[Meredith].
Xamira's fingers tightened.
"I have a mission for you," I said to her.
She didn't hesitate. She simply nodded and straightened, her posture attentive, and her eyes fixed on me as if waiting for a command she had already accepted.
"Tell me, my lady," she said quietly.
I studied her for a moment, then asked, "You can turn into anything, correct?"
"Yes," she replied at once. "As long as I've seen it before—an object, an animal, a person. I can take their appearance."
"And how long can you remain that way?"
She thought for a second before answering. "If it's a living thing, there's no limit. I can stay as long as I want. But if it's an object…" Her lips pressed together slightly. "Three days at a stretch. After that, I have to change back."
I nodded, deeply satisfied. That was more than enough.
"I will be visiting my mother-in-law this evening," I said evenly. "I plan to pick flowers for her. But I don't trust the caregiver in charge of her meals and belongings."
