like he was stepping on someone’s toes because Taron was here for him? Did–

“Did you two used to date?” he asked suddenly, looking between Zephyr and Taron. It would explain a lot, but it also worried him. If they were exes and couldn’t stand each other, how would they make it work together? Were they going to force him to choose?

The old woman frowned at him before looking at the other two. “You did not tell him.”

Neither Zephyr nor Taron spoke up to respond. Tony’s heart sank a little. He was missing half the story. They didn't trust him enough to share it with him.

“Tony–” Taron started, his expression alarmed. The old woman interrupted him, shooing him away.

“Leave him be. You’ve done enough for today. I will see him now. Both of you, out.”

“But–” Taron’s protest was met with a stern glare. He wavered, his eyes flicking between the old woman and Tony, but Zephyr eventually stepped in, putting a hand on his shoulder to lead him away.

“Come on, T. Let Shima work.”

Taron jerked his shoulder, glaring at him. “Don’t touch me.”

Zephyr put his hands up in surrender, his expression exasperated. They really did hate each other. Tony’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. That little daydream he had seemed impossible now. They might agree to get along while they were in bed together, but they weren’t going to do it forever. Tony’s heart broke a little, and when the old woman nudged him back into the chair, he went willingly, his eyes on the ground. Taron stalked out of the room with a frustrated huff, and Zephyr followed after him, the door shutting quietly behind them.

“Shima,” the older man spoke. “Do you want your bag?”

Shima hummed, cupping Tony’s chin and tipping his head up to look at him. Her hands were surprisingly soft. Tony averted his eyes. He kind of wanted to cry, but he didn’t want to do it in front of her.

“Did they tell you who I am, Chidi?”

“What’s that word mean?” Tony asked instead of answering. He needed a distraction from the men outside.

“Chidi? It means child,” she said. “I am Leotie, the village shaman. Who are you?”

“Tony… I thought your name was Shima?”

Her expression looked amused, and she finally released his face. “Shima means grandmother. The village calls me this because of my age.”

Tony frowned. “Does that bother you? Which do you like better?”

Her face brightened a little more. “You’re a sweet thing. No wonder they’re so attached to you. I like Shima. My village is my family. I am their grandmother, by blood or not. You may call me this. Zephyr said you are hurt. But he was not talking of your injury. Where are you hurt?”

Discomfort made him want to squirm. He resisted because it would only make him hurt more. Shima tipped her head, studying him for a moment, before flicking her gaze over his head.

“Elan, go outside. Make sure they aren’t killing each other.”

The older man didn’t look happy about leaving them alone, but he didn’t argue with her. He shot Tony another suspicious look before leaving the house.

“He doesn’t like me…” Tony murmured.

“He is Zephyr’s father. He is protective of his son. And you currently hold a piece of his heart.”

Whipping his head around, he flinched at the sharp movement before looking at her again. “What?”

She smiled and shook her head. “Later we will discuss it. First, your pain. Show me.”

With a heavy dose of awkwardness, Tony undid his jeans and slid them down far enough to expose the top of his prosthetic. He shifted it low enough to show her the cuts, shrugging his good shoulder.

“It happened a week ago. It’s fine. They don’t believe me, though.”

“I can see why,” she said, touching the edges of the cuts. When he flinched, she raised a knowing eyebrow at him. “Be honest. How much does it hurt?”

He rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. “No more than the rest of it. I can take it.”

She hummed again, puttering away. He wanted to pull his pants back up, but he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to. Thankfully, she came back with a blanket, draping it over his lap so only the cuts were exposed.

“Rest now, Chidi. I will help you. Zephyr is right. You are hurt. You need not be.”

She walked away again, heading for the kitchen where Zephyr’s dad had left her bag. He wasn’t sure what was in it, but with his pants down, he couldn’t exactly follow her, and the chair faced away from the kitchen, so he couldn’t watch either. He was stuck. Sort of like he was stuck in his broken body. Or stuck in the middle of Zephyr and Taron. His stomach churned again. If they made him choose, he wouldn’t be able to. Would he lose them both?

What did he do to deserve this?