{"Two hearts that beat as one; our lives have just begun." }
The cool night air wrapped around us as Rita and I stood in the backyard of her home, the scent of damp earth and pine filling my senses. The moon hung high, casting silver light over her dark hair, making it shimmer like silk.
I watched her in silence for a moment, my heart thrumming with something close to anticipation. She looked peaceful like this, barefoot in the grass, her golden eyes softened in the moonlight. But I knew what lay beneath that calm exterior.
"Shift for me," I said, my voice quiet but certain.
Rita turned to me, one brow arching. "Into the Rogourau?"
I nodded. "I want to see you."
She studied me for a long moment as if searching for hesitation in my face. "Most people wouldn't ask that," she murmured. "Most don't want to see the monster."
I stepped closer, placing a hand on her chest, feeling the steady warmth beneath my palm. "You're not a monster to me, Rita."
