“A human runner,” he amends.
I snort. “I’m not. Just … needed to clear my head and I don’t have anywhere safe close by where I can shift.”
He’s quiet so I open my eyes and glance at him through my peripheral. He pulls up to the mansion that is Brian’s elaborate home and I move to open the door. “Thanks for the lift.”
Before I can step out, he halts me with a hand on my arm. “Wait.”
I stop and turn to face him, leaving the door open.
He scrubs both hands down his face before dragging his gaze back to me. “I hate the wolves.”
My anger flares and I suddenly remember what he said to me earlier and why I should still be pissed off with him. “Noted.” I get out and step away from the car, slamming the door behind me.
The engine shuts off and Zheng’s door opens and closes, but I’m already heading for the front door. “Isa, wait,” he calls out, but I don’t bother stopping. I’m almost to the door when it swings open and Brian’s stern face greets me, bringing me to a hard stop.
“Isabella, is that you shouting out here?”
His pale eyes flick from me to the boy I know is standing a few paces behind me and I stiffen. “Sorry.” I wilt under his scrutiny. “We didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“Have some decorum. We have neighbors.”
My face falls and I nod. “Sorry,” I mutter, hating that this man I barely know has the power to make me feel two inches small. I’m just about to slip in past him when I feel Zheng step in beside me.
“I’m Zheng Liu, sir. I go to school with Isa. It’s nice to meet you.” Zheng thrusts out his hand in a surprisingly human gesture, and more surprising, Brian takes it, giving it a firm shake and Zheng an assessing look.
“You’re Jin’s boy?” he asks.
Zheng nods. “Yes, sir.”
Okay, hold up. What is going on right now?
“I’m happy to see my daughter is making respectable friends. I was worried when I agreed to send her to Hellbound High, but it was your father who reminded me he’d made a similar decision with you. Thank you for looking after her.”
Zheng nods. I shoot him a questioning look but he either doesn’t see it or chooses to ignore it.
“Well uh, thanks for the ride.” I give Zheng a small wave, cringing at the awkwardness of it when Brian does the unthinkable and invites him in.
“Isa, why don’t you run along and get ready for dinner. Zheng and I will be in my study when you’re done.”
What?
Zheng’s expression brightens at the invitation, and when Brian steps back, opening the door wider to grant us both entrance, Zheng sweeps right on in as though he’s been here a dozen times.
“Uh…”
Zheng meets my gaze before giving me a small nod.
Alright then. “I guess I’ll go take a shower.”
Neither one of them respond. Brian grips Zheng’s shoulder in an almost fatherly embrace as he leads him away from me and toward his study.
I jog up the stairs, stripping my sweat-soaked clothes off as soon as the door to my bedroom is firmly closed behind me. Why would Brian want to talk with Zheng in his study? Clearly, he knows Zheng’s dad but …
I rush through washing my hair and body, taking the fastest shower of my life. Something about leaving Zheng and Brian alone together is setting off alarm bells in my head. And what was all that about looking after his daughter? Why didn’t Zheng mention that our dads knew each other? I mean … my mind wanders back to when he first mentioned his father. He is human too. Right?
I dry off at record speed before pulling my hair into a wet and tangled messy bun. I assume dinner will be here since Brian invited Zheng to join us.
I throw on a knee-length, long-sleeved dress in a soft blue, cinching a belt around the waist and slipping my feet into a pair of strappy sandals. They’re hardly practical but Natalia went out of her way to remind me to dress for dinner, so this is me, putting in some effort.
I don’t bother putting on any makeup before heading toward Brian’s office. Murmured words greet my ears as I approach but I can’t make them out through the well-insulated walls. I haven’t been in Brian’s office before. He’s always given the impression that it was off limits and I never wanted to impose. After knocking three times, I reach for the handle and let myself in.
Brian is sitting at his desk, a cigar in one hand and a glass of amber liquid in the other. He’s smiling. I’ve never seen him smile, but whatever Zheng must have just said clearly amused him.
Zheng is sitting in a leather lounge chair opposite Brian, a matching glass of liquor in his hand.
“Umm…”
“Isabella, come in,” Brian says in a booming baritone. “Zheng was just telling me all about the camping trip the two of you went on together.”
I frown, worried Brian will get the wrong impression and I’ll wind up in trouble. He’d given me his permission to go but I’d intentionally left out the fact that I was going away with a boy, let alone another shapeshifter, allowing him to think I’d made girlfriends. But he seems pleased anyway, not shocked or upset as I would have expected. Mom would have murdered me. I wasn’t even allowed to have Josué over without leaving my bedroom door wide open. She was always going on about shifter hormones and how she was too young to be a grandmother.
“Oh,” is all I manage to say before taking a seat in the chair beside Zheng. He gives me a reassuring smile. I’m not sure what to think of that.
Zheng certainly looks comfortable. Like this is an everyday occurrence for him. He’s dressed in his usual black jeans and a charcoal, long-sleeved t-shirt. His street-casual style at complete odds
