Intent on His claim (Beauty and the Beast #3)

Chapter 57

I went flying into the dark and for a moment my mind closed up. Then my training kicked in and I struggled, shifting to drive my elbow into my assailant's gut even as we burst into a lit area.

He was taller than me and a second faster. He neatly sidestepped, avoiding my attack as he set me on my feet. I took advantage and rounded on him with a punch aimed for his nose.

This too was easily blocked by his forearm even as he wrapped a hand around my throat and shoved me back against a wall.

I growled and he grinned. "Hi."

The voice was familiar. I stopped fighting long enough to take in his rich brown hair held back in a ponytail and his wickedly amused dark eyes. It took me a moment to place him – then I frowned. "Ryder?"

He only smiled now, cautiously nudging my fist down. "You remember."

"What –"

I stopped in confusion. I did remember Ryder Stevens – he'd moved to Los Gatos high this year and was in one of Mitch's classes. He'd been a quiet, almost invisible guy who kept to himself so I hadn't known him well.

I certainly hadn't expected to be overpowered by him in an airport bathroom. "What're you doing here?"

The hand over my throat moved to cover my mouth even as he held a finger to his own. He took a quick glance outside the door then firmly closed it.

"We don't much have time," he said quickly, patting his pockets. "Here, give me that."

He grabbed my bag and slung it over his shoulder before shoving a passport into my hand. "Here. Check in is now and lift off is soon after. You need to hurry."

"What are you – Give my things back!"

"I need your scent," he explained and plopped a cap on my head. "And you need mine. Put your hair up." I only stared when he sized me up.

Did Ryder know about our world? But how? His scent told me he was human. "What do you mean?" I asked quietly.

"Give me your coat, too," he decided, shrugging out of his. "That should throw them off your scent long enough for this to work."

Instead of obeying I asked, "Who are you?"

"Can't you tell yet?" He smirked while relieving me of my jacket.

"How do you know about my world? You're human," I insisted.

"So were you until a few weeks ago," he pointed out as he rummaged through my stuff. "Good, you brought some passports."

"Ryder –"

He moved quickly, too quickly for a human, and covered my mouth again. Outside I heard light footsteps passing by and knew there were shifters in the building.

Ryder stepped back once the steps receded. "Look, we're kinda out of time. Your alpha sent some people to pick you up and I'm here to create a diversion. Get on this flight and we'll talk later. I'll find you."

He slipped out of the bathroom and was gone. I checked the ticket and realized that he knew exactly where I was going and had apparently given me a new alias.

Annoyed and confused, I looked at the empty doorway and growled. Then I calmed enough to think. Warren had sent someone after me and Ryder was helping me out for reasons unknown.

I needed to get there first. I'd figure everything else out afterwards. Decided, I pulled on Ryder's letterman jacket and tucked my hair under the black ball cap as much as possible. Checking my reflection in the mirror I nodded once, slid my hands into pockets and stepped out of the bathroom.