“Yes. Mostly.”
“That’s amazing.”
They wandered toward the otter enclosure, where a pair of them were tumbling through the water. Kaden really liked otters. They were sleek and funny, but could be vicious little bastards.
“Why are those two holding hands?” Joe asked.
“So they don’t drift apart while they sleep.”
Joe turned to him slowly, eyes shining with what could only be described as reverence. “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”
Kaden hesitated to burst his bubble. “It’s…practical rather than romantic.”
“I don’t care. It’s still sweet.”
“They have favourite rocks that they use to crack shells open on their stomachs.”
“Clever.”
They moved on, slower now. The initial rush of wonder had settled into something softer. Joe still reacted to everything, but it wasn’t explosive, just more thoughtful.
Until the alarm call of a bird split the air and Joe froze mid-step. “What was that?”
“Parrot?”
Kaden glanced round and felt his lungs lock. Across the path, near a cluster of trees, the man of the pair they’d photographed stood watching them, then pretended he wasn’t.
“Joe—”
“I saw him,” Joe said quietly. “But closer than him, is another guy who’s been to see every exhibit we have. Presumably not one of Alistair’s, unless he lied.”
Kaden didn’t turn his head. “You sure?”
“Yes. The woman from earlier is here too.”
“Oh great,” Kaden muttered. “Alistair said he’d call them off and he hasn’t. So we’re being followed by people who are following a guy who’s following us. That’s not good.”
Joe’s lips twitched. “It’s getting crowded.” Then he put his arm over Kaden’s shoulder. “Right. Enough impending doom. There are still animals I haven’t emotionally imprinted on. How many more will make my eyes leak?”
Kaden stared at him. “That’s your coping strategy?”
“Yes.” Joe started walking. “If I’m going to be hunted, I’d like to do it after seeing the leafcutter ants.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I literally am.” Joe smiled. “And it’s all thanks to you.”
Kaden let himself be pulled along, tension still humming under his skin, but threaded with the comfort of being with Joe who was still talking, still pointing things out. The exotic—flamingos. The common—sparrows. Still stopping every five minutes to say things like, “That animal has a better life thanmost humans,” about a particularly relaxed lemur reclining in a canvas hammock. Or “did you know that hamsters were known for having sex a lot, sometimes up to seventy-five times a day?” No, he didn’t. Well, that was going in his next routine.
Somehow, despite the watchers and the questions and the very real sense that the ground had shifted under their feet, Kaden was mostly enjoying himself. For the time being, there was nothing they could do about their followers and acting as if they neither cared nor worried was the best thing to do. Though occasionally, he did think about it. Almost as if Joe sensed when Kaden’s anxiety spiked, he’d hold his hand and tighten his grip until Kaden calmed again.
They finally found the leafcutter ants and Joe was fascinated. Kaden couldn’t help but wonder if they reminded him a little of the way he used to be.
When they were too tired to look at anything else, they left the zoo and headed back through Regent’s Park. Kaden had sent a shot of the new guy following them and asked Alistair if he was one of his too, but he’d not replied. Kaden had thought about complaining that they still had a tail, but maybe Alistair knew about the other guy and that was why he’d left his people in place.
No one was in earshot as they walked through the park.
“Are we still being followed?” Kaden asked.
