Mercy Thompson 01-05 - THE MERCY THOMPSON COLLECTION

changed her appearance. She didn’t look like a middle-aged woman anymore; instead, she’d altered her real appearance just enough that she looked human. Her skin was tanned and human-smooth, her eyes gray, and her hair as blond as Phin’s must have been when he was a young man.
    She looked at Adam for a moment, and he stayed still with the coaxing quietness of a man trying not to startle a wild creature.
    â€œYou’ve changed,” she told him, relaxing a little. “She contents your wolf.”
    â€œI’m sorry I frightened you.” Adam’s voice was carefully gentle, and I remembered that he’d said she hadn’t been able to stay in the same room with him.
    She shook her head. “Not your fault—neither the old fear or the new. But still, you are not so terrifying now.” With a resolute breath and raised chin, she strode across the store to us.
    She looked at the book and shook her head. “You cause me more trouble.” To Adam and me, she said, almost shyly, “Would you like to see what it really looks like?”
    â€œPlease,” I said.
    She put both of her hands on the book, and I felt a wave of magic. She picked up the book, and when she moved it, a small silver statue of a bird was left behind. A lark, I thought, though I was no expert. It was no bigger than the palm of my hand and amazingly realistic. I looked at the book sitting next to it.
    â€œThe best disguises are real,” she said. “I just used the book to hide the artifact.”
    Adam put his hand on my shoulder, bent down, and said, “Such a small thing to cause so much trouble.” And he kissed the top of my ear.