“Get back,” I hissed.

She laughed. “Tell me what you’ve learned.”

I thought about it. “I can tell you what I think I’ve learned.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Last night I thought I was dreaming and a big black cat tried to kill me. Then a large wolf saved me. And I—I saw my reflection.

“And?”

“There was a cat or a Vaktare staring back, which means I’m a Vaktare.” I ran a razor over my soapy armpits. “The evil Vaktare, the one who tried to kill me, he called the wolf ‘Locanis’ but I don’t know if it’s the wolf’s name or his species.”

“Wow. See. You have learned a lot.” She stuck her head around the corner.

I screamed, cutting myself with the razor. Blood immediately formed. “Ouch. Dammit. You said you wouldn’t peek.”

“I say a lot of things.” She moved her head back around the corner, out of sight.

I rinsed the blood and waited for more. But none came. “So a Vaktare is a big hairy cat-beast. And I’m one of them?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Okay. And how did this happen? Did you turn me into one of these Vaktare when you cursed me?”

She peeked around the corner again, but this time I was prepared and splashed water in her face. She let out a yelp and moved back. “The curse isn’t really a curse. It’s more of a reverse curse.”

“What? You’re not making any sense?” I turned off the water and grabbed a clean towel.

She zipped her lips and then locked them with an invisible key.

“You aren’t going to tell me?”

She unzipped her lips. “Part of breaking the curse, or reversing the curse, is that you need to be the one to figure out what’s going on. If I help you, then you’ve really learned nothing. You need to experience what your life is truly about.”

“Oh, great. Like last night?” I opened the bathroom door and went into my closet. I wondered if she would follow or if she were somehow attached to my phone.

She followed.

“Can I get a little privacy? Please?” I asked with extra sincerity, batting my lashes.

Fizban laughed. “You’ve already changed, Beatrice. I hope it’s enough to save everyone.” She skipped out of the closet.

“Save? Who? My mom and dad?” I pulled on a lilac bra and undies.

“Sure, them and more. A lot has happened in eighteen years.”

I pulled on a pair of dark jeans and a lilac peasant top. “I don’t understand.” Looking back, the last eighteen years didn’t seem real now I could actually feel. “Are you talking about my ability to experience emotions now? Why couldn’t I before?” I quickly buckled on a pair of wedge heel sandals. Coming out of the closet, I went on, “My emotions are wonky. I cry constantly.”

Fizban was sitting on my bed flipping through a magazine. “Last night you shifted. It means your true nature is returning much faster than we—I expected. You need to be careful.”

“No kidding.” I opened my bedroom door. “Celeste,” I called out of habit before I remembered she was gone. Adam had replaced her. I glanced down the hall. It was empty. Isaac opened the bedroom door across from mine.

“Isaac,” I said, surprised.

“Miss Cavanaugh. I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of helping Adam move into this bedroom. I think it might be wise if he were closer to you.”

I turned my head, trying to figure out if he were being honest. That he’d done something so huge without my consent would’ve been grounds for dismissal in the past. He never would’ve tried it with my mom and dad around. Isaac grabbed the ends of his vest. “I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped, Miss Cavanaugh. I’m just worried.”

I let out a breath. “It’s okay, Isaac. I appreciate your concern.” Adam appeared behind Isaac.

“It’s for the best,” he said, bossily.

I lifted my chin. “I agree. It’s like Isaac read my mind.” I tried to slam the door but Adam stuck his foot in the way.

“Allow me to do your hair, Miss Cavanaugh.” He winked, his face filled with mischief.

“You’re acting weird.”

He chuckled as he walked into the closet. “Have a seat, Miss Cavanaugh.”

I did as he asked, wondering absently where Fizban had gone. Adam picked up the brush and started on my hair.

“My weirdness is in direct correlation to your weirdness. So it’s your fault, you know.”

My cheeks burned red.

Adam bent down so that I could see his handsome face in the mirror next to mine. “I’m sorry, Miss Cavanaugh.” He nudged my cheek with his. I thought about how I would’ve reacted to such familiarity a few days ago. I would’ve had him arrested. At least fired. But he’d saved my life. He’d stayed up the entire night making sure I was okay. He . . .

“I already told you to call me Beatrice,” I said, pretending to study my hands. They trembled slightly.

“Yes, Beatrice.” He held my gaze.

A burst of pain seared my heart. It had become almost bearable. Sometimes I forgot it was there. But at that moment, the way he looked at me, it came back with fervor. It was so strong it nearly knocked the wind out of me. I couldn’t put my finger on what the feeling was though.

Adam leaned his cheek against mine. “What is it?”

Inside the fireworks I’d felt before suddenly turned into falling rose petals. “I—I don’t know,” I answered honestly.

He stood up and continued working the knots out of my hair.

I tilted the mirror so that I could see his face. “Adam?” My whole body started to shake and I realized I was scared. But I needed to tell him. He had to know what happened last night.

“What is it, Beatrice?” he asked, his eyes filled with warmth.

“If you need to freak out, it’s okay. Feel free to freak out.”

Adam chuckled. It was full of kindness. “If the urge arises, I’ll be sure to freak out.”

“But don’t leave,” I said, worrying my hands.

“Beatrice Cavanaugh, you have my word that I will not leave.” His eyes were serious. His mouth set.

I wanted to believe him. I hoped he was telling the truth. “Last night. I . . . had what I thought was a dream, but it wasn’t.” I told him what happened. About the black cat and the blond wolf and about seeing myself in the pool. When I finished I said, “I believe a Vaktare is a cat-type thing.” I couldn’t hold his gaze any longer. “And I’m a Vaktare so that makes me one of those . . . creatures.” At some point during the story he’d paused in brushing my hair. I couldn’t read the expression on his face. “Are you freaking out?”

He began brushing again, his touch tender. “It’s quite a story, Beatrice.”

“You saw the way I was tangled in the chair?”

He nodded.

“And I was naked,” I whispered.

He smiled at that.

“So you’re like a werewolf, except a cat?” Adam divided my hair into three thick strands and began braiding it.

“Pretty much,” I said, thinking it over. I’d seen at least one movie with a werewolf in it. In my changed form I was hairy and had large teeth. I liked to hunt. But not people. I shuddered at the thought. “I’ve been craving red meat. And I’ve had a need to sleep under the moon.” I shrugged. “You’ve seen the changes I’ve been going through. Fizban told me I shifted, whatever that means.”

“Wait,” he wrapped the end of my hair in a tie. “Fizban? When did you talk to her?”

“While I was in the shower.”

“She was here?” Adam turned me around and started to work on my face.

“Yes.”

“So now what?” He brushed some mascara on my lashes.

“Now I need to call the number in that box and see where it leads.”

Adam finished my makeup and I stood up. Together we walked over to the box. I opened it, since it would only respond to my touch, and took out the paper. Adam handed me my phone. I dialed the number.

”Hello.”

“Yes, hello. My name is Beatrice Cavanaugh. I need to speak with Adam Henry.” I glanced at Adam, curious about whether he thought it was weird that his name was so similar to the one in the box, to the man on the phone.