***
Beast sat while Eli pulled Jane clothes off. Flicked ear tabs as Eli and witchy Liz talked. “I’ve never seen a skinwalker shift. That was pretty amazing.”
Eli grunted, eyes alert, searching sky and trees like prey, his white-man gun in his hand. One-handed, he peeled Jane bra off Beast front legs. Was much blood in Jane clothes.
Liz witch slid through snow on flat boards. Looked like play. Wondered if Jane could play on flat boards. Wondered if Liz witch would let Beast chase her on flat boards. Wondered what Liz witch tasted like. Then saw shield around Liz witch. Beast could not get through shield, even with killing teeth.
“What bit her? I saw what looked like a shark, but I’m pretty sure we’re a little far inland for a shark.”
Eli paused. “I assume, since you saw that thing, and you’re still here, that you’re under ahedge.”
“I’m not stupid, Ranger man.”
Ranger man was Jane name for Eli. Was strange to hear witch say it.
Eli grunted again and scratched Beast ears. Beast leaned into Eli fingers.
“Are you still pissed because I dumped snow on you? Because if you’re nice, I might offer to share my shield. I’m sweet that way.”
Eli pushed Beast head away and rolled up Jane clothes. Beast stepped to side and watched Eli and witch. Wanted meat. Remembered deer tracks on other side of pool of water. But pool of water had teeth-fish-Soul in it. Was kit mistake to jump across pool of water to other side and be ambush attacked from below water. Beast sat back down. Chuffed at Eli.
“Hungry?” he asked Beast.
“Starving. There’s a good barbeque joint or three in town. Are you asking me on a date?” Liz smelled of laughter and happiness and mating interest. Beast again curled thick tail around paws for warmth, and watched.
“No. There will be no dating.”
Eli lied. Beast did not like lie. Lie was confusing, to say one thing when another thing was true. Eli wanted to eat meat with Liz. Eating meat was part ofPuma concolormating. Was part of human mating too.
Liz laughed. “Liar. You like me. Admit it.”
Eli smelled of laugh but frowned hard instead.
“Your brother said you have a type. A little dangerous and a lot self-sufficient. I have a type too. I like honest men who like to laugh and who aren’t scared of me. When you decide you’re ready to stop lying, stop scowling, and pull up your big-boy panties instead of cowering in fear of witchy me, give me a call.”
Beast chuffed softly. Liked Liz witch. Witch gripped poles and slid through snow.
“Wait,” Eli said. Liz stopped. Tilted head like cat, curious.
Beast sniffed air. Was mating on air. Human mating was better than food.
“The thing in the water was Soul. I might have just killed the assistant director of PsyLED.”
“That would suck,” Liz said, her tones saying she was laughing and speaking lie. Beast did not understand why Liz witch would laugh and lie.
Eli made sound of amusement that was... cat-snide. Like cat laughter when cat pushed dog off rocks into mud. “And beside that whole ‘might spend my life in jail for killing the assistant director of PsyLED’ thing, I just got out of a good relationship with someone I liked. A lot.”
“Got out? You broke up with her? Why?”
“She’d get something in her head and she’d keep pushing. And pushing.” Eli stood and touched Beast head. Beast rubbed head into Eli hand.
“What was she pushing for?”
“For me to go on a cruise with her. I hate boats.”
Beast rubbed head back into Eli hand. Ears itched. Witch said nothing. Just watched Beast and Eli and scratching ears.
“I hate being on the ocean,” Eli said.
