Free WereWoman by Piers Anthony Page A

of place you would ever expect to find a Witch or Warlock. Because they had to be of that Clan; Standish would not trust his secret of gayness outside the Clan, and really not much within it either.
    â€œNot so,” Nonce said, picking up on my thought, as she could do now because of our physical and emotional proximity. “Delle is a Witch, Donald a straight human. Standish acted to facilitate her acceptance by the Coven, and she is duly appreciative. So is Donald; he honors our conventions because of her. He is completely trustworthy, a rare human who knows about Supes. And as it happens, he found another way to relate to Standish. They keep each other’s secrets.”
    It hadn’t occurred to me that siblings could differ in the Supernatural respect, but of course they could and usually would; Supes occurred seemingly randomly.
    Nonce knocked on the door. It was opened by a young woman. “I am Nonce Witch, Standish’s cousin and friend. I have hired the private investigator Phil Were to look into his murder.”
    The woman hesitated visibly, then invited us in. I knew it was because she didn’t want to have anything this potentially messy spread about the neighborhood. “Standish spoke of you, Nonce. He trusted you.”
    â€œYes. We were very close. I knew his nature. I have shared it with Phil because it may relate to his death. Phil will not tell.”
    Delle nodded uncertainly. Obviously she was not comfortable with the sharing of her status or her brother’s. I couldn’t blame her.
    â€œYou are all suspects in the Warlock’s death,” I said when we were settled inside. “Being those closest to him. I do not mean to insult you; I am similarly suspect in the death of my closest friend. Our purpose here is to clarify your status. Nonce is sure you are innocent, but I have my own ways.”
    â€œI thought he committed suicide,” Donald said. He was a handsome man of indeterminate age; I could appreciate how a gay man might like him. “It was an ugly shock, because I never dreamed he was depressive.”
    â€œHe wasn’t,” I said. “He was murdered, probably by another Supe, and framed as a suicide. I am certain it had nothing to do with you.”
    â€œThat’s almost a relief,” Donald said. “He and I were close.”
    â€œYes. I’m sure you grieve for him as I do for my close friend.” I glanced at Delle and made a snap decision to trust her and her brother. They had been trusted with the Warlock’s secret and not betrayed it; that reassured me. “I will ask you for two things. The first is to do a Witchly enchantment in my presence. The second is to keep my secret.”
    â€œSecret?” Delle asked.
    â€œSecret?” Donald echoed.
    â€œIn addition to my Were nature, I have the ability to fathom a Supe’s Name and inner nature when he or she performs magic in my presence. If news of that got out, it would damage my ability to perform as an investigator.”
    â€œBut then doing magic in your presence would be like stripping naked before a stranger,” Delle protested.
    â€œYou don’t want to strip before a man?”
    â€œOf course I don’t!”
    She had a point. “Then I will extend my trust before asking for yours,” I said. “I will show you my other secret.”
    â€œI am not promising anything.” Her discomfort was growing. Again, I couldn’t blame her.
    I smiled and removed my clothing. Fortunately the distractions of the moment prevented me from getting the masculine reaction.
    â€œAnd I’m not having sex with you,” Delle snapped.
    â€œNeither am I,” Donald said, half smiling. He evidently knew that I knew his orientation.
    â€œJust keep my secret,” I said, and murmured my Name.
    â€œThis is special,” Nonce said.
    The three watched as my transformation commenced. Nonce had not seen me Change before, though she