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for her to get a word in before Nadette tried to kill her assuming she even showed up.
* * *
Tyler watched through the door and waited until she d walked away. He gave it another
minute, until Tana had also gone, then slid out from behind the sheet of metal that served as a door.
Was letting her go too risky? Not really, he decided, because even if she did manage to shake him,
there was no way she was getting that ankle bracelet off, and as long as it was on, she was stuck with
him.
He moved swiftly, staying far enough behind her that she couldn t spot him. As he jogged
after her, he passed what looked like piles of refuse, but he knew that they concealed people who
called the garbage-heaps home. He scented people and shifters as he moved through the shanty town,
but everybody maintained their distance. Probably because of the bribe he d paid the gang of street
urchins.
Gwenneth moved towards the better part of town. He wore a cap pulled low, and would
have to hope that it disguised him enough.
At the outskirts of the shanty town, he stopped to buy a newspaper, and read it as he
walked.
Once they left the shanty town, there were soldiers on patrol everywhere. He kept his head
down, pretending to be very absorbed in the newspaper, and tried to comprehend what he d read.
Had there really been an assassination attempt? At least some of the cops here were corrupt, and the
newspaper was state-owned, so he couldn t believe anything he read there. And why hadn t they
mentioned him killing the police captain? That seemed like the kind of thing that would make the
news.
He watched the leopard stroll through an iron archway and into a park. At the edge of the
park, he stopped at a vending truck and bought two donuts.
Then he called out, Hey, Tana! to a stand of bamboo. Tana poked her head out from
behind the bamboo, scowling, and walked over.
What? she said irritably. How did you see me?
I didn t see you. You re too good for that. He handed her a donut. She beamed at the
compliment.
I scented you, he added. I m a wolf. We have the best sense of smell in the animal
kingdom.
Oh. She nodded with understanding. Then she looked at the donut with a smile. Two
breakfasts in one day! Tana shoved half the donut into her mouth.
Why did you follow her? he asked.
I wanted to make sure she d be all right. I think all the soldiers are looking for her. I
thought if they spotted her, I could make a distraction and she could escape.
He nodded approvingly. You re a good friend.
You think so? she gave him a powdered- sugar smile, then her face grew serious again. I
think maybe we did something wrong last time she was here. Maybe I did something wrong.
Like what? Tyler felt frustration and pity for the little jaguar cub. What kind of chance
did she have, growing up in a place like this?
I don t know at all. She was taking care of us, and she brought us food and clothing and
toys, and she was starting to teach me to read, and I read the whole alphabet but I was having a hard
time& and then she said she had to go, and she would send money until she could come back. And she
left for a whole year. But she did send the money every month, she added, perking up a little.
How did you meet her? Tyler asked curiously.
Oh, she hired us to help her and her friend create a distraction. They were here to steal
some jewels. Then after that she came around to visit us a lot, and she stayed for months. But then she
left. Maybe it was because I couldn t learn the alphabet. Do you think that s it? She screwed her face
up anxiously, looking up at Tyler.
Of course not. I m sure she only left because she had to, Tyler said, shocked. She came
back, didn t she? And she sent all that money?
He glanced over at the park. I need to go in there, and I need you to stay here. If you come
into the park, you could be putting her in danger. If I need help, I ll howl for you, okay?
She frowned suspiciously, but nodded and jogged back over to the giant bamboo shoots,
ducking behind them.
He quickly moved into the park, sniffing at the air and following her trail. He wound his
way along narrow garden paths, past passionate couples who were groping each other on park
benches and in the bushes.
She was in a small clearing towards the back of the park, and she wasn t alone. As he
rounded the corner, he heard a woman s voice, speaking with a trace of a French accent.
So, Rhonwen, do you want to die fast or slow?
Chapter Nine
Gwenneth was backed up against the gnarled trunk of a banyan tree, bracing herself. She d
been stupid to come; she couldn t shift and defend herself, and Nadette was going to rip her face off,
chew it up and swallow it.
Nadette, it wasn t my fault! she said desperately.
It never is, is it? I think I ll rip your voicebox out first.
Is that what you think? Because I think I ll finally get to find out what hyena blood tastes
like. Tyler s voice made Gwenneth start as he burst through the bushes.
At the same time she heard footsteps thudding down the trail, and Corran came dashing up,
out of breath, hair mussed, holding a knife in his hand. Gwenneth sniffed; she could smell silver.
Well, he d come prepared, all right.
I don t know which one of you two bitches I should kill first, he snapped, eyes blazing
with rage, and then he spotted Tyler and froze where he stood.
He glanced at Tyler and then at Gwenneth with a mingled look of fury and betrayal.
I d suggest neither of them, if you want your heart to stay inside your ribcage, Tyler said,
moving protectively in front of Gwenneth.
Corran looked at Tyler standing there growling and bristling, and then at Gwenneth. Well,
well. This explains so much, Ronny. There was a world of bitterness behind his words.
It doesn t explain a goddamn thing! Nadette growled at Corran. But it figures you d be
here to save your princess.
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