Midnight Wolf (Shifters Unbound #11)(73)

A shadow cut the light from outside. Tamsin looked up, and then screamed as the back window filled with the silhouette of a giant tiger.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE


Tamsin’s screams jerked Angus awake. “Tamsin, what the hell?”

“I saw it. I didn’t dream it. I swear.”

Angus dug sleep from his eyes and looked to where she pointed. The curtained window looked normal, flashes of yellow and red from the rides rippling across it.

“Saw what?” he demanded.

“A tiger. I swear to the Goddess it was a—”

Angus was out of the bed, dragging on his jeans, and out the door before she could complete the sentence.

The corner where their RV was parked was relatively quiet. The trailers around them belonged to ride and booth operators who were still working, so their windows were dark, and all was silent.

Angus inhaled, taking in the scents of dust, food, humanity, waste, exhaust, excitement. Somewhere among that he scented Shifter, though that could be Dante. His scent lingered on everything, this being his territory.

Dante himself appeared around the corner of a trailer, his feathered hat a smudge in the darkness. “My bounds were breached,” he said with a low growl. “I feel it.”

Angus nodded. A Shifter always knew when his territory was invaded by another Shifter, which was how Dante had found Angus the first night.

Angus faced the darkest patch at the end of the trailers, where a fence separated the lot from the open fields beyond. “Let’s get this over with,” he said softly to the air. “Tell me who sent you.”

“Who the hell are you talking to?” Dante asked, but Angus held up his hand for silence.

The darkness seemed to part, and a large man walked out of it. He’d dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, but the clothes pulled at him as though he’d rather be out of them and in his animal form. He carried running shoes in one hand, walking barefoot on dirt, pebbles, and thorns without flinching. He had mottled black and orange hair and yellow eyes that glowed in the lights from the midway.

“Sweet Goddess, what is he?” Dante breathed.

The Shifter ignored him, fixing his golden gaze on Angus. “Ben sent me.”

Angus let out a long breath, his tightness easing. He smelled no duplicity on the man; he never did. “Not Dylan?” he asked, just to make sure.

“No.”

A simple statement, and Angus believed him. Tiger didn’t lie—he saw no point in it.

“Thank the Goddess for that. Dante, this is Tiger. He’s a friend. At least I’d like to think so. He probably could use a beer.”

Tamsin led Ciaran by the hand across the parking area to Dante’s trailer. It was lit, and she banged on the door with her fist.

Celene opened it. She took in Tamsin’s face, nodded her understanding, and let her in.

“Males make me crazy,” Tamsin announced as she stepped into the living area. “Could you bother telling me what’s going on?”

She found herself pinned by the yellow stare of a Shifter she didn’t know. He sat on a kitchen chair while Dante and Angus shared a padded bench, and he was holding a set of spangled bracelets that Brina had made and was apparently showing him.

The Shifter held the bracelets carefully, as though worried he’d break them. He took in Tamsin and Ciaran standing next to him, and then he turned his attention back to Brina.

“They are very well done,” he said, handing them back to her.

“I’m going to sell them,” Brina said. “Ciaran’s going to help me.”

Ciaran, not shy, went to Brina’s side. He showed no fear of the giant Shifter in their midst, and in fact held out his hands so the man could gently slap them, Ciaran doing the same in return. Ciaran’s tiny hands were lost under the big man’s, but Tamsin sensed the Shifter holding back his strength to keep from hurting him.

“This is Tiger,” Angus said. “Tiger—Tamsin Calloway.”

“Your mate.” Tiger lifted his gaze from the two cubs, and his eyes narrowed. “You are a fox.”

“Steady.” Dante, who’d removed his hat and coat and looked almost normal in his T-shirt, started to laugh. “She’s mate-claimed. Keep your thoughts to yourself.”

Tiger frowned, while Tamsin’s heart thumped. She gave her head the slightest shake, but Tiger spoke again. “I mean, her animal is a fox.”

Dante didn’t lose his amusement. “No such thing. We have Lupines, Felines, and Bears. Best for last . . .” He trailed off under Tiger’s serious expression. Tamsin clenched her fists and tried to glare Tiger into silence.

“Seriously?” Dante swung his gaze to Tamsin, an interested glint in his eyes. “Okay, I’m starting to believe it. That would explain a lot. Like why I couldn’t decide whether you were Lupine or Feline.”

“How did you know?” Tamsin demanded of Tiger.

“I have met one before. His name is Miles, and he is a boat pilot.” Tiger clamped his mouth shut as though that was all the information he was willing to part with.

“Well, shit,” Dante said. “Who knew?”

“Keep it to yourselves.” Angus sent a frown to Dante, Tiger, and Celene.

“I’m cool.” Dante took a sip from his can of beer. “I’m trying to convey that you can trust me, Angus. Have been trying for a while now.”