Analie kicked him. “Shut up, you’re not supposed to mention that.”
“You shut up.”
* * *
Royce absently tugged his trench coat closed, sliding through the crowd like a ghost. Few noticed him, unthinkingly stepping out of his way, mostly as he was expending effort to go unseen through use of an aura of “not here.” It wasn’t anything that would do lasting harm to their psyches, just a “sense” given off for people to look anywhere but directly at him. A subtle but effective camouflage he used when he didn’t want to publicly broadcast his presence and get swarmed by paparazzi, potential donors dogging his steps, or White Hats looking to hunt him down.
When Analie rushed across the street, Royce moved to the edge of the sidewalk and stopped. It didn’t particularly surprise him to see her go into the Starbucks. What did surprise him was that she joined a boy. They looked to be about the same age, and quite familiar with each other.
Eyes narrowed, he watched them for a few long moments, observing. Once he was sure they weren’t about to leave, he headed to the crosswalk and melded with the crowd again.
A minute or two later, he stood in the doorway, eyes narrowed as he focused on the boy—another teenager. The scent of Were was strong here. Aside from Analie, the boy at her table and one or two other patrons were also Weres. No other supernaturals currently in attendance, but the myriad scents of many varieties hung heavy in the air. Unsurprising this close to Central Park, with the local Moonwalker pack and no doubt daily influx of tourists. A touch of fang was visible as he curled his lip, stalking with effortless, silent grace toward their table.
Freddy was enjoying this visit. Meeting during the night was not ideal, but Analie had mentioned being dog tired (no pun intended) when they met during the day. Friday nights were easiest since she had Saturday off. They just had to be careful.
It was an odd thought. Right now Freddy was feeling comfortable, secure, happy. Analie was laughing and smiling and it hardly felt like they were in the middle of New York, one of them breaking cub-hide from Pennsylvania, the other sneaking out without a vampire chaperone.
While Analie was trying to remember some song lyrics, Freddy sipped his chocolate and glanced around. There was a guy industriously typing away on his laptop, a gaggle of girls with iced drinks, and then that guy walking toward them.
Freddy felt he should remember this guy from somewhere. Goliath? No, he didn’t look like a Goliath. Maybe he was a movie star? Nah, he looked good and dressed really well, but he didn’t have that kind of vibe. Where the hell did Freddy know him from?
Analie interrupted his thoughts. “What are you squinting at?”
“Do we know that guy?” Freddy asked quietly, nodding toward the man.
Analie frowned and turned around. She squinted, then spun around, paling as she gripped her chocolate way too hard. “Oh, crap.”
“What?” Freddy demanded, his voice a squeaky whisper. “What?!”
“It’s Mr. R,” Analie hissed, her nearly empty cup making a hollow crumpling noise as her fingers dug into it.
Freddy had been midway through a sip of hot chocolate. Now it was over the front of his shirt and pants, with him coughing and choking on what little made it into his mouth.
'We’re going to die. If we’re lucky,' he thought.
“Just what,” Royce drawled, once he came close enough to rest a hand on Analie’s shoulder and stare down with thinly veiled impatience at Freddy, “do you think you’re doing here without a chaperone, young lady? And who is this?”
He knew he’d probably scare the hell out of her acting like an overprotective dad, but he wanted to impress upon her that sneaking around was not allowed. He thought he’d made that clear from the start. Obviously, he hadn’t gotten the point across. John would also need to get another reprimand for allowing security to be so lax as to let her sneak out alone.
Not to mention he was unfamiliar with the boy. Whoever he was presented a danger, if only in that he was lure enough to get her to leave the safety of Royce’s home by herself.
Analie opened and closed her mouth like a gasping fish. No matter how she answered this, she was going to be in an astonishing amount of trouble. The worst of it was that Freddy was now in trouble as