Ylva's hand brushed against Jason's arm. Light, casual, and affectionate.
But her claws were out.
"Don't react," she whispered, her lips barely moving. "We're being watched."
Jason's stride didn't falter nor did his face didn't change. But his eyes flicked sideways, scanning the shadows between the twisted trees. He saw nothing, and heard nothing. But he trusted Ylva.
"How many?" He moved only his lips, the words barely a breath. He had no idea if the thing watching them had superhuman hearing, but he wasn't going to take chances.
Ylva's ears twitched. She angled her head slightly, pretending to stretch her neck. "One, maybe two. I can't tell. The scent is faint—like nothing I've smelled before."
Jason's jaw tightened. Not the watcher. Something smaller. Something new.
