I smiled. “I think I should just go.” I picked up a gremlin and stood it on its pedestal.

“I don’t think that’s wise.” Professor Pops stacked a bunch of papers that had been the history of the unicorns together. “You need to find a way to control the beast that lives inside you. Otherwise, this type of thing will happen every night.” His hands flourished around the room. “I’ve been doing some research and . . . ”

The door clicked open. A guy I hadn’t met but who I assumed was Cole walked in followed by Troy. They carried a large trashcan between them. Cole had a broom and Troy held the dustpan. They both froze when they saw me and I remembered I was only wrapped in a blanket.

Professor Pops took in my appearance as though noticing it for the first time. Determination reflected on his features. “It’s going to go like this: Troy, Beatrice gets your room. You need to change the sheets and clean up. I don’t want dirty clothes cluttering up the place.”

Troy let out a loud sigh. “Aw, man.”

“Then you’re going to clean your bathroom. Scrub it. And then clean it again,” Professor Pops continued.

“Ugh,” Troy threw his hands in the air.

“On your way up, I need you to take Beatrice’s suitcases to your room. Make some space in your closet. When you’re finished, let me know.”

“What, right now?” He threw the dustpan on the floor.

Professor Pops seemed to glide over to Troy. It was so fast I didn’t see his feet move. “Yes, right now. Do you have a problem with that?” His voice was low and menacing. It sent shivers up my spine.

“No, sir.” Troy strode to the door. Professor Pops followed and unlocked it with his key. Professor Pops whispered something to Troy.

Troy nodded. “I’m sorry Beatrice,” he said, his features schooled into an apologetic gaze.

“It’s fine.” I waved a hand at him. “Thank you for lending me your room.”

When Troy left, Cole whistled. “That was tense.” He went over to the corner near the dragon and started sweeping the glass into a pile.

I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to help but the blanket wasn’t all that secure. “I need some clothes,” I said.

“Oh, Miss Beatrice, I’m so sorry.” Professor Pops walked into the room where the cot was and went over to the table that had held all the weapons. There were drawers underneath. He pulled one open and pulled out a black pair of pants and a black shirt. “These are workout clothes, but they should cover the essentials.”

I moved closer so I could speak without Cole hearing. “I need underthings as well.” I lowered my head. “I’m so sorry.”

Professor Pops cleared his throat and opened another drawer. Inside were underthings. “See if there’s something in there that fits.”

“Thank you,” I said, breathing a sigh of relief.

Professor Pops walked to the opening of the weapons room and then stopped. “When you shift, your clothes disappear?”

I glanced around the room. I hadn’t thought about it before. “Yes,” I said. “The clothes I wore last night are gone.” That stunk. That suit and those shoes had been some of my favorites.

“Interesting. And then when you shift back, you’re in only your birthday suit?”

My face flushed. “Apparently.”

“Interesting, indeed.” He walked from the room and I heard him and Cole whispering and the swishing of broken glass.

Moving to the open drawer I found a sports bra and boxers that might fit. Then I went into the bathroom where I did a quick wash with a wet cloth. I slid on the underclothes and the workout attire. The outfit was like nothing I’d ever worn before. It was loose and comfortable. I tried to comb my hair with my fingers and wiped off some of yesterday’s makeup from under my eyes. I still needed shoes though.

Professor Pops was a step ahead of me. When I came out of the bathroom there was a pair of black socks and plain black shoes in my size outside the door. I put them on and went into the Supernatural room. Cole and Professor Pops had the entire floor nearly swept up. The trashcan was filled with glass. They were working on putting a book back together. Shame scorched my body.

“I am really sorry,” I said again, feeling helpless, and wishing I could do more.

“It’s all right, Beatrice.”

I nodded, even though I knew it wasn’t. “I’m going to clean up the weapon’s room.”

“Thank you,” Professor Pops said.

I went over to a mace and grabbed the handle, trying to pull it from the wall. It wouldn’t budge. “Stupid thing,” I cursed, placing one foot on the wall to give me extra leverage.

Professor Pops walked in and smiled. “Your strength in this form is like that of a normal human.”

I grunted my acknowledgement, determined to get the freaking mace out of the freaking wall and a little irritated that I felt like he was studying me.

“But I bet you could call on your beastly strength even while in human form.” Professor Pops took a pad of paper and a pen from his back pocket. Then pulled his glasses from the pocket of his sweater, put them on, and wrote something down.

“How would I do that? I asked, releasing the mace handle and rubbing my hands. They were red and starting to really hurt.

“Hmmmm,” he tapped the pen to his cheek. “Do you remember any specific feelings from when you’ve previously shifted?”

I tried to think back. “I believed they were dreams, until a couple of night ago.”

“Which they probably were.” He tucked his pen in his back pocket and flipped his notebook shut. “Okay, grab hold of the handle.”

I did. “Now what?”

“Take a deep breath and feel for the werecat energy.”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, held it, searched my insides for some kind of energy. I found nothing, but I didn’t want to tell him that. Breathing out, I yanked on the mace . . . and it popped out.

“I did it,” I said, opening my eyes. Cole’s face was inches from mine. He wore a naughty smile. My happiness deflated. “You pulled the mace out for me, didn’t you?”

Professor Pops shook his head, trying to hold back a smile.

Cole tucked his hands in his pockets and twisted his mouth. “Yeah, I kinda did.”

Without thinking, I leaned over and punched him. He went flying backward, smashing into the trashcan full of glass. Shards rained down on him.

“I didn’t mean to,” I said, covering my mouth.

Both Cole and Professor Pops started laughing. Cole stood up and brushed off his pants. He didn’t have a scratch on him.

“Are you supernatural too?”

“I guess so.” Cole walked back over.

Professor Pops clapped him on the shoulder. “Cole is a relatively new member of our family. I adopted him just six month ago.”

“What are you?” I asked, fascinated to meet someone different, like me.

Cole glanced away, shoving his hands back into his pockets.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.” I turned away, moving over to the katana jammed into the ceiling. I reached up and yanked. It wouldn’t move.

“Tell her, Cole,” Professor Pops urged.

He came over and pulled out the katana. “It’s okay. I’m just still trying to get comfortable with it.”

I smiled at him. “It’s totally understandable. Apparently I look human, but I’m not. I’m a Vaktare, which is some kind of werecat, and I’m from another realm.”

He returned my smile with one of his own. And I realized he was handsome, in a tough guy kind of way. He wore a snug black tank top, which was a stark contrast to his pale skin. His jeans were loose and hung below his plaid boxers. He was maybe five foot seven and bulky. Not overweight, just completely covered in muscles. He didn’t have a six-pack but a ten pack. His hair was the darkest black I’d ever seen, except when the light struck it. Then it shone a deep blue. His eyes were light gray.

“Well, I’m a gargoyle.” He shrugged, walked over to the opposite wall and pulled out another sword.