Page 114 of Beasts of Mine

“Show me.” Tavian started toward me before catching himself a few feet away, waiting rather than crowding over my shoulder.

The tiny correction made me pause.

“What?” Tavian tilted his head when he noticed me watching him.

“Nothing. Come here.” I turned the camera so he could see the screen. Tavian crossed the remaining distance immediately and leaned over my shoulder, close enough that warmth gathered along my side. This time, though, all of his attention went straight to the photograph.

I enlarged the frame with the reflection. For once, he didn’t joke.

“You caught that from where we were standing?” Tavian studied the image, then glanced toward the section of creek where the fox had disappeared.

“Not exactly the way you’re seeing it here. The lens changes how the distance reads, and I decide what stays in the frame.” I showed Tavian the full photograph before switching back to the tighter version.

“So you knew it would look like that.” Tavian leaned slightly closer, his interest genuine.

“I hoped it would.” I moved to the next frame. “A lot of wildlife photography is watching what an animal is doing and trying to predict what it might do next. Sometimes I’m right. Sometimes I spend three hours photographing the back of a bird.”

“That sounds terrible.” Tavian laughed softly, keeping his eyes on the screen.

“It can be. Then you get one shot that makes the three hours worth it.” I smiled as I brought up another image.

“That one?” Luca stepped closer on my other side, careful not to jostle my arm as he studied the reflection.

“That one might be.” I angled the screen toward Luca so he could see it better. Malek joined us last but stayed behind my shoulder, close enough that I could feel his presence without having him leaning over me too.

Something about that struck me more than I expected. They were actually interested in what I was doing. Not politely waiting for me to finish so we could move on to something they cared about, and not treating my assignment as an excuse to spend time with me.

They wanted to understand.

I showed them several more photographs before reminding myself that explaining camera settings to three interested men wasn’t going to give me any more daylight.

We continued south for another half hour, and they adjusted around my work faster than I expected. Malek stopped ranging so far ahead. Tavian lowered his voice whenever the camera came up without needing another reminder. Luca began noticing where I intended to position myself and kept clear before I had to ask.

By the time I checked my watch again, it was later than I thought.

“Five fifteen.” I lowered my wrist and looked toward the route back, mentally estimating how long I needed.

“We should head back.” Malek immediately oriented toward the northern trail, already paying attention to the time because he knew I was.

“I know.” I adjusted my bag and started walking before he could offer to take it. Malek’s eyes dropped toward the strap pressing into my shoulder.

“No.” I caught Malek before he spoke.

“I haven’t offered anything.” Malek fell into step beside me, looking entirely too innocent.

“You were about to.” I shifted the strap higher.

“I was considering it.” Malek admitted after a second, his lip twitching as he looked at me.

“At least you’re honest.” I glanced at him, tilting my head to the side.

“Usually.” Malek’s mouth curved faintly.

“Do I get credit for not asking?” Tavian called from behind us.

“No.” I answered Tavian without turning around, hearing Luca laugh somewhere near him. The walk back went quickly. We reached the eastern fork with enough time that I wouldn’t have to hurry toward the station, and I slowed near the point where they would have to stop. Nobody needed to explain why this time.

The human-used trail waited ahead. Behind me were three men I had spent the afternoon talking to, working beside, and learning about. Yesterday they had been three impossible secrets. They were still impossible, but they didn’t feel like strangers anymore.