Every moment passed with heightened awareness, deeper suspicion, faster reflexes . . . and frazzled nerves. He had to pay attention to everything. But the stranger who reached out for him from the dim alley was a real master at stealth. The man touched his arm, and Eduard leaped aside, ready to whirl and fight, if necessary. “Whoa, I'm not one of them!” the man snapped in a whisper. “Don't make a scene. Someone will notice.” Eduard had learned the danger of drawing attention to himself. He froze. “What do you want?” “Been watching you, rabbit. Come on, I want to save you—and protect myself.” The man had an average body, plain clothes, unremarkable features, and very, very bright eyes. “You're good, but not good enough.” Grasping Eduard's elbow, the stranger led him toward the alley's private dimness. “You've got the potential to be one of us. Potential. But they're huntin' hard, and you could make it come crashing down. Can't let that happen. Gotta teach you what you've gotten yourself into, otherwise you muck it up.”
