Disastrous.
“This is gonna get ugly,” I promised her. “That cop won’t blink twice about shooting a wild animal. If you know this guy and care what happens to him, don’t let him get up.”
Worry pooled in her green eyes as she whispered in his ear.
“Drop your weapon,” the cop shouted.
I rolled my neck around as the urge to defend myself came on strong.
Not here, Raven. Not now.
When the dagger fell from my hand to the grass, I slowly raised my arms and tried to keep my cool.
The cop approached, his shiny black shoes rustling in the dewy grass.
“There’s a mountain lion.” I pointed to the animal. “I was just trying to protect myself.”
“He’s unconscious,” Carol said, still clutching the animal. “Don’t hurt him. He didn’t do anything.”
If this guy shifted in front of the cop, we were dead meat. I’d have no choice but to attack a cop and pin him until Christian could scrub his memories. I had a soft spot for humans, especially ones who were just doing their job.
“Don’t move,” he said, inching in closer.
I peered over my shoulder and saw he had his gun drawn.
“Sir, the animal caused the accident.”
“And I suppose you jumped onto the hood of a moving vehicle for what exactly?”
He lifted my dagger and pricked his finger with it. “A stunner, huh? We don’t like trouble around here.”
My mouth fell open, and I shifted around to get a closer look.
The cop, who could have been a stunt double for Burt Reynolds, put his gun back in the holster. “You’re a little far from home, aren’t you?”
When I furrowed my brow, he pointed at the plates on the car.
“It’s a long story,” I began. “We didn’t mean to crash the car; we were just, uh, goofing around.”
He looked at Carol. “Your Shifter friend there better change before someone else comes along.” When I started to get up, he touched his gun. “Did I say you could stand? Stay right where you are.”
“I’m not a threat,” I assured him, choosing my words carefully.
“I beg to differ. You flashed down the road in broad daylight, you jumped onto a moving vehicle, and you attempted to murder a Shifter.”
“Attempted isn’t the same as doing it.”
He gave me a probing gaze. “You still flashed in public view. That’s a Breed violation, and I’ll have to take you in.”
Going to Breed jail wasn’t an option. “You’re kidding me, right? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
When the mountain lion transformed to a man, Carol shielded her eyes and reached in the car for his clothes.
“I’m not looking,” she announced. “Put your clothes on, Joshua. There’s a cop.”
Joshua sat up and glared over his shoulder at me. While he had mannish features, the twinkle in his eyes was that of a boy. They didn’t look related, not with his shaggy black hair and dark eyes.
“How old are you?” I asked with derision.
