I chewed on the inside of my cheek, evaluating his honest eyes. My nostrils flared, and I stated, “This is irrational of me, but I do believe you.”
He nodded. “Good. Trust is a plus for lovers.”
My mouth bobbed. “I’m going to take a nap now.”
“Do you want a blanket?”
The man had just threatened bodily harm to another woman, yet was now asking me if I wanted a blanket to keep the chill away so I could sleep peacefully. This beast was a mystery to me.
“I’m fine. You’re keeping me warm.”
He grinned, heat entering his eyes.
I pressed my eyes shut and reclined my chair. “Night.”
“Pleaselet me off first,” Megan grumbled. “I can’t take much more of you two.”
“I’m planning on it,” Finn grumbled. “That’s why you’re going to tell me everything you know right now about your kidnapper.”
* * *
“We’re a little overdressed for the park,” I whispered as citizens of New City passed by us. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “Why did you take me here?”
“I thought we could talk alone in a beautiful area but still have others around. You are very skittish of my kind, after all.”
I jerked my head in his direction. “I don’t understand.”
Finn placed one of my arms through his, and we began to stroll down the rock walkway toward the blue water of the natural waterfall. “There’s no need for lying. Cass already told me you know about shifters.”
I swallowed on a dry throat, my black evening gown fluttering in the mid-morning breeze. I didn’t deny his claim, nor did I confirm it. Instead, I asked, “What is a shifter?”
He allowed me to avoid his statement, answering, “A magical creature and only males are shifters—their mates are human females.I’ma shifter. I turn into a white tiger if I want to, but my beast doesn’t rule me. Even in my other form, I’m still me. Shifters have an enhanced sense of smell, enhanced strength, our vision is a miracle, and we can hear far beyond what a human perceives as normal. We also take on a few of our animal’s traits, such as protection, dominance, etc.”
I stared into my memories, allowing the day I had witnessed him ‘shifting’ to come forth. My head cocked as I remembered the wild animals chasing after each other and rolling around on the green grass in the sunlight.
I whispered, “You like to play.”
He glanced down at me. “Pardon?”
I sucked in a sharp breath and steeled my courage. “I’ve seen you shift before. You like to play when you’re a white tiger.”
His smile was slow coming, all his white teeth showing. A tiger grinning at me. He murmured, “Yes, I do. And thank you for putting your trust in me. As I said, I won’t harm you.”
My lips pinched, but I nodded.
“I do need to ask two questions before you begin yours.”
Another nod.
“Who else saw me shift? And who else did you see?”
I blinked. “No one else saw it.”
Mother… It was mymother.
I wouldn’t name her.
He lifted his white brows. Silent. Watchful.
