Still Life with Shape-shifter (A Shifting Circle Novel)
Sharon Shinn
Language: English
Pages: 336
ISBN: 0425256359
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
National bestselling author Sharon Shinn presents a passionate, heart-wrenching story of secrets and the lengths to which we’ll go to protect those we love...
For her entire life, Melanie Landon has hidden the fact that her half sister, Ann, is a shape-shifter, determined to protect her from a world that simply wouldn’t understand. When a man shows up asking about Ann—who has been missing for months—Melanie fears the worst, and with good reason. Freelance writer Brody Westerbrook knows about the existence of shape-shifters and intends to include Ann in the book he’s writing.
While Melanie is immediately drawn to the stranger, she knows better than to trust him, and she denies his claim. But when Ann finally reappears, looking thin and sick, Melanie realizes exposure is the least of their worries. Protecting her sister has always been an enormous part of Melanie’s life, but as Ann’s health rapidly deteriorates, Melanie must come to grips with the fact that saving her may mean letting go…
least out of danger. The homes of other shape-shifters, most often, the ones who had enough control over their lives to earn money and own property—or the homes of the people who loved them. It was soon clear to me that I had a duty to this newfound circle of most unusual friends. I needed to launch my career, buy a house, and add yet one more refuge to the list of places where shape-shifters could pause in peace. And I was willing—more than willing, even eager. And I realized these new friends
She could model for an anatomy class that was too squeamish to examine actual skeletons. I feel my throat close up with concern, but I try to focus on the conversation. “That’s kind of a long story. Part of what I’ll tell you next time I see you.” “Is part of the story the fact that he’s really cute?” That makes me laugh. “I guess so. Look, I’ll talk to you later. Ann’s eating pancake batter out of the bowl, and I need to take a shower and figure out how to spend the day.” “Are you coming to
responsibility at least as much as she was my father’s or Gwen’s. And I loved her more than I loved anyone else in the world. I was probably eleven or twelve the night I lay awake thinking fairly deep existential thoughts. I had heard noises downstairs—which turned out to be my father and Gwen talking in the kitchen—but I had initially worried that the sounds were caused by burglars. My first thought was that I would hide in my closet so they wouldn’t find me. My second thought was that I must
and clawed, and rested on my leg. It was as if he had spoken aloud words of comfort and reassurance. Don’t be afraid. I’m with you. I’m always with you. I sighed and turned my head so that my wide, flat face for a moment rested against his narrow, pointed one. Then, without another word, I pushed myself to my feet and felt my way back into the tent. The wolf padded in behind me. I lay on my side on top of the sleeping bag, and he stretched out next to me. Side by side we slept peacefully through
lived in the murky old ponds down on the lower forty of their grandfathers’ abandoned farms. There was a whole contingent of people who believed we’d filmed a werewolf, and they kept issuing ‘health advisories’ about how to survive a werewolf bite without being turned into one yourself. We were even on the cover of National Enquirer a time or two. But the truth was, most people simply didn’t believe the event had occurred.” I force myself to look at him fleetingly. He still appears a little