Anya

It turned out better than I could have imagined. Of course, she didn't imagine a skunk, she just wanted to spoil Theo. It turned out funny, she scared a little, and then obediently settled down on his shoulder, the very one that tore it apart, turning into a large clawed something. I felt a rather strong pulsation in the place where four deep furrows had recently flaunted. The guy was still in pain, but I was a little ashamed. Silly feeling.

I didn’t manage to speak like Rustle and Theo in the form of a beast. Apparently, this is one of the skills taught in that academy. Although for me the main thing is to solve the issue of uncontrolled transformations during kisses. And I’m not at all offended that we kissed five times with a black-eyed muzzle, but I still didn’t feel anything. After all, it turns out that I can’t kiss anyone now? Goodbye private life. I'm not going to talk about my strange curse on the first date. But even this is not the worst. Rustle, that's what scares me the most. From the mere thought of ceasing to be yourself until the end of days, everything inside trembles with horror, and the desire to argue with a couple of kidnappers completely disappears. To study? Great, I'll be the most diligent werewolf student, and then I'll calmly return home to my granny. Granny?! She must be going crazy! Or hasn't gone yet? How much time has passed?

"Theo! THEO!"

- Stop fidgeting, you're stopping me from going, - the guy muttered with displeasure, and immediately changed his tone to fawning: - You don't want to go to the toilet, do you?

What?!

They immediately put me on the grass. Theo crossed his arms expectantly and stared at me. Is he serious now? According to his logic, should I write in front of him, like a dog on a run? Or something even worse...

- Listen, Theo, I'll tell you what now ... - Rustle dragged on, and immediately received a murderous look as a reward. Are they really best friends? Chinchilla didn't even raise an eyebrow and continued: - She's a girl after all. Turn around, don't embarrass her. Do your dangerous deeds and move on.

- He will run away, - the pervert and the lover of spying gritted.

"And he'll be a skunk for the rest of his life." Who would kiss her in their right mind? Here the chances are reduced to an absolute minus.

As soon as I was imbued with sympathy for this fur ball, he immediately ruined everything. And what was I thinking? It turns out that with all the desire I can’t spray this couple. I'm embarrassed to even pee in their presence. Darkness. A smile full of superiority played on the bastard's lips. He understood. Turned away. But I still don't want to go to the toilet. How do animals do it so that their fur does not get dirty?! And if they get dirty, then they themselves ... Oh no. I'll wait for the reverse transformation and a warm toilet. Do they exist in this world?

She tugged at Theo's leg.

- Quickly managed - laughs.

The next two hours watched a monotonous landscape. All the same withered field, rare bridges across the rivers, sparse forests, and absolutely no living creatures. No birds, no insects. Nothing at all! Even the sounds here were somewhat muffled. Strange place.

“Borderland,” Rustle suddenly explained, as if he had got into his head. - Lands that do not belong to any world. This place is called Autumn Wasteland. The most terrible thing is the Winter expanse. But those who cross it are paid more. Theo and I were on worlds beyond the Wintermound. Pleasant little.

I represent. Maybe at least there is a black-eyed muzzle, puts on a little more clothes, and does not shine with her perfect torso.

- Soon there will be a fork in our world, there are only three hours and the last crossing.

Three more hours? I'm afraid I'll have to pick a taller bush.

The rest of the way she dozed, played with her tail, listened to the chatter of Rustle and Theo. They discussed me. The poor are tired, they want to hand me over to the rector as soon as possible and go on. Given the nature of their work, I don't think we'll meet again. They will plow the Winter expanse, or the Spring backwater. It's funny, but I envy them. Everything is better than studying, especially when you are already a graduate.

I felt sorry for myself a little more and did not even notice how sounds and life returned to the world. As if out of nowhere, horse-drawn carts, butterflies, children appeared. They easily passed through the invisible barrier that we passed with Theo and Rustle, but did not disappear anywhere. Like this?

- Without permission, no one can cross the borders of the worlds, Anya. It's just that a person won't even notice the passage.

Thanks for the tour, Shore. Seriously, stop messing with my head, it's scary!

Silent. Or maybe he doesn’t hear my thoughts, but reads from the surprised skunk muzzle?

In any case, the world did not surprise me. An ordinary village, as if stuck in a time when cars and mobile phones were not invented. Mobile phone! My phone was left in the restaurant along with my clothes! Again, my heart sank at the thought of my grandmother. We must beg Theo to urgently send her a message.

- Pets are not allowed! growled a man with the most brutal face in the world, as Theo stepped into an unprepossessing two-story room that reeked of something sticky and knocking him off his feet. And the ringing of mugs and a loud cackle cut his ears. Are we animals with Rustle? At least we have all the teeth in the vest, and our noses are not broken in three places, and our eyes are not bloodshot.

- Lily, let us go - fawning chinchilla. - I'll make you the proceeds for the week this evening.

Lily? This killing machine's name is Lily?!

- I'll let you go, but your dog and stink are gone.

- Theo will behave himself this time, go to bed and not a gram of alcohol, I'll see.

The fellow thoughtfully scratched his stubble, and I made out a tattoo on his shoulder. Lily. How cute.

- Well, I don't know, Shore. They say after skunks the stink lasts for months. You scare away all my clients.

Stink? From me? Yes, in this institution there is such a stench even cut with a knife!

- It's not a skunk, it's a shapeshifter. Girl,” the pervert clarified with his signature nasty smile on his lips.

So let it turn. Take a look and I'll give you a discount.

- No problem.

No. No. No. THEO STOP!

Coldness on the skin and dozens of greasy looks. The pervert threw my jacket over my shoulders and turned it around. Late. Lily's clientele had seen enough. Damn, I hope it was worth it and we really get a good discount.

- Five percent.

WHAT?! Only five? I'll kill Theo. I’ll just stop counting the beats of his heart again and immediately kill him ...

- Lily, don't squeeze, - Rustle bargained.

- What a spectacle - such a discount. The guys and I didn't have time to see anything. True, right? - the crooked-nosed one shouted to his rabble and received affirmative cries.

"Five percent will do," Theo choked out. - Pay him, and we're in the room.

- Second floor, sixth room on the left. Have fun, guys, - Lily admonished, removing one of the keys from his belt and throwing it to the black-eyed muzzle. Rustle, meanwhile, pulled out a purse from his backpack and jumped onto the kid's shoulder. If I were a thug, I would take the money from the animal and drive us out into the street. But the two seemed like best friends. Crazy world... And Theo... Jerk.

The pervert brought me to the room, carefully pulling the jacket. What is there. Everyone has already seen more than necessary. One thing pleases - in a drunken stupor this gang will forget everything by morning.

- I advise you to go to bed, - Theo nodded at the single bed in the corner, and he sat down on the carpet. - In an hour, the whole city will gather at Lily's. Fights, music. You definitely won't sleep.

- You promised me clothes.

"Are you suggesting we leave you here alone and go shopping?" Do you think this flimsy door will hold back a couple of horny drunks when they see me gone? Or do you want to go down to the hall again and try your luck?

- Not.

- Then in the morning, - cut off the guy.

- Good. Will you stop if someone comes?

- No one will come, - Theo lay down on the carpet and put a backpack under his head. - And if he comes, then the local doctor will have more work to do.

A pleasant warmth spread through my body. Protects, will fight for me. No matter how much I was angry with the kidnapper, he managed to make me think about something else with one simple phrase ... About what was wrong, about what causes painful languor in my heart. Brad!

She approached the bed. Yellow, washed-out rags, a lumpy pillow, and a mattress...

- Theo, can I have a minute?

Dissatisfied grunting, but the guy approached me, not letting go of his burden. And why is he so obsessed with her? He gave the money to Shorokh.

- Well?

She pointed to the vermin-ridden fabric, where larvae and nasty-looking beetles peeped out of tiny holes.

- AND? Do you want to change places? Well, go to the floor, this neighborhood does not bother me.

- Theo...

Rolled his eyes. He pulled off the sheet, examined it critically, and then handed it to me.

- Wrap yourself up and give me your jacket.

She quickly wrapped herself around, trying not to think that bugs could remain on her.

The black muzzle decided not to take a blanket and a pillow, someone moved suspiciously in them too, or I already imagined it.

- Let's go.

- Where?

- On the floor, - Theo spread his jacket and lay down beside him. “I’m not sure that all this teeming company will not crawl over to us, but I hope we will already fall asleep by this time.

The thought of sleeping next to him instantly made him uneasy, given that one chinchilla had recently said something about imprinting. And for me, this word is akin to ... but no! We are people. And I began to pester Theo because of the jumped libido. Is that how they explained it to me?

- You'll settle down, huh?

- What is imprinting?

- Seriously? You seem to have studied in a veterinarian, - Theo asked mockingly.

- We're not talking about sexual imprinting in animals, are we? - his mouth was already dry, and the guy suddenly became too serious.

- What if it's about him?

- Brad.

- That's what I think, any more questions? - without waiting, Theo rolled to the other side.

- What kind of discount would you give?

The pervert turned to me again, giving me a very strange look.

- Definitely not five percent, - something painful and even evil flashed in the black eyes. Who is angry at? On me?

- How much?

His hand gently rested on the back of my head and pressed my head to his chest so that I could no longer see my suddenly confused face.

- Sleep.

- Answer!

- Please, Anya. Just sleep. Okay? And forgive me.

- For what?

- And not for what?

- I'm sorry. But don't do that again, - she tried to smile, feeling a lump rise up in her throat from an unpleasant foreboding.

- I'll do worse, Anya. Tell me... can you feel it?

- What you called nonsense?

- Yes.

- What does it look like?

- The desire to go down and gnaw the throats of everyone who saw you without clothes. Twenty seven people. I remember everyone,” Theo admitted, and my chest tightened again.

- We can check, go down to them naked, and I will compare the sensations.

A soundless chuckle, and then a forced:

- Anya...

- What?

Didn't answer. fell asleep. I took it and fell asleep! And what should I do after all these confessions? And something unimaginable began on the first floor. A crowd of drunkards chanted one single word:

- Rustle! Rustle! Rustle!

What is the chinchilla doing there? Push Theo aside and take a look.

Scream, scream, hoot.

And the appetizing smell of greasy and fried seeps through the door.

- Who wants to challenge our little Shore? roared Lily.

Stay in the room! Don't think about the food, don't think about the fun downstairs, don't think about Theo, who will kill me and all the visitors.

- Rustle, rustle, rustle!

The longer I lay down, the stronger my appetite increased. She began to scroll through the dialogue between Alex and the waiter in her head. I remembered every detail of the dishes they discussed, every name of the sauce. Endure! I’ll fall asleep, and everything will pass, and in the morning a strange couple will definitely feed me. Scrambled eggs with tomatoes and onions, for example?

Oh my God! His stomach growled so much that I wonder why Theo didn't wake up. Maybe wake him up? He will not refuse such a trifle - to eat. Looked into the face of an impudent muzzle. In a dream, he suddenly lost his frightening charm, becoming an ordinary guy. Well, almost normal. An ordinary guy who turns into a different animal. To his world, he must be mediocrity itself. And the eyelashes are so beautiful for sure every second one and half-open lips, hypnotizing me more than the smell from the tavern. And this is an idea! I will kiss the bastard, turn into an inconspicuous creature and pull a chicken leg off the table. Do they smell so delicious?

Idiot idea. One of the guests will break my head for such impudence.

- And-and-and-and-and, dear public. Shorokh won this round.

I don't care. I don't care.

Behind the back began a fuss. I turned to the bed, and I swear I saw dozens of hungry eyes of small parasites lurking in the mattress. At least someone will have a meal today...

Well, I do not! I will not stay in this bedbug, next to a half-naked pervert who, in his sleep, breathes too sexy and heavily, and his body temperature jumped two hundred degrees. Makes him sick, doesn't it?

- Anya...

I’m definitely dumping everything, he’s either dying, or he’s going to rape me now. But the nasty imps persuade you to stay and listen further to the gentle whisper. And this is another "for" in the piggy bank for my escape.

I crawled out of the embrace and immediately felt a pleasant coolness in the places where Theo touched me. It is strange that there were no blisters from burns. So, what is next?

She looked blankly at her kidnapper, convincing herself that she was not admiring at all, but was waiting for the right moment for a kiss. She leaned over, again feeling intense heat. A strand escaped from behind his ear and brushed Theo's cheek. The guy smiled weakly in his sleep, plunging me into an even greater stupor.

Just a kiss for business. Nothing personal or superfluous. I will not do it slowly to delay the moment of my transformation, and feel at least something. I will not enjoy his hot breath, I will not freeze at the most crucial moment. I will not be tormented by thousands of unresolved questions caused by the strange behavior of the black-eyed muzzle, and even more so I will not believe in nonsense called imprinting!

The body became incredibly light. It was as if all the bones were pulled out of it, and replaced with something weightless. The soft tread of furry paws, emotions collected at the tip of a fluffy tail. She jumped onto the window sill and looked into the glass. Cat! I hope curiosity doesn't kill this red-haired beauty. She laughed nervously to herself and jumped back to the floor, enjoying the grace of her new look. Imposingly she walked to the exit from the room, stretching sweetly, leaving her tailed ass and stretching her paws. Story!

She pushed the door open with her head. Hell, it's locked... And Theo has the key. But even if I get it, how can I get out? Be yourself again, open the lock, kiss the bastard, go to dinner? Great plan. Only where is the guarantee that the second time I will be just as lucky with the transformation. I reincarnated as a cat on a wave of excitement, and now I am pounding with horror and an unpleasant foreboding, just like being a rabbit for me. Just look, I myself will get on the table in the form of a stew.

Again I look into the face of the chaos that burst into my life. New painful echoes appeared in it. Breathing became more erratic, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Are you sure Theo is okay? She touched his lips and quickly dressed herself in a washed-out sheet.

- Theo? She patted the boy on the shoulder.

Let him wake up and drag out another lecture that shifters are always like that in a dream. Everyone is in a fever in their sleep, and the breath turns into a terrible whistle with wheezing.

Silent.

- Theo, get up. It's not funny!

Doesn't even think about waking up. For a minute she shook him violently, called, even hit him once on the cheek. And what can I do without drugs, in a strange world? Cry over a dead body. Rustle! The chinchilla must know exactly what to do, he has already cured the black-eyed muzzle once, and will cure it again. Now I definitely need to get to the inn. She searched the unconscious guy, or rather, his jeans, he is not wearing any other clothes. The key was found in the back pocket. Great, consider it, I'm pawing his ass. Such an elastic ass, there are also probably relief muscles.

Rushed to the door. I don't care about the crowds of sweaty, drunken men, and that I only have one sheet on. If Theo expires and I don't do anything, I won't forgive myself. As if leaving a sick animal on the threshold of a veterinary clinic. The click of a key in the keyhole, the creaking of hinges and a growl behind him.

Woke up? She turned slowly, expecting to see her fateful dog. But in the middle of the room stood a half-naked pervert.

- Thank God, I already thought you were dying, - she put her hand with the keys behind her back. How bad. Now she thinks that she decided to run away.

- And where are you going? - in the voice of hoarseness and undisguised anger, and something unimaginable with the eyes, they became even blacker.

- For Shorokh. You didn't wake up, I was worried, and... I decided to go for help.

- LIE!

He yelled so that the glass in the frame rang, and black patterns spread across his face, repeating the curves of the veins under the skin.

- Theo, you're out of your mind. Allow me to bring Rustle, - whiningly asked for something that had recently been a man. Where is this little chinchilla? Let him conjure something and calm his friend until he...

- Oh no. I'm just fine, - a predatory smile on his lips. - How can I punish a fugitive?

- No way? I tried for you, - with trembling fingers, she twisted the door handle. Yes, open up! How far can I run from this demon? Can I make it to the stairs? And then call for help, and ...

Theo cocked his head to one side, assessing my bare ankles, veiled thighs and chest. From this look, red-hot paths remained on the skin. What did Shorokh say? The pervert with girls for a long time was not? But what about the libido, where does it go with this terrible muzzle?

- The main thing is not to kiss, Anya. But why do we kiss? - the guy grinned, and my heart shied against my chest with fright and collapsed to the first floor.

- I'll scream...

- Seriously? First, no one will hear you. Secondly, I'm afraid you will have to fight back not only from me, but also from the saviors who came to the rescue, mouse.

- Reasonable. How to make you change your mind? - The handle gave way. Yes. Talk to the bastard, a little more.

- No, - Theo enjoyed my pathetic attempts to reason with him and also delayed the moment. And it's only good for me.

Crack. Come on?! She stared in horror at the broken doorknob in my palm.

- I hope you paid the deposit for the room? - wrinkled her nose.

- Deposit? - the guy was distracted for a moment, and I rushed to the rickety stool in the corner of the room and grabbed it by the seat.

"Don't come near," she shook her new weapon menacingly.

This did not impress the black-eyed muzzle at all, he imposingly approached me and too easily took the last chance to fight back from his hands.

"You don't need this, Anya." He carefully set the stool back in place, then grabbed the edge of the sheet. And that's not necessary either.

Rustle, cattle, where are you? I'm about to be imprinted on a bug-eaten mattress, and I can't even do anything.

The crowd below again announced the victory of the fur ball, and a red-hot palm lay on my back.

- Choose. Bed, jacket. M?

- Table! I want it on the table, - she nodded at the flimsy structure with large drops of solidified wax, and a thick candle fused to the surface. - Just a jacket for bed, otherwise my whole ass will be in splinters.

Laughs. The black veins faded for a moment, but then covered my captor's face again. O! I'm on the right track. Gotta make him laugh!

Without letting go of my wrist, Theo picked up the jacket and laid it on the countertop.

- Sit down!

- I can not. High. The legs give way, - I didn’t lie. I was shaking from what was to come, and the lack of a sheet on my body was even more frightening.

- Do you like to play?

I do not like!

- Of course! And I also love by candlelight, I'm behind matches, - I put my palms on the edge of the table to jump off, but Theo's roar nailed me back.

- Sit!

The black wick on the candle flared with an orange flame of its own accord.

- Will there be more desires?

- Yes. Please don't rape me!

- I didn't mean to. Imprinted sex is always voluntary, honey.

Somehow, I'm not entirely sure about the last statement.

- I don't bite, Anya. There is no need to be afraid, - the shaggy pervert tried in vain to reassure me.

Yeah. Of course. Where and why did the fangs appear in your mouth then? In fact, a pair of teeth have become longer and sharper. Is it a local transformation? More Theo nowhere himself, I hope, did not increase?

But the black patterns have already gone down the neck, shoulders, and now snakes on the chest, with every breath.

Maybe we'll start small. Date? Dinner...

The hope that the chinchilla would suddenly return was fading before our eyes. The third round had just been announced, and Shorokh emerged victorious again.

- You're so funny. I love your embarrassment. There will be dates. Then.

Theo's hands were on my hips and slid down to my knees, pushing, trying to push my legs apart. And I almost gave in, imprinting, right?

- Wait a minute. And you? It's a little dishonest, don't you think. You're still in your pants!

- Reasonable.

The guy took up the belt, and I almost cried. Not the worst thing that could have happened, probably, but it doesn't make it any easier.

- Theo?

- M?

He reluctantly tore himself away from the tight buckle, and an inarticulate curse escaped his lips.

- What about contraceptives, huh?

- Why? - sincerely surprised scoundrel.

- Well, how ... I'm going to study. And... I'll have to focus on classes, exams.

- I'm not against children. And in our institutions, you can also take an academic.

Do not mind. Children. He. And they decided not to ask me, is it? Now the outlook is even bleaker.

Desperately twisted her head in search of at least one hint of salvation. And the door, I have unlocked. There are chances, think, Anya! Think! His gaze fell on a smoky candle, in which a lot of melted wax had accumulated. Oh, I'm sorry Theo, but it's your own fault. I grabbed my last chance and pulled, holding back a squeak as hot drops hit my skin. One sharp movement and splashed in the face of her failed lover.

The guy roared and bared his terrible fangs.

- Idiot! In the eyes! For what?!

Is he still asking?

The guy furiously scraped the hardening wax from his face, and I grabbed Theo by the scruff of the neck and pressed a kiss to his growling mouth. And again, the lightness and feeling of flight. She flopped on the floor and hobbled towards the door. Uncomfortable infection - the front paws are shorter than the hind legs. And what am I? Rabbit? .. I hope my kidnapper will appreciate the humor, and will not yet catch up with me in the form of the same cute little animal. There are too many jokes about the fertility of these animals, which are not jokes at all, but a frightening reality!

But Theo was still scratching his eyes, and I jumped into the corridor.

My poor ears! I was deafened by screams, the sound of broken glass and the rattling of furniture. It looks like someone's stool has just been broken on a backbone.

Rustle. I need to find him before Theo wakes up. After my misconduct, he could completely reconsider his views on imprinting, and then instead of having sex with a hot brunette, in the truest sense of the word, they would simply devour me.

Head over heels down the stairs and almost immediately got into the epicenter of a grand drinking bout. Sticky floor, shards of mugs, a couple of unconscious bodies drooling. Darkness...

Dodging heavy boots and rushing towards the screaming crowd. Already almost reached the improvised scene, when the railing on the second floor fell down, broken by a black dog. Well, sex is cancelled, Theo goes to take revenge.

RUSTLE!

Of course he doesn't hear. But the room instantly became quiet. The visitors froze as the beast landed on all fours and sucked in a noisy breath, apparently looking for me. I hope that the stink of mumbling spilled everywhere will knock off his sense of smell, and not without pleasure I noticed a couple of bald spots on the muzzle of the reptile, but he noticed me.

Desperately tried to jump, but tightly stuck to the floor, and the treacherous crowd instantly splashed in different directions.

Oh my God! That's all! She closed her eyes. Granny, but I never had time to call you. I'm sorry!

“Stop,” the chinchilla roared imperiously throughout the tavern, and Theo seemed to be paralyzed. Also sticky?

- Rustle, you promised me that it would not arrange a pogrom! squealed Lily, cowardly looking out from under the bar building.

- I'll sort everything out, - the rodent promised businesslike, jumped off the platform and hurried to me, deftly avoiding sticky spots. - Anya, what kind of demon is going on?

Hey smart guy, I can't talk!

My new friend thought for a long time what my chaotic paw movements meant.

- Kiss him and turn back!

Crazy?! And I'll be naked in the middle of the hall?

- No one will touch you, or I'll let Theo off the leash - the last was addressed to the guests, but they already tried to stay as far away from the dog as possible.

The chinchilla is definitely intimidating with its ability to read my mind. And who am I even more afraid of: drunken men or a fanged muzzle, which I'm one bite away from. No!

- Transform! Rustle ordered, and Theo shook himself and stood up to his full height, showing the audience the black patterns on his body.

- A leper, - a loud murmur went through the crowd, and the guy looked ahead of him with an unseeing look, completely at the mercy of his friend.

- Take Anya and quickly return to the room.

What? Not! You don't have to take me! I jerked to the side, but I couldn't get off the floor until Theo took me in his arms.

- Don't be afraid, everything will be fine.

Hey, we didn't agree. There is no place for a leper here,” Lily squealed.

"He's not a leper," snapped Rustle. - Drinks for everyone at my expense, and set the table for the three of us, we'll go down for dinner in half an hour.

“Good,” the owner quickly agreed, and those present nodded approvingly.

What's this? Thirst to get drunk at someone else's expense, or the power of suggestion of a little chinchilla?

*.*.*

- Class... You broke the door. And what is this installation on the table? Shore chuckled, contemplating the crumpled jacket and the scraps of the candle. - Sexual games with wax?

They are the best! .. All my life I dreamed.

- Kiss, Anna.

Theo obeyed, and in a moment she was in the arms of a completely naked guy. He lost his jeans during his transformation, and they were not observed in the room. Karma in action.

- YOU COMPLETELY BOTH FUCKED!

I was shaking with anger, and even the face of my tormentor, covered with red spots, deep abrasions and black veins, did not evoke pity. She escaped from his arms and wrapped herself in her sheet. And the pervert just stood with an extinct look.

- Sorry. I didn't think Theo would miss his medication, I didn't expect him to be so irresponsible.

- Medicine? From rabies or to suppress their sexual activity? Do you have any idea what he almost did to me?

- I'm sorry, but it worked out. Inject him with konakion, he's in his backpack.

Luckily, Theo didn't have his bag stolen from his room, lucky bastard.

- Do it yourself, I won't lay a finger on it.

- Anya, I can't, - Rustle showed his tiny pink fingers. - I have paws!