Page 24 of Awakened By the Guardian

Margaret’s eyes found Gary. He was still talking on the phone, and she recognized that expression: his game face. His jaw was firm, his eyes bright, and he was flexing his fingers. He wanted to shift again, even at the risk of destroying his brain.

Mr. Baldner followed the direction of her gaze. “As soon as things get settled here, I’m going to take him to Gladwin. Big thing in a shifter’s life, that first run with your child. Been waiting for it since the day he was born.”

She saw the sheen of emotion in Gary’s father’s eyes and wondered what it would be like to never share your true self with your child. If it weren’t for the tainted water, Mr. Baldner never would have.

“You could come,” he suggested. “See us when we’re having fun. There’s lots of families, and only half of us actually shift. It’s a big picnic.”

“I’d like that,” Margaret said. Odd, how last night she’d been so frightened. Twelve hours later she was thinking about having a picnic with these people. “I’ll try not to make Yogi Bear jokes.”

“Go ahead, we’ve heard them all,” he laughed. Then Mr. Baldner jutted his chin toward Gary. “He’s off the phone.”

She saw he was right. Grabbing his arm, she brought him around to face her. “I know you want this for him, and so do I. We all want him to get his legs back. But safely.”

Mr. Baldner paused then shook his head. “There is no real safety in this world. It’s all risk, and my son has the right to choose which ones he takes.”

Philosophy? He was talking philosophy when his son’s brain was at stake? “Okay, fine, but there are stupid risks. He wants to shift again right away, but you know how tired he is.”

Mr. Baldner’s narrowed as he watched Gary. “Seems okay to me.”

“He’s yawned at least six times in the last ten minutes. And see how he’s squeezing the armrests of his chair? He does that to stay awake. You said it takes a lot of energy to shift.”

Mr. Baldner grunted. “Wipes a man out, usually for days. Especially the first shift.”

“And he just shifted last night!” Margaret gripped Mr. Baldner’s arm. “I know we can’t stop him from drinking more of that poison, but tell him to get some rest first. Tell him to wait.”

Mr. Baldner was silent a long time, so long that she thought he wasn’t going to answer. In the end, he gave another grunt. This one sounded more affirmative, but how the hell was she supposed to know?

“I’ll help,” he said. “But I’m not the one who will convince him.”

“Of course you are. You’re his father.”

He chuckled and patted her hand—a paternalistic gesture she liked that she’d never received from her own father. It gave her a warm feeling in her belly that helped soften the next words.

“Only one person can turn a man from a course he’s hell-bent on pursuing. The woman he loves.”

Margaret snorted, but inside those words hurt. Even if Gary did love her, she wasn’t the right woman for him. “I just want him to wait until he’s stronger. He’ll listen to you. He’s a man of logic who doesn’t decide anything on an emotional level.”

“Mmmhm.” Mr. Baldner’s tone was skeptical. “Gary’s mother always got what she wanted. She’s my mate, pure and simple. Only reason we divorced is because she asked. I would have kept trying until the end of time.”

Margaret sighed. She didn’t like where this conversation was going. She wasn’t wired to give Gary what he deserved, and she didn’t want other people to think she could. The fact that she loved him had nothing to do with anything. She couldn’t make him happy.

“Mr. Baldner, you know⁠—”

“Let’s cut to the chase. I know my son loves you. It’s in his face every time he looks at you. The question is, do you love him back? I thought so, but…if you don’t, best cut ties here.”

She exhaled loudly, both angry and sad. “I thought guys were the ones who got asked about their intentions.”

Mr. Baldner gave a snort. “Guy, girl… I’m a parent, so I worry about my kid. Besides, shifters are remarkably egalitarian. Comes from the fact that females are just as deadly as males—deadlier if there’s young involved.”

Gary rolled up, cutting off the conversation. His greeting was warm, but his gaze kept straying to Vic, who was sitting on top of a desk, still talking into his phone.

“So,” Margaret said when he remained quiet.

His gaze jumped to her. “I’m doing it.”

No kidding.

“Dr. Sherilyn said what Dad did. When shifters come back to human form, they revert to a mental image of themselves. In my case, that might be from before my accident.” He shrugged and grimaced. “I still think of myself with working legs. In my dreams, at least.”