Evelyn heard the murmur of a male voice. She struggled, but the darkness overwhelmed her again.

The next time she awoke, her usually crisp eyesight was blurry. She struggled to stand, but a deep voice murmured and she calmed under a gentle, warm hand. Feeling marginally safe, she settled down. Her body hurt all over, but she didn’t have the sense of anything permanently damaged.

A shifter’s animal form was a lot stronger than regular birds. And if she ever got the chance to change, her wounds should heal quickly.

Slowly, light streamed into the room and her vision became less fuzzy. Not quite sharp, but improving. She stretched, or attempted to. Her wings smacked the sides of a box. After several attempts to right herself, she managed to stand and then jump from her confinement.

Imagining herself on two feet, she let the shift magic wash over her. An electric tingle spread from the orbital ridge above her eyes to the tips of her tail feathers. Her talons contracted and her body contorted. Feathers split, melted, and merged into her skin. Heat and magic infused the air. Her body expanded, turned into an orange gelatinous mass. She felt weightless, floating, stretched beyond the limits of her endurance.

Her universe snapped under the strain, electrified agony stole her breath. Her back arched until it snapped back like an over-strung bow. Pain danced along her limbs as hands and feet developed. She winced as her ears popped.

Over in mere seconds, the change always took her breath away. She wouldn’t give up the ability to shift, despite the pain. The enthrallment of flying was worth any price. Although she could do without the vulnerability that existed until her senses stabilized. After a deep, calming breath, she opened her eyes.

Wood gleamed all around her. One wall of the large room was comprised of three floor-to-ceiling windows, and the opposite wall held a computer station and lots of maps. Several bulletins boards lined the wall above the desk. Papers dangled from pins in a messy display.

A pan dropped from the next room. A male voice cursed, followed by a quieter female saying, “Language, Dad.”

She tried to walk and stumbled into a table with a loud screech. Her knees buckled and she fell to the floor.

Hiking boots clomped against the wooden floor, and a tall man of nearly six feet rushed around the corner in a crisp, moss-green uniform. His feathered short brown hair accented his long face. Glasses gave him the air of an academic while his broad shoulders and the hint of strong muscles emphasized by the tight fabric screamed adventurer. “Who are you?” he demanded.

“Uh, hi.” She stood and winced at the sharp pain in her arm left over from the crash.

The ranger released the latch holding the gun in his holster. “Where’s the falcon?”

She tried to smile, but she was sure it was more a grimace. “If you can believe me, I’m the falcon.”

“What?” He shook his head. “How did you even get in here?”

She sighed. Yeah, no one believed shifters existed because of those silly movies Hollywood made. Like the fact that all the characters were naked when they changed. Magic could transform a human body but couldn’t take the clothes on it as well.

It’s magic. Anything was possible.

She closed her eyes and transformed again. She tilted her head and chirped at him standing there with his mouth open.

“That’s not possible.”

She flew over his head and into the next room. A young girl stared in wonder as Evelyn circled the kitchen before landing on the granite counter top. The man skidded to a stop. In a motion, he reached a hand toward her.

Hopping from foot to foot, she shook her feathers. Chirp. The man backed away and she retook human form. “Believe me now?”

“Wow, that is so cool,” the young girl said from her seat at the table against the wall.

Evelyn jumped at the girl’s remark. Something about this man captured her awareness, caused her to forget about everything else. Anyone else.

For a shifter, that lack of perception could be dangerous.

* * *

Lawke stared at the woman sitting on his counter. Her long, wheat-blonde hair contained streaks of silver, which glistened in the sunlight streaming in the small window. She had high cheeks, a mouth worth kissing, and brown eyes with amber flecks. Above all else, she held herself rigid, like she wanted to keep the world at bay.

All he wanted to do was wrap her in his arms and see if he could make her eyes glow. If that wasn’t an indication he was hallucinating, he didn’t know what else to make of it. Since separating from his ex-wife, he’d sworn off women.

They were complications he didn’t need. Protecting the forests of North Carolina and making sure Zoe had everything she needed were his life. There wasn’t room for anyone else.

Much less someone with unusual abilities.

His eyes narrowed. He’d brought someone into his home who could perform magic or enchantments. Could what he’d seen been an elaborate projection? A hologram? He grasped his gun. What would be the purpose? Was Zoe in danger?

“Dad, you’re going to help her, right?” Zoe’s voice held a mixture of hope and hesitancy. As if she couldn’t trust him.

He looked to his daughter and wondered how many times Rachel had promised her something and then failed to follow through. He always fulfilled whatever promise he made. Only this time he couldn’t say yes to her as much as he would’ve liked.

He didn’t trust this stranger.

The woman tilted her head toward his daughter. “Why do you think I need help?”

“You were injured.”

He saw Zoe mouth the duh. At least she wasn’t saying it out loud anymore. Sometimes Zoe was too outspoken for her own good. She didn’t grasp the nuances of speaking to people. Telling the truth, no problem, but realizing just because something was truthful didn’t mean it should be said. That was something they still worked on with a therapist.

Only one of the many small things that had ostracized her in school and eventually led to Rachel homeschooling Zoe. No matter how smart the person, public school was a place where it was a detriment to be different.

“I’ll heal quickly,” the woman said before turning away.

He shouldn’t feel drawn to her, but her prickliness intrigued him. That wasn’t an attribute he’d found appealing before.

“Well, you’re hurt now, so staying a few days won’t kill you.” His training and the pleading in Zoe’s eyes wouldn’t let him let her leave.

He walked over and held out his hand. “I’m Ranger Lawke, and the pixie over there is Zoe.”

“Dad.” His daughter screeched in teenager outrage.

“I’m Evelyn. But I need to get back to work. I shouldn’t stay.” Her fingers trembled in his hand.

Whether her nerves were from fear or stress, a supernatural being would need time to recover from a fall that knocked her out. He couldn’t let her go anywhere. Not until he knew for certain she wasn’t a threat. “Head traumas can be dangerous. Even for shapeshifters, I imagine. You should stay.”

“I don’t want to impose on you.” After hopping off the counter, her knees buckled. “Maybe I should.” Wary resignation colored her tone. “But I need my camera. I have an exhibit in a few days. I have to work.”

He released the breath he’d been holding. “Well, you can stay with us.” His lips curled into a smile at the unexpected joy at her answer. For some inexplicable reason, he wanted to be the one to watch over her.

“You take pictures? Like of models?” Zoe squealed.

“Sorry, no. I don’t do portraits. Not anymore. I like capturing the beauty of nature. It’s always changing, showing us something wonderful.”

Her passion radiated from her. Enticed him. He wanted to see Evelyn’s reaction to his favorite spots. “I can show you around the park. No one knows the best places quite like a ranger.”

“I don’t know.” She looked around, as if trapped. “I’m used to working alone, and I’m sure you’re very busy.”

“Please say yes. I’d like to watch you work.” Zoe gave Evelyn a heartbreaking smile.

He didn’t know anyone who could resist his daughter when she wanted something. “It’s my job to show people around.”

A cloud hid the sun and in that moment, his chest constricted, cut off his breath, and enveloped him in a foreboding chill. A twinge of unease caused him to frown. Why was Zoe so interested in this woman?

His eyes locked with hers. A jolt of heat dissolved the gloom around him. She was dangerous to his peace of mind.

“All right, but we still need to retrieve my equipment.”

“Yeah!” His daughter slammed her book shut and then shoved away from the table.

“Have you finished your lessons?” he asked in his strictest voice.

Zoe’s smile disappeared. “No.”

“Finish your lessons. I need to check on some things after the storm, and I can take Evelyn to get her camera.” He wouldn’t let Zoe miss school even if this was an adventure for her.

She reopened the textbook. “Okay. But can I pick our first stop?”

He glanced at Evelyn. She shrugged. Guess it didn’t matter to her. “As long as your work is done.”

“Yeah!” Zoe scribbled across her worksheet.

He hoped there wasn’t a lot of storm damage this time, because he would bet Zoe would finish quickly. He’d hate to have to disappoint her.