me as completely crazy.
“Maybe my choice of words was a little extreme. We can just cross the border if you prefer.”
Perhaps something about being a shifter made Alex a little daft. “But we can’t cross the border without proof of citizenship. Didn’t you hear her? And even if we could get my ID, you still don’t have any. The border is not a plus one situation.”
Alex smiled and tapped his head with his index finger. “Thinking like a human again. You’re going to have to stop that. The world is not as it seems to you. You’re talking about human rules, I’m not. Last time I checked, border patrol has no authority over panthers crossing the border.”
I wanted to slap the arrogant gleam from his eyes, but not only did it make them a little cuter, he was also my only hope at the moment. “Okay, so you shift to a panther and go across the border, and then what, cause a distraction for me to drive through?”
“No, you’re going to ride on my back across the border.”
“And leave my car?” I knew she wasn’t exactly enviable, but she was all I had.
“Hey, this is a great honor I’m doing you. Shifters are not pets to be ridden. We only extend the privilege to a select few.”
If the thought of riding on his back with him in panther form wasn’t alarming enough, the idea of leaving my car behind was unthinkable. “No, that won’t work.”
“Why?”
“Because we cut across the border and then what? I’m supposed to ride on your back the entire way?”
“I don’t have any problem with that, but if it bothers you, we can always acquire a car on the other side.”
I narrowed my eyes as I stared at him. “Is ‘acquire’ a shifter euphemism for steal?”
“You could say that.”
Dammit, the little smirk that played on his lips was entirely too charming for someone who had just suggested committing grand theft auto. “I know I’m not a model citizen, but I’m certainly not a thief.”
“I understand. I’m sure that argument will be persuasive to the assassin who shows up to kill you.”
“Ugh. You are aggravating.”
“No more than you are. Why don’t you drive down that dirt road and see if there’s a place you can park out of the way?” He pointed to a barely visible road off to the side of the gas station.
The farther we traveled, the more the car bumped and jostled as the road degraded into little more than muddy potholes. The forest on each side of the single lane stood too thick to penetrate with the car. If the road continued to deteriorate, I feared we’d get stuck. After a few more minutes, I saw a small clearing on the right and pulled into it. The trees thinned just enough for me to squeeze the car through into a clearing hidden from the road. Alex didn’t waste a second once I’d parked.
“Grab what you need and let’s go.” He exited the car and waited for me to join him. For some reason, leaving the car actually hurt. I had nothing left. Leaving my apartment had been bad enough, but that at least was a rental. This car was mine, free and clear, and nobody was supposed to be able to take that away from me.
“I’ll be back.” I kissed my fingers and touched them to the windshield after locking the doors. I saved our GPS location to my phone and put the keys in the wheel well. Once everything settled down, I hoped I’d find my baby in working order.
“You humans bestow a great amount of value on inanimate objects.”
“Hey, all I’ve got left is a cell phone, ID, a credit card, and the magical necklace that destroys things, which is slightly less cool when you consider that it’s also the reason I’ve had to give up everything else.”
“Yes, sad, little human discovered that she is the heir to one of the most powerful mages in the world and therefore has to leave behind a rather unimpressive vehicle.”
Normally I wouldn’t let an insult like that slide, but my ear had caught on the word “heir.” I hadn’t even considered my situation
“Maybe my choice of words was a little extreme. We can just cross the border if you prefer.”
Perhaps something about being a shifter made Alex a little daft. “But we can’t cross the border without proof of citizenship. Didn’t you hear her? And even if we could get my ID, you still don’t have any. The border is not a plus one situation.”
Alex smiled and tapped his head with his index finger. “Thinking like a human again. You’re going to have to stop that. The world is not as it seems to you. You’re talking about human rules, I’m not. Last time I checked, border patrol has no authority over panthers crossing the border.”
I wanted to slap the arrogant gleam from his eyes, but not only did it make them a little cuter, he was also my only hope at the moment. “Okay, so you shift to a panther and go across the border, and then what, cause a distraction for me to drive through?”
“No, you’re going to ride on my back across the border.”
“And leave my car?” I knew she wasn’t exactly enviable, but she was all I had.
“Hey, this is a great honor I’m doing you. Shifters are not pets to be ridden. We only extend the privilege to a select few.”
If the thought of riding on his back with him in panther form wasn’t alarming enough, the idea of leaving my car behind was unthinkable. “No, that won’t work.”
“Why?”
“Because we cut across the border and then what? I’m supposed to ride on your back the entire way?”
“I don’t have any problem with that, but if it bothers you, we can always acquire a car on the other side.”
I narrowed my eyes as I stared at him. “Is ‘acquire’ a shifter euphemism for steal?”
“You could say that.”
Dammit, the little smirk that played on his lips was entirely too charming for someone who had just suggested committing grand theft auto. “I know I’m not a model citizen, but I’m certainly not a thief.”
“I understand. I’m sure that argument will be persuasive to the assassin who shows up to kill you.”
“Ugh. You are aggravating.”
“No more than you are. Why don’t you drive down that dirt road and see if there’s a place you can park out of the way?” He pointed to a barely visible road off to the side of the gas station.
The farther we traveled, the more the car bumped and jostled as the road degraded into little more than muddy potholes. The forest on each side of the single lane stood too thick to penetrate with the car. If the road continued to deteriorate, I feared we’d get stuck. After a few more minutes, I saw a small clearing on the right and pulled into it. The trees thinned just enough for me to squeeze the car through into a clearing hidden from the road. Alex didn’t waste a second once I’d parked.
“Grab what you need and let’s go.” He exited the car and waited for me to join him. For some reason, leaving the car actually hurt. I had nothing left. Leaving my apartment had been bad enough, but that at least was a rental. This car was mine, free and clear, and nobody was supposed to be able to take that away from me.
“I’ll be back.” I kissed my fingers and touched them to the windshield after locking the doors. I saved our GPS location to my phone and put the keys in the wheel well. Once everything settled down, I hoped I’d find my baby in working order.
“You humans bestow a great amount of value on inanimate objects.”
“Hey, all I’ve got left is a cell phone, ID, a credit card, and the magical necklace that destroys things, which is slightly less cool when you consider that it’s also the reason I’ve had to give up everything else.”
“Yes, sad, little human discovered that she is the heir to one of the most powerful mages in the world and therefore has to leave behind a rather unimpressive vehicle.”
Normally I wouldn’t let an insult like that slide, but my ear had caught on the word “heir.” I hadn’t even considered my situation
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