those black eyes staring her down from across the room.
“I'm sorry,” she started, hesitant, “for how I’ve been. You’ve been really nice and I haven’t been appreciative of that at all, and that’s really not cool. So I’d like to let you know that I do appreciate what you’ve done for me, especially considering the circumstances. And I’m sorry that I broke the rules and went out alone. I shouldn’t have done that. I’m really sorry.”
She glanced over at Freddy and was surprised when he stepped forward on slightly wobbly legs.
“I encouraged Analie to meet me knowing it was against your rules. I guess you’re right, what I did was out of line. I’m really sorry, too.”
His voice wasn’t even its usual reedy pitch. Analie felt warm fuzzies, and not from an imminent shift. She smiled at him, though her expression froze when she spotted the faint outline of stripes on the back of his neck. So, he’d gotten a little courage from his fuzzy side.
Royce’s expression didn’t relax in the slightest. At least, not until Jessica poked him again. He sighed, closing his eyes and tilting his head to rest his cheek against Jessica’s hair.
“All right. Thank you for apologizing. I’m not trying to be the bad guy, but I am responsible for your safety, and if you don’t follow the rules I lay down, I can’t promise you won’t get hurt.”
Jessica seemed pleased enough with his answer, reaching up to ruffle his hair. “There, that wasn’t so bad now, was it?”
He smiled despite himself and leaned down to press a kiss to her temple. “No, it wasn’t. Stop being so damned cheerful, it’s ruining my image.”
“Oh, please. You’re lucky to have me around to lighten things up around here.”
He chuckled, giving her an affectionate squeeze. “Yeah, yeah. Will you tell John I’m sorry I snapped at him?”
“Nope. Do it yourself.”
Royce gave a dramatic, long-suffering sigh, turning to rest his butt against the windowsill and pulling Jessica back to lean comfortably up against his chest as he regarded Analie and Freddy. He seemed to have completely forgotten his irritation with the two.
“What’s your name, kid?” Directed at Freddy, obviously. He’d never bothered to ask.
Analie felt her knees turn to mush, but managed to stand straight. Freddy’s stripes faded and he had to take a step back and lean against the wall. Not a very dignified gesture, but it was that or sit down hard on his rear.
'Lucky, lucky, lucky.' If they had been dealing with Ashi, well, it would have gone differently to say the least. Even with a more good-humored were like Barry, it could never have gone this well.
“Frederick,” Freddy said. “Everyone calls me Freddy.”
Analie cough-muttered, “Mercury.”
Freddy kicked the back of her right knee and she stumbled. She reached back to smack him upside the head, but he side-stepped. Analie regained what dignity she had left and stood still. Freddy seemed to remember where they were and stuck his hands in his pockets, ducking his head.
Jessica snickered at the crack. The faintest smile curved Royce’s lips.
“Very well, Freddy. As I’m sure you’ve already gathered, I’m Alec Royce.” He gave a polite nod, and then turned a sharp look on Analie. “I trust we won’t be going through this again, yes?”
Meaning, if she defied him so blatantly again, she could expect more than a verbal reprimand.
Analie nodded. “I swear on Seeker.”
It would be a hard promise to keep. Part of growing up in Goliath was challenging others, especially superiors, to wind up on top. Obviously there was a different system in place here, one she was not yet used to.
Royce closed his eyes and relaxed, breathing in Jessica’s scent, though he knew it was coaxing his hunger out by doing so. It was a bittersweet temptation, no more.
Freddy was wondering what the hell was going to happen to them now. He doubted he’d be sent back to Pennsylvania without so much as a mention of this. But a mention of this to his current guardians was going to cause, as Analie would say, “a kerfluffle.” Not so much on his behalf—he was a shifter. But meeting with another cub in cub-hide? Ouch.
Plus, getting home wouldn’t be easy. If he was brave enough to go out on his own, he would have to contend with White Hats. The girl had to have seen them in the coffee shop, and no doubt she’d used that laptop to send out a call for backup to come as quickly as possible. It