The two hadn’t noticed me and I moved around to the other side of the tree and climbed above them. Technically I had them trapped between me and Bran at the bottom of the tree.
I didn’t have a lot of faith in technical.
I sat back and studied the pair as they snacked on a small bag of commercial trail mix and passed a water bottle between them. After getting smacked around I deserved to see exactly who I was dealing with.
Now that I had a clear view of him I had to admit Evan Chandler didn’t do his picture justice.
The short black hair brought out his blue eyes. He wasn’t one of those musicians who sat around all day composing. His biceps were pushing the dark blue T-shirt sleeves to their limit. I could easily imagine him working on a farm, splitting wood and doing chores before retreating to the barn and composing a romantic ode to Lisa.
Lisa Middleston didn’t look much like her father, which was probably a blessing. Her long red hair had been pulled back into a ponytail brushing her shoulders, the tight black shirt showing off the same excellent physical condition Evan was in. Her slender fingers seemed more suited for piano keys than working with bungee cords.
These weren’t spoiled city kids looking to live on the wild side for a night before going back to their monster mansions. These were two young people who had worked with their hands for almost all of their lives and were prepared to rough it in the big city to be together.
This wasn’t necessarily good news. If I’d been able to scare them back to their families offering a hot meal and soft pillows it’d be easier to approach them.
I moved out onto the branch above the pair and waited until they had curled up around each other in the makeshift hammock, cooing to each other.
I cleared my throat, wanting to catch them before I switched from observer to voyeur. “Evan,” I whispered. My idea was to approach them as quietly and as calmly as I could. No use causing a scene.
The teenager’s head snapped up. He pushed Lisa behind him and leaped onto one of the two branches, Changing as he went. Instead of confronting a young man I found myself facing a full-fledged Felis, his charcoal-black fur taking over his human features. His claws shot out and he snarled at me, his aggressive stance signaling an oncoming attack.
So much for not causing a scene.
Lisa stayed in the hammock but Changed as well, her cream-colored fur a startling contrast to her boyfriend’s dark coloring. She pushed herself to her knees with a curse and showed off an impressive set of incisors along with her own claws.
I held up both hands. Even if I could have Changed I wouldn’t have, not in this situation.
“You know I’m family,” I said as gently as I could. “I’m not here to fight.”
Evan’s nostrils twitched as he took me in. His baby blue eyes widened before narrowing into a hunter’s focused glare. He stayed in a fighting pose but waited for me to make the next move.
“Like I said, I’m not here to fight.” I turned my hands so they could see my lack of claws. “I’m here to talk.” I couldn’t help smiling. “Besides, you kids are too fast for me. Just about broke my neck getting up here, and I might have to call the fire department to get back down.”
That earned me a snicker from Evan and a muffled giggle from Lisa. The joke didn’t make us fast friends but we’d managed to back away from sworn enemies.
Evan risked a glance over at Lisa. She gave him a nod and Changed back. Evan followed close behind and we were all human again.
“Thank you.” I looked at Lisa. “Your dad asked me to find you. He said he wanted to talk to you one last time before you turn eighteen and go on your own way.”
She snorted. “Bullshit.”
“I know.”
Her shocked expression lasted a second before the mask fell. “So why are you here?” She grabbed at the makeshift pillow, rolling and folding the blanket.
“I was also hired by his mother.” I looked at Evan. “She didn’t have a cover story. Just wanted me to find you and bring you home before you hit your birthday.”
“Son of a—”
I cut Evan off before he got to the cursing. “I hear you. The problem is I’m not the only one looking for you.” I paused. “But I’m the best chance you have to get out of here together.”
Evan growled. “Bastard. I knew he wouldn’t let her go without a fight. Goddamn family feud.” He looked around. “Send a fucking army after her. How many are there?”
His claws shot out again, gleaming in the dim moonlight.
“One. For each of you.” I smiled. “Competing to the very end.”
Lisa stuffed the blanket into the backpack, her voice rising slightly. “Then we’ll run. Get out of the city. All we need is another two weeks, another couple of days.” She tugged at the tarp, climbing up on the branch to release the bungee cords. “As soon as we’re old enough they’ll leave us alone.”
I moved closer, very aware of Evan’s claws. “You think your families are going to let you do that? You don’t think they’ll keep on your trail, keep hunting you down to keep you apart?” I snorted. “I knew you were young, I didn’t think you were stupid.”
This earned me an angry snarl from Evan. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He pointed at me. “I’ve heard about you. You’re that damned misfit, that chick who can’t Change.”
I held up a finger. “That would be ‘that woman.’ At least try to be respectful of your elders. And don’t think for a second that you’re just going to scoot your asses down to the bus station and grab the next Greyhound for Vancouver.”
“You gonna stop us?” Evan said, baring his fangs.
“Nope.” I pointed down. “The two hunters waiting somewhere in this park will. Not to mention the cops who are on the lookout for you throughout the city.” I tilted my head to one side. “You don’t look stupid, you do the math. What do you think your odds are of staying free with enforcers from both families following your trail? You think skipping to another city, another province, another country is going to stop them from tracking you down? No Pride’s going to take you in without checking with the Board and what do you think they’re going to say with both families screaming for your hides?” I looked from one to the other. “You might have gotten away for now but are you really prepared for being on the run forever? Skipping from town to town before the locals get wind of you? What sort of life is that?”
The two didn’t answer.
“Exactly. You want to settle down somewhere you’ll have to deal with this here and now.”
Evan caught Lisa’s eyes and stared at her. She shook her head in quiet communication.
His claws retracted, leaving tiny slits between his knuckles. They’d heal soon enough.
“Good.” My pulse began to slow. I hadn’t been looking forward to a brawl with a kid half my age. “Now we need a plan.”
Chapter Seven
Lisa cocked her head to one side, studying me. “Don’t mean to be impolite but why would you want to help us? You’re getting paid by our families to find us, like a bounty hunter. You’re the bad guy or girl, whatever you want to call it.”
“True.” A stiff breeze shot through the branches bringing me the scent of the enforcers, down on the ground somewhere. Way too close for comfort. “But they hired me to find you. Not to hand you over to thugs who’ll drag you back home and the fact that both sides thought I’d be stupid enough to play their game pisses me off.” I gripped the wood, readjusting my balance. “Look, once you’re eighteen you can do what you want but I’m willing to bet that if I let your parents get hold of you neither of you will see each other ever again. Call me a hopeless romantic but I figure you two deserve to at least have a chance at true love.” I shifted on the branch, trying to feel more secure. “This family feud has got to stop and I think you’re the ones to stop it.”