And things became considerably more interesting. The stranger remained motionless, hidden deep enough amongst the trees. He listened, and by the time Edith admitted openly that she was the missing heir, the stranger smiled faintly.
Confirmation… finally.
But it wasn’t Edith that held his interest anymore. It was Spencer. Because Spencer should have reacted differently. A hunter who had just located the target tied to the largest bounty in recent paranormal history should not look conflicted.
He should not hesitate, and most definitely should not soften every time the female spoke his name. The stranger’s gold eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Ah. And there it was. The problem. Spencer liked her, not fully yet. Not enough to admit it even to himself. But enough to hesitate and question the job… and that was a problem.
The stranger listened carefully as Edith explained why she had fled. Watched the way Spencer’s posture changed withevery detail. Tension, anger, and growing distrust toward the Smokeclaw clan. That would have been a problem, but he found it perfect because divided loyalties were the easiest thing in the world to weaponize. But then the final confirmation came, making the stranger grin.
“You’re assuming I’ve decided to take you back.”
The stranger nearly laughed aloud. Oh, Spencer. That was a big mistake.
Edith looked startled and Spencer looked irritated at himself for saying it. And suddenly the entire dynamic shifted. Not hunter and target anymore.
No. Something much messier but much more useful. The stranger leaned lightly against the tree behind him, mentally rearranging plans.
The twins had arrived as a united front. Professionals through and through, efficient and very difficult to manipulate, But nowthere was a fracture line. A small one, but it was there, and it was the kind to spread fast.
Mark already looked one inconvenience away from biting someone.
Excellent.
The stranger took one final glance toward the pair near the swings. Edith looked wary still, but less terrified than before. Spencer looked thoughtful.
Protective, almost.
Gods. That had happened quickly. The stranger suppressed another smile before silently stepping back into the shadows. No sound. Not even a trace.
The wind covered his absence instantly. Above the trees, Fate frowned slightly.
“I dislike him,” she muttered.
Baba Yaga crunched another biscuit. “That’s because he smells like schemes.”
Meanwhile, the gold-eyed stranger slipped effortlessly down the hill toward town. Toward the Ferret’s Mott. Toward Mark.
Because now it was time to see just how strong the bond between the famous twins truly was. And whether it could survive being pulled in opposite directions.
22
Walking backtoward town with the bounty hunter hunting you was, Edith decided, an exceptionally strange experience, especially when said bounty hunter was annoyingly calm about everything as well as annoyingly attractive. Which was frankly the greater betrayal.
They walked side by side down the winding path from the park, the sea breeze curling around them as sunlight spilled across the cliffs in warm golden streaks. Below them, Krakens Hole stretched lazily along the bay, smoke curling from chimneys while the ocean glittered endlessly beyond it.
It should have been peaceful.
Instead, Edith was having what could only be described as an internal crisis. Because she did not expect Spencer to be so… nice, if that was a word she could use. And now that she knew his name, it somehow made everything worse.
“Stop looking at me like that,” she muttered eventually.
Spencer glanced sideways at her. “Like what?”
“Like you’re trying to solve me.”
“That implies there’s something to solve.”
