“I—” He couldn’t have been more blindsided if she’d tackled him around the waist again. In his stunned confusion, the truth slipped out: “Yes.”
Leonie nodded, her amber eyes warm with sympathy. “My father can tell when people are lying, too. So can my nephew. I think it’s hard for them as well. I’m certainly grateful I can’t tell when people are just being polite to avoid hurting my feelings.”
His mission dossier had included brief bios on all the camp staff, but he deliberately hadn’t read hers. Not because he hadn’t wanted to—but because hehad.When it came to her, it was best to avoid all temptation, no matter how small.
But he was still too confused to control his curiosity. “You do not have the same ability?”
“Me? Oh, no.” Leonie shrugged, smiling. “They’re griffinshifters. My inner animal is just an ordinary lion. No special talents here.”
Leonie had spoken sunnily, without a trace of hesitation. Yet under the rich creaminess of simple truth, he tasted the barest hint of something…off.
But that made no sense. Leonie was clearly no fool, and she was familiar with other shifters who had similar talents to himself. Now that she was aware of his ability, she must know better than to attempt to conceal the truth. Besides, what reason could she have to lie about any talent of her own?
Hunt. At the back of his mind, drool dripped down hungry fangs.Stalk. Feast.
Shan repressed the surge of predatory interest. Whatever Leonie’s secrets, they were none of his business. Best to return to the safer topic of his mission.
“My own talent means I need only ask the children to describe what they saw,” he said. “I will know if they are exaggerating.”
Leonie bit her lip. “And if they’re not?”
“You believe they are telling the truth?”
Leonie made a face. “Well, I certainly don’t think there’s a soul-sucking ghost haunting the camp. But I know those kids, Agent Zhao. It’s not like them to make things up. Especially not a crazy story like this.”
Privately, Shan hoped the children were not quite as honest as Leonie believed. “With the right questions, I should soon be able to determine if there is any genuine cause for concern.”
“And if there isn’t, you’ll go?” Leonie said hopefully. “Uh, don’t take that the wrong way. It’s just that the longer you hang around, the bigger the risk that someone will start asking awkward questions about why you’re here.”
She was more right than she knew.“Ms. MacCormick, ifit were my choice, I would not be here at all. All I want is to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.”
“That makes two of us,” she muttered. Stuffing his suit in a box, she headed for the door. “Let’s put your things in the office, so no one can stumble across them by accident. Then I’ll take you to see the kids. I hope you’re right about being able to uncover the truth quickly. The sooner you leave, the better.”
“Truth,” Shan said under his breath, and followed.
CHAPTER 4
“Okay, so we got him here.” Estelle said. “Now what?”
The camp wasn’t officially open yet, but a select few local kids had always been allowed on site early. They’d all gathered for an emergency pack meeting in their usual secret hideout in the big woodshed. Estelle, Archie, and Finley sat cross-legged on the dirt floor, while Beth stood by the entrance, keeping watch for any adults. Griffin shifter Rufus perched on a log pile a little way apart from the other kids, shoulders hunched. He fidgeted with a chip of bark, giving no sign that he was listening to the conversation.
Archie shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I’ve done my part.”
“This wasyouridea,” Beth said to him, somewhat accusingly. “You said you had a plan.”
“Yeah, and it worked, didn’t it?” Archie retorted. “The guy’s back at camp. Someone else can figure out how to actually get the two of them together.”
“When I saw the agent, he was still wearing those sunglasses,” Finley said. “Has anyone seen him take them off?”
Everyone except Rufus shook their head.
“Then we have to assume Leonie hasn’t had a chance to see his eyes yet,” Estelle said decisively. “So she still doesn’t know that they’re mates.”
“Or that she has, and they’re not,” Finley pointed out. “We still don’t know for certain that they reallyaremates.”
“Of course they’re mates,” Beth said. “You saw it yourself, Finley. How else do you explain how he reacted when they first met?”
“We only saw the agent freeze for a moment, and then immediately make an excuse to fly away at top speed,” Finley said doggedly. “That’s not much evidence that he recognized Leonie as his mate. There could be other explanations.”
