Change of Heart

bared his very human teeth to try to intimidate me. To anyone else, it just looked crazy, but I understood the gesture for what it was, him forgetting where he was because of the level of alcohol in his system.
    "J," Owen said, and his voice was shaking as he laid his hand on my shoulder. "I don't think you——"
    "Go inside," I told him. "Stay there, and don't send anyone else out. Everything will be fine."
    He moved fast, used to obeying me.
    As soon as the door closed, I stepped in closer to the massive man and smiled up at him, revealing not teeth, but my fangs, upper and lower. The second I did it, I regretted it.
    34
    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    If I had been clear-headed and not sleep-deprived, my judgment would have been sound, and I wouldn't have acted so rashly. But instinct had taken over when my reason had failed.
    My smile had the desired effect; the man stepped back, shaken. He wasn't like me; he wasn't a reah. He didn't have my power. He could be man or beast; he could not be pieces of either by choice. He could not take the form of a werepanther; it was the ability of only a semel or a reah.
    "I... I don't...." He trailed off, unsure of what I was. I was not a semel; he knew that. There was no mistaking the power of a semel, and that kind of raw, primal energy didn't radiate from me. What rolled off me in waves was different, warmer and gentler because of what I was. A reah was the yin to the yang of the semel, each complimenting the other, fitting together so that the reah gave softness and compassion to the semel, the semel bringing strength and logic to the reah.
    Every semel exuded strength and dominance, but I did not, so the man standing before me was at a loss as to what to make of me.
    "How can this be?"
    I understood his confusion. As far as I knew, I was the only male reah in existence. Maybe there were more, somewhere, but I had never come across one or even heard of one. And even though I liked to debate the existence of there being more than just me with Crane, chances were that he was right, and I was it.
    "Reah," he gasped out, louder now because he was finally certain. His eyes were wide as he stared at me.
    35
    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    Where there had been chaotic shouting only moments before, there was now only the wail of the wind off the lake.
    "How dare you disrespect your tribe with a show of teeth to a stranger," I said with ice in my voice, hoping that if I could drive him out with my anger then he wouldn't have time to question me. "Are you insane? What were you going to do next? Were you planning to shift right here in this restaurant in front of everyone?" I railed at him.
    His eyes were glued to me.
    "This is not maat. You are a disgrace."
    "Forgive me," he said, sinking down to one knee in front of me, his face raised up to study my face. "Please, reah."
    I nodded quickly.
    "Take me to your semel so I can beg his forgiveness."
    There was no semel to take him to, since I wasn't mated, but he didn't need to know that. "It's fine." I was curt, taking a step back. "Just get outta here."
    His eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here?"
    "It is not your place to question me," I snapped at him.
    "Take your friends and leave." After I gave the order, I turned away, purposely presenting him with my back and thereby showing him that I didn't fear him or even acknowledge him.
    The gasp of surprise was expected.
    "Reah!"
    When I had almost reached the door, there was a hand on my shoulder. Turning, I found myself faced with a pair of enormous sea-foam green eyes; a woman was standing there frozen.
    36
    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    "Hi," I said calmly, trying to breathe, running my tongue across my very normal human teeth. I knew my control was amazing, and for once I was glad. It wouldn't be good for me to go back into the crowded dining room looking like the werepanther that I was.
    "Hi," she barely got out, lifting a trembling hand slowly toward me, her fingers sliding over my chest. She was adorable standing there, mouth open, eyes wide.
    It had taken me a moment because I was working on so very little sleep, but the woman was the one I had rescued in Reno two months ago.
    "You saved me," she breathed out.
    "I did." I forced a smile, moving strands of light brown hair out of her eyes so I could see her beautiful face. I was vaguely aware that all movement had stopped around us.
    "Oh," she whimpered, tears spilling out from under her fluttering lids. "I'm