Chapter One

"Not so tough without father around, are you Cass?" Killian's rough voice hissed in her ear, his fetid breath whispering across her cheek. Cassidy folded tighter in on herself and attempted to blend in with the stone parapet behind her. Normally, if she wore a sufficiently cowed expression, her older brother would leave her to her own devices. Of course, that was assuming that she hadn't just completely embarrassed him, yet again, during hand-to-hand training. Under their father's watchful eye, She could never bring herself to do poorly. She had always strived harder to earn his love and respect than his other children. She had much more to prove.

"Killian..." Reena whined from the courtyard, "Leave the bastard alone. We should be getting ready to host the Shift tonight, not torture the help." Their oldest sister's voice always carried a nasal whine and a petulant tone when she spoke of Cassidy, leaving no doubt in her mind that Reena believed she was nothing more than an insignificant stain on the family's reputation. While Reena never actively sought to do her harm, she typically turned a blind eye to Killian's proclivities.

Killian snorted, grabbing a handful of Cassidy's auburn hair and jerking it sharply. "The next time I see you, runt, you better have teeth and claws sharp enough to defend yourself. Or the Shift might find itself one little bunny short." He sneered down at her, twisting her hair painfully in his fist, before releasing her to collapse back against the stone. He stalked off after Reena, while the few servants in the courtyard shuffled awkwardly out of sight. No one ever wanted to get involved where the Alpha's children were concerned.

Cassidy steadied herself, unfolding from the ball she had sank into to keep Killian from being able to strike out at her ribs. She knew better than to be in eyesight after combat class, but she thought she had been hidden enough to take a few moments to compose herself before heading into the kitchen for her afternoon chores.

She had wanted to sweep into the bowels of the castle and regale her mother with what had happened in class. As daughter of the Alpha, she was permitted to join combat class once a week, and always with her father in attendance. It was one of the few precious hours that Cassidy was able to be herself. The Alpha Lord expected much of his children, and she never had to hide her nature when he was around. He was always so pleased by her speed and ruthlessness in dispatching his elder children, that he doted on her during class.

She was unrivaled in hand-to-hand, quicker and more sure-footed than her siblings. She was deadly with small blades as well, and kept one tucked in her boot at all times, just in case any of Killian's cronies took the young Lord at his word and tried to have her quietly dispatched. Not that she ever represented a true threat to either Killian or Reena, she was just as much her mother's daughter as her father's, and it was likely she would be a prey shifter rather than a predator.

Cassidy shook her hair out and finger-combed it back into submission. It wouldn't do to show up in the kitchen looking mussed and piqued. Her mother's eye was too keen, and she was never well-versed enough in the art of deception to keep her mother from knowing when one of her siblings were being the brats they were raised to be.

The temple bell tolled, and she leapt from her hiding spot in the shadow of the parapet. She raced through the courtyard and down the slick stone staircase that would lead her directly into the castle kitchen. The small altercation with Killian had eaten too much into the amount of free time that she was allowed, and she was late when she careened into the hot, bustling kitchen.

Her mother was at one of the dozens of workstations littered around the kitchen proper, slicing root vegetables with a practiced hand. Combat class had never included the edged weapons training that Cassidy had longed for. Instead, her mother had trained her to wield a knife with deadly precision, an art form she had acquired through years chopping vegetables in this very kitchen.

She slid to a halt before the wash basin, groaning as it already overflowed with dishes. The Feast of First Shift preparations had been going since before dawn, and apparently none of the other drudges had felt like being saddled with the washing. She turned the handle to the spigot set above the wash basin. Not every building in the village was equipped with running water, but Cassidy was grateful she wouldn't have to haul buckets by hand, like some of the village drudges had to.

Prey shifters danced around her, going about their tasks, and she sent a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess that she shifted into predator that evening. She wasn't meant for a life of service, too mouthy to ever be a properly cowed drudge. And perhaps a touch lazy, as menial tasks bored her endlessly. No, she was meant for a life of adventure. The bastard child of a clandestine affair, she would never be allowed to inherit the land of her father. But as a predator, she could forge her own way, not be relegated to the anonymity of slavery.

Her mother shot her a stern glance from her workstation and Cassidy sighed, turning her attention to scrubbing the ancient pots. She could feel the excitement building in her chest, making her quiver in anticipation. While only the elite would be gorging themselves at the Feast of First Shift, she would be joining the festivities in the village later that evening. This would be her first shift, and would seal her fate either way. She was going to enjoy herself before her path was chosen.

There were a few more shifters in the kitchen that would be making their way into the village tonight for the ceremony. There was palpable air of excitement from the youngsters around her. First Shift only came around once every five years, and at twenty-one, Cassidy would be among the oldest to finally have her shift.

"Rubbing elbows with the plebes again, I see." Indra bumped her hip into Cassidy's as she dropped another armload of pots into the scalding water.

"Only because this is where the real party is." Cassidy smiled at the younger girl, scrubbing at a particularly difficult pan.

Indra laughed brightly. "Don't I know it! Kristian has been talking to anyone that will listen to him ramble. He has convinced himself he will somehow shift bear instead of the field mice his entire family has been for eons." She tugged at a lock of Cassidy's hair with affection. "I'm secretly rooting for you. If there was anyone here who deserved to have their fortune change, it's you Cass. What with those holy terrors above that you have to put up with."

Cassidy shushed her quickly, looking around to see if anyone had heard. "You can't talk about them like that, Indra. They are the future of the village. If anyone heard you..." She lowered her voice. "Examples are always made of the best of people, Indra. I don't want that to be you. I'd never forgive them."

"Then make sure you shift predator for us, Cass." Indra whispered. "You won't forget us, and we could use a friend in high places."

"My mother had a friend in the highest place, Indra. If that didn't change her station, I don't think there's much I could do." It hurt to admit that, had the world been a little different, she may have been raised with her siblings rather than below them. But her mother had flouted the system, dared to dream higher than she belonged, and Cassidy suffered for it.

Indra smiled sadly and shook her head. "Are you still meeting with Kristian and I at the gates after the feast? So we can all walk down together?"

"Of course." Cassidy nodded. "I would much rather enjoy the night with people I care for." Indra patted her on the shoulder and sidled away as Cassidy resumed her scrubbing. She sent another fervent plea to the Moon Goddess that she would shift anything but prey.