“Hello!” Carol stood up and waddled across the waiting room, enveloping Zoe in a bear hug. “Bring it in, bud.” She switched targets and delivered the same dose of affection to Ever.

  Roman floated across from the doorway to his consulting room. Jin followed, holding a stack of files so high it obscured the bottom half of her masked face.

  “Welcome back,” Roman said. He seemed to want to go in for a hug but instead settled for a nod at the both of them. “It was a good trip, I hope?”

  “It was an amazing trip.” Zoe closed the gap between the two of them, hugging her peer. “Thanks for setting that up.” He patted her back awkwardly, pushing the glasses back up his nose, fighting to hide the smile on his face.

  Jin placed the stack of files on Carol’s desk and joined the group. “What did you end up doing?”

  “The question is what didn’t we do?” Zoe spent the next little while animatedly going through all of the wild animal consults they did last week to her riveted colleagues.

  “And our animal whisperer was able to help out, wasn’t he?” Carol said, winking at Ever.

  “He was, but you guys wouldn’t believe what happened.” Zoe paused conspiratorially, looking at each of the group before finishing with Ever. “I’ve also gained the ability to speak with and understand animals!”

  Carol, Jin and Roman didn’t say anything nor react for several seconds.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “You’ve always had a way with animals, Zo, that’s why people keep–”

  “No,” Zoe said, eyes gleaming. “Not like reading animals’ body language. Actually understanding what they’re saying. Come.”

  She whooshed away into her consultancy, practical ponytail swishing as she turned. Carol, Jin and Roman were pointedly avoiding Ever’s gaze even as they tailed their fearless leader into her consulting room.

  “Nika,” Zoe said, looking up to the top of the shelf in the corner. “Come.”

  The ghost of the black cat stretched and yawned. ^How about no?^

  Zoe put her hands on her hips and looked at Ever. “Naughty cat, isn’t he? He just said, ‘how about no’.”

  “Yes, he’s always done whatever he’s wanted to do,” Ever said with a grin. He looked at Carol, Jin and Roman again. Naturally, they weren’t looking at where Nika supposedly was, but neither were they looking at Ever or Zoe. Jin was looking at the ground, Carol had a pleading look as she tried to get Roman's attention, while Roman was looking out the door, as if hoping a patient would come in.

  “Zoe,” he said gently, eventually turning to her. “There’s no cat up there.”

  “Of course there is,” Zoe said dismissively, “you guys just can’t see ghosts like me and Ever can.”

  Roman finally to Ever. He unclenched his jaw and began to say something.

  "Jin," Zoe barked. The vet assistant jumped slightly and stood at attention. “How are our cases looking?”

  She looked at Roman, eyes wide. He gave the slightest shake of his head; she dipped her head.

  “I can go through the files with you,” she said, voice just above a murmur.

  “Good,” Zoe said. “Let’s do that now.”