She snorted. “I don’t know if I can say the same.”
“Sorry about that guy. In my defense, I had no idea anyone would come after me. I can’t believe anyone knew where to find me.”
“You were on the news,” she stated. “It’s unusual for tigers to be smuggled into the country.”
“That would explain it. Davidson must have seen the footage,” he muttered.
“Who is this Davidson?”
“The general behind the project that changed me into a therianthrope.”
“What is a…” Her nose wrinkled, the English word obviously not one she’d learned.
“Shapeshifter. I’m part of a top-secret military project.” Phoenix saw no reason to obfuscate. Besides, the woman deserved the truth, given what happened earlier.
“Someone made you into a weretiger?” She didn’t hide her skepticism.
“Yup. Not a pleasant process, either. Zero stars. Do not recommend,” he joked.
“If you were created, then why the interest in legends?” They reached the monkey pavilion, and she paused.
“Because I want to learn more about my condition. How I can control it or, even better, rid myself of it.”
“I don’t think the old stories can help with that.”
“Maybe not, but perhaps they can give me clues about how to find other tiger shifters who might have the answers.”
“Perhaps,’ she murmured. She glanced past the pavilion before softly saying, “The exit has a guard. I will need to distract him so that you might pass unnoticed, unless you want to climb over the fence.”
“How high is it?”
“High enough.”
“You exit like you normally would. I’ll find you on the other side.”
With a bob of her head, Nadirah sauntered off, her pert ass not something he should be noticing right now. He took off at a jog, paralleling her while keeping out of sight. He heard the murmur of her voice and that of a man’s as he reached the wallblocking his exit from the zoo. It wasn’t any worse to climb than the one in the obstacle course during basic training. In short order, he’d landed on the other side and easily shadowed Nadirah to her?—
“You ride a scooter?” he exclaimed.
“It’s the most efficient way to get around.” She put on her helmet and straddled the moped. “Get on if you’re still coming with me.”
“You expect me to ride on the back?”
“Would you prefer to jog alongside?” was her pert riposte.
“This is emasculating,” he grumbled as he wedged himself behind her on the seat. He could practically feel his man card shredding. His manhood certainly shriveled.
“Maybe where you come from it is odd, but here, it is quite normal. Hold on so you don’t fall off,” she admonished.
He wrapped his arms around her just in time, as the moped took off in a lurch. While he’d have preferred to be the one driving—with her wrapped anaconda-style around him—he didn’t actually hate the ride. The fresh air on his face felt good, but, even better, the warmth of the woman he held on to. He couldn’t help but smell her hair. Enjoy the feel of her lithe frame. Lust… Again, not the right time, but in his defense, he’d not gotten laid in a while.
The trip took about half an hour, and while they passed other people out and about, with some eyeing them curiously, no one stopped them—or fired shots. Hopefully this meant they’d not been followed from the zoo.
It bothered him that he’d only just arrived and someone had tried to assassinate him. Recapture, he could have understood. But to kill… The general obviously wasn’t happy his projects got away. Or so he assumed. Then again, who else would want Phoenix dead?
The bungalow Nadirah parked in front of could have used some paint to freshen up the shabby exterior. The garden surrounding it appeared to be flourishing, though. Inside the house, a cozy living room awaited with bright-colored cushions on the couch and chair. A knotted rug on the floor. More plants.
An older woman, her face wrinkled and her hair gray, stood at a counter. She turned upon hearing them and beamed and chattered something he didn’t understand.
