Chapter21: Slipping of tongue

LORRY SPRINGSTONE'S/KELLY THOMPSON'S POV The shapeshifter's gaze softens almost imperceptibly as it lands on Eden. Our boy, usually so boisterous, is uncharacteristically quiet, clinging to my leg. "I see," she says, her voice losing some of its edge. "And what makes you think you'll find safety here?" "We've heard rumors," I say cautiously, "of a neutral territory. A place where different species coexist peacefully. We hoped..." I then made up, crossing my fingers for the shapeshifter to believe me. The latter looks at me with a mixture of skepticism and curiosity.  "Rumors," she repeats, her lips curving into a slight smile. "Interesting. And how exactly did these rumors reach your ears?" I hesitate, unsure how much to reveal. Jason squeezes my hand, a silent way to tell me to be cautious with the choice of my words.  "A sympathetic witch," I clarify. "She helped us escape and pointed us in this direction." The shapeshifter's eyebrows rise.  "A witch? Now that is unexpected." She the