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9. Partner
I FIDGETED AND squirmed as I sat on the train that was taking me back to Exeter, dreading the moment I’d see Roy again. Five days had passed since he’d left me. Five days of pain and sorrow. Five days of mourning and missing him. While the ache in my chest had diminished to a dull throb, worry still tormented my mind and heart. Connor’s words echoed in my head. What kind of secret could Roy keep that would put Connor and me in danger? Violating Raven Park’s rules meant death, and Raven Park had many rules. If I revealed who I was to Gladys and Doris, Commander Allen would dispatch a team to put a bullet in my head and kill my friends as well. I’d signed a contract about the darn rules. The risks were clear. Roy was attached to the rules more tightly than a limpet on a rock. Heck, he’d chased down his own brother and killed him for the bloody rules. Clare had blackmailed him because she knew his secret. Did the secret have to do with her? But then, what did Clare have to do with Connor?
Oh, well. Huffing in defeat, I slouched on the stiff seat, watching the frozen English countryside stream past me. The tiger pendant caught the pale sunlight and sent a golden glow shimmering over the window. I closed my hand around it, wishing it were easy to talk to Roy. Before leaving home, I’d stuffed a few photographs of Aunt Mabel and my friends in my bag. Worry about the war, I guessed. I’d always hated the display of pictures some friends of my aunt loved to show off in their houses. Dead and living, all mixed together on a shelf, watching me with eyes from another time. But now, with a war looming on the horizon, every memory, every past moment with my loved ones was a treasure to protect. I skimmed through the few pictures. Me and Aunt Mabel at the Farmer’s Market a few years ago; me, Doris, and Gladys during a trip to the lake—Lord, I was so thin and pale back then. My clothes hung from my shoulders like a rag on a broomstick. And me and my friend Shoshanna, who was currently in France, after she’d escaped from Berlin. A Chai pendant hung from her neck, caught swinging forth, frozen in that moment. She probably wouldn’t wear it now for the risk of being identified as a Jewess. Her bright smile lit the black-and-white picture and sent a pang to my heart. She was so happy in this photo. The last time I saw her, she was crying and shivering in fear. I pressed the picture against my chest, vowing to do my best to protect her and her family, and if I could, to protect the innocent people who were living in fear in Germany. If only Roy would let me help him.
Fighting a sob, I put the photos back in my bag. The dark ribbon of the Exe River snaked through the gentle hills of Devonshire, and the train slowed down.
Once at Exeter train station, I searched the platform. My stupid heart flipped in the hope of seeing Roy waiting for me. But aside from a few farmers and schoolgirls, the station was empty. Why was I surprised? I dragged my luggage to a public phone box, luckily without any long queue of people. After inserting a few coins, I dialled Miss Hammond’s number.
“Good afternoon. You’ve reached Raven Park. This is Miss Hammond speaking. How can I help?” the singsong voice of the secretary asked.
I pressed button A to be heard. “Miss Hammond, it’s Kristin Easterwood here. I’m at the station.” I paused, glancing again at the desolate platform. “Is there anyone who could pick me up by any chance?”
“Of course, darling. I’ll send someone immediately.”
I licked my dry lips. “Is…Roy available?” I whispered for some reason.
There was a crackling noise, then Miss Hammond cleared her throat. “I’ve seen him earlier, but I’m not sure he’s free now. Do not worry. A cadet will show up as soon as possible. There’s no need to spend money on a taxi, dear.”
“Thank you.” I didn’t sound thankful at all.
“See you soon.”
Groaning, I put down the headset and pressed button B to get the unused coins back. They jingled in the box, a happy sound in stark contrast to my gloomy mood.
As I waited on the freezing pavement for a car, I hoped against hope that it was Roy who would come. Perhaps smiling and telling me he’d been an ass to leave like that without waiting for me. No, that was a fairy tale. Shapeshifters might be real, but Roy smiling and apologising for his grumpy behaviour was a myth.
My breath turned into steam as I paced around my luggage. I shifted my weight from one foot to another. The sun was disappearing behind grey clouds that promised a chilly day. Delicate snowflakes started to drop when a shiny black car stopped at the kerb. A dark-blond man lowered the glass and propped his elbow out. His light amber eyes gave him away as a beast.
“Miss Kristin Easterwood?” he asked, flashing white teeth.
“Yes, it’s me.”
He smiled. A pair of dimples dotted into his cheeks. “Miss Hammond sent me here to pick you up. Jump onboard, Miss Easterwood. I’ll take you home. I’m Nathan, by the way,” he added when he climbed out of the car to take my luggage.
“Nice to meet you, Nathan.” No Roy then. Why was I disappointed? I was annoyed with myself for still holding hopes.
As we shook hands, a sizzle of energy flowed between us, waking up my beast from her sadness-induced slumber. It was the first sign of vitality she’d shown since Roy had left. Nathan’s amber eyes sparked as my beast reared up her head, curious about this stranger.
“It seems that our beasts like each other,” he whispered, leaning closer. “A good sign.”
“Yes.” What did it mean? Why had I never experienced that frisson of energy with Roy? I’d sensed the excitement of other people’s beasts, but never this strong quiver of electricity.
“That’s a good start.” Winking, Nathan held the car door open for me.
“A good start?” I slid onto the passenger seat. I wasn’t an expert, but the leather was of a finer quality compared to Roy’s Cadet, and it smelled of pine resin. Even the sound of the engine roared with more power.
“Do you like it?” he asked, manoeuvring the car out of the parking spot. “It’s an Austin twelve-four, a little jewel with a 1535 cc four-cylinder engine, and has—”
“Fabulous. What were you saying about a good start?”
“Oh, right.” He sped up along the road heading east, towards Raven Park. Whatever the 1535 cc was, it was doing a good job because the car drove smoothly. “As you probably know, we’re going to be partners, I believe.” He flashed his smile again, but I couldn’t smile back.
My mouth went dry, and cold sweat dampened my hands. I sank into the seat, wishing to be alone. It was Roy. He’d found me another partner while I was in Crawley Farm. Without telling me anything. Yes, Aunt Mabel didn’t have a telephone—too expensive—but he could have sent me a wire. What a rakehell.
Nathan arched a golden eyebrow. “You look…surprised. Haven’t you been informed?”
“No one told me anything.” Curse Roy. I was pouting like a spoiled child, but I didn’t care.
