Softness in Razor-Sharp Talons

There's a stench of blood in the air...

Down on the lake near Havsvarg Sailing School

Wilder gave her an almost suspicious look, narrowing his eyes. "What is a cuttlefish?" he'd never heard of one before and the name sounded made up. But then he supposed all names were.

Eve couldn't help but laugh a bit at Wilder's expression. "It's basically a much smaller version of an octopus. Think like the little pink one in FInding Nemo," she explained, gesturing with her hands to indicate the relative size. "They're very cute and clever."

"Maybe a bit," she agreed, "But I'd say the first morning's gone well at least," she added. "Sure," a genuine smile spread across her face, "What sort of thing were you after?"

"Starting off on a good note is important," Eve pointed out. "Well, it's a weird combination, and I'm not necessarily sure you'd have either. But something about cuttlefish, or marine life in general. And something about motorcycles."

“Good because left to me we’d probably be wandering in circles and miss half of it,” he joked. His smile remained when she spoke about going with her sister but it took on a more somber edge. It seemed like she’d been really close to her sister from the way she spoke. “I look forward to hearing all the nerdy facts you can remember while we’re there then,” Wilder replied as he stood up. He didn’t want to upset her again but he was happy for her to talk about her sister, or what her sister had told her as much as she liked her decided. “I’ve got a much better idea,” he said with a grin before heading off in the direction of the garage. Once there he picked up a spare helmet and tossed it to her. Grabbing his own he walked over to his bike.

Eve smiled at the comment, mostly because she knew he was likely exaggerating his sense of direction. Shifters--or hybrids--were a bit better off than most given their instincts, let alone heightened senses. Wilder's words about the facts only made her laugh. "Well, I'm hardly an encyclopedia, but I will do my best. If they have a cuttlefish, I'll be too spellbound to talk at all," she mused fondly.

@ Priam Books

"So it's a bit soon to ask how you're finding it?" Eve mused with a small smile. "But maybe I could test your skills by asking for help with a recommendation."

He hummed in agreement, "You could be right there." Was there some rule about how many shifters made a pack? He wasn't sure but he'd guess if there was their little group wouldn't make the cut. Still, it was the only way he knew how to operate - in a pack. He was glad when he saw the tears in her eyes start to dry having never meant to upset her. Wilder raised his eye brows at her mention of the aquarium. He was going to ask what she'd been writing but the thought was gone then. It seemed such a random thing to do. But he reminded himself he'd only just met her, it could be something she did often. Another grin broke out over his features at the invitation. "I'd love to. I don't think I've to one since my elementary school trip," he replied, "So you'll have to be my guide, yeah?"

Eve was almost certain he was going to turn down her offer, at least from the sight of his initial reaction to it. And it was strange, in all fairness, to be invited to the aquarium with an effective stranger. But she was finding herself in far more odd situations these days and didn't have the energy to draw attention to each little thing. His grin and reply soothed her nerves again though. "I've been to this one twice since I moved in, so I think I can manage that," she said with a small smile of her own. She pondered then whether or not to share why, but it seemed like a harmless fact. "I used to go all of the time to the one back home with my sister, Vivian--she wanted to be a marine biologist, so it was her closest substitute to nerd out in the meantime." But Eve always went with Viv, and even now without her. Because it soothed her, even over the sadness of it all. She stood up, smoothing out her jeans in a slightly unnecessary motion. Probably awkward fidgeting, given her dynamic with the whole encounter. "Do you want to get the bus? Or we can walk it?"

"The other knuckleheads might not see us as a pack but," Wilder shrugged. They were in this together at the end of the day. This strange dual existence. And for him at least, his shifter side would always come first. He couldn't deny the fact she was a tiger too played into it. It made him feel some sort of connect to her already. His face broke out into a beaming smile at her joke, at her smile. "Yes," he laughed, "yes it is." Wilder moved from the coffee table to the couch, sinking back into the cushions. "So what were you up to when I so rudely interrupted your day?"

"I think the fact that there's so few of us doesn't exactly help on that score," Eve pointed out. In fact, Remy and Chase really operated as individuals even though they'd known each other longer. So it wasn't exactly specific to her being new. She focused on breating then, allowing her tears to fade as the moment took on a more positive air again. His laughter helped, a lot, actually. The question made her cast a glance to her abandoned journal on the table before she met Wilder's gaze again. "Just writing, really. But I was debating going out to aquarium later... I'm not sure why, but I've always found them relaxing."

His eyebrows went from being raised to frowning. It was almost comical. But he couldn’t help it when he noted the change in her expression. Clearly where ever her mind had gone it wasn’t good. Trust him to upset the girl when he’d only just met her. Her reply troubled him too. Boy oh boy was he going to be having words with Chase and Remi. “I know exactly what you mean,” because almost word for word he’d felt the same. “I’m sorry you’ve been left to deal with it alone so far,” reaching forward he put his hand on her knee. “But you don’t have to any more got it? Us tigers gotta stick together,” Wilder offered her a smile, squeezing her knee then removing his hand. He’d scented it on her the moment he’d really noticed her. That particular kind of shifter scent being so familiar to him that he recognised it even with the vampire stuff mixed in.

His words struck Eve even more than his initial kindness. Because she believed him... and that felt, well, conflicting. At least in the sense of not being able to nail down just how easily she seemed to trust him even after everything she'd been through since her being turned. And then his touch made her gaze drop to his hand for a moment. It was another kindness coupled with a sort of subtle intimacy and it surprised her all the more. And then the tiger comment made her breath catch altogether. She hadn't noticed it before when she'd scented him, having been caught up on the general mix of vampire and shifter... but it was there, clear as day. And that brought a teary sort of smile to her face. "You know... I have no idea why you're so nice to me when you don't even know me." Her words were joined with a little laugh as she wiped her eyes. Of course she did know on some level. As he'd said, they were both tiger shifters first and foremost. She looked up at Wilder then, well and truly smiling. "Thank you for that. It's nice to know I have some company with familiar stripes," she joked, throwing in a wink.