Trusted Bond

painfully, I rose to my feet and limped across the street,
    disappearing into the shadows of an alley. From my new vantage point, I
    could see where I had come from.
    I looked up until I saw the broken window, the room now bathed in
    bright light; across the street was the first canopy.
    It had been a nice leap; I had to give myself credit. I had sailed easily
    across twenty feet before coming up short and hitting the first canopy.
    From there it had been a hard plunge down from five stories up to the last
    one with the trampoline action. I had bounced off and sideways, spilling
    into the street. It had to have been funny to watch.
    I was lucky, and I knew it. Lucky that the canopies were there, lucky
    I was light so I could leap that far, lucky I could extend my body,
    streamline it, and lucky that all of it combined had slowed my descent
    until it was a hard, painful jolt instead of a crash. It was one of those freak
    accidents combined with a gift.
    As I turned down the alley, padding away, I promised myself that I
    would not shift again until I found my mate. I hoped it wouldn‘t take too
    long.

    104

    Mary Calmes

    Chapter 9

    EVEN as late as it had to be, based on how dark it was, the narrow,
    cluttered streets were alive with people and lights. All the delicious
    aromas were swirling together, making me salivate. I realized how hungry
    I was and wondered how fast I would need to be to steal something to eat.
    I didn‘t get the opportunity to even make a plan.
    ―You… stop!
    I froze and turned my head, looking over my shoulder to see who
    had called. Instantly my eye was drawn across the street, where a man sat
    at a large table, surrounded by others. He was smiling even as he pointed
    at me.
    ―You know the priest‘s law.‖ He raised his voice so it would carry,
    wanting to warn me but not offer any menace. He wasn‘t angry, more
    scolding, clearly annoyed. ―You were advised of it on your way in, friend,
    no one in their panther form within the city limits.‖
    I was violating a mandate I had no prior knowledge of.
    ―Shift now and explain yourself or deal with the consequences.‖
    I didn‘t even breathe.
    There was an irritated huff of air from him. ―Look, I know you‘re
    naked, but deal with it. I‘m not the one prowling around where I shouldn‘t
    be. We‘ll grab you some—Taj, go grab a blanket or a table cloth or
    whatever from any of the—Shah, check with the owner and see if he has
    anything we borrow to cover up our modest friend here.‖
    When he spoke it was distractedly, absently, like I was bothersome
    but nothing more. He was only giving me half his attention. Clearly
    someone in his group had pointed me out, and he, whoever he was, could
    not simply ignore me, could not just give me a pass. Perhaps whomever he
    Trusted Bond

    105

    served would have scolded him for not stopping me. It was the same with
    me where I worked. I managed a restaurant, and when my boss was there,
    people being untucked or minutes late was a big deal. When I was there
    alone I forgave small trespasses, choosing to remind instead of punish. I
    had a feeling if the man were dining alone, he would have simply rolled
    his eyes at the slight infraction I was committing.
    There was the distinct buzz of laughter from the table even though I
    wasn‘t close enough to hear the words being spoken. Glasses were raised
    and filled. They were all having a good time, and my inquisitor, his
    mouth, curling at the edges, laugh lines crinkling in the corner of his eyes,
    was enjoying himself as well. He didn‘t want me there. I was sure he was
    wishing I had simply taken an alternate route where he would not have
    been put in the position to question me. He wanted to be having fun with
    his friends. It was a warm summer night, there was a lazy breeze, he was
    surrounded by beautiful women, and they were all drinking. I was sure I
    was the last thing he wanted to be annoyed with.
    ―Are you deaf?‖ he called over to me when he checked and found
    me still in panther form, unmoving.
    I remained rooted to the spot.
    Heavy, resigned sigh. ―Shift now and talk to me before you prompt
    my anger instead of my curiosity.‖
    I didn‘t want to fight, and even if I wanted to, I couldn‘t. I was in no
    shape to run for any great distance, and without my usual burst of speed, I
    was in trouble. So I shifted, standing naked in the street. ―I beg your
    forgiveness. My clothes were stolen in Cairo, and I came to Sobek