Page 29 of Stryker
“Jeans. A black shirt. Her hair was loose and almost curly.” I thought about that day as hard as I could. “She had a stamp on her hand.” I motioned like I was writing with my hands. “I’ll draw it if you have paper and a pen.”
He pulled a little notebook out of his pocket and offered me a pen. I quickly sketched the ink pattern from memory and offered it back to him. “That’s all I know, I’m sorry.”
He inclined his head. “Thank you.” He turned to the guy behind him that was eyeing us both with an unreadable expression.
“Please protect my family. They’re innocent. They know nothing at all about any of you or what you are.” I didn’t care that I was begging him. I needed to know my family would be safe.
He nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
“Can you persuade them to go easy on Stryker? He was just doing what he thought was best.” I did my best to let the truth and honesty shine through so he could feel it. I prayed I was right about his skill. I begged the powers that be to protect those I loved.
He hesitated, his opalescent eyes darting back and forth between mine. His head tilted a little bit to the side and he gave a little hint of a nod. “I’ll try.”
“Thank you. You can do this now.” I clung to Stryker.
“You aren’t going to beg for your life to be spared?” Draco sounded confused.
I glanced at him over my shoulder. “No. Why would I? I understand why this is happening.”
He walked toward me so quickly I swallowed hard and gripped Stryker as tightly as I could. His hand grabbed my arm and he turned me around, so I leaned back against unconscious dragon. “You spoke to me like you knew. You know what I can do, my personal skill, I can feel it.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t think that was it.”
He scanned the curious faces around us then leaned in close to me. “You know if you begged, you could influence me. Just like you influenced me by pointing out my flaws.”
I didn’t understand. Was he telling me to beg? They already had their minds made up. Why bother? “I’m not going to beg.”
He let out a growl of frustration and turned to his brothers. “She’s given me invaluable information. I formally request a stay of execution until I’ve had enough time to make sure she’s not holding onto information she doesn’t realize is important.”
The men glanced at one another, then at me. I shifted uncomfortably.
“Temporary stay of execution granted, but pending elder approval.” The Norse-god type guy popped out of existence and suddenly, all of them were gone. Only Stryker, Draco, and the dragon that Stryker battled still remained.
“Why did you do that?” I asked. “I told you everything. You knew that. Youliedto them.”
Draco lifted both shoulders. “So far Stryker has saved my ass no fewer than four times. I’ve come to trust his judgment. If he sees something in you, then I’m backing him.”
“I thought you were his mentor. Shouldn’t you be saving him?”
Draco’s lips curved into a grin. “I can see why he likes you. Let’s get inside. These guys will wake up soon enough.”
I shook my head. “I’m not going anywhere.” I belonged at his side until he woke up. I needed to be here when he woke up, because I knew he’d panic. He’d search for me. And likely figure out where I was pretty quickly, but something in me whispered that I belonged at his side. And I listened.
Draco bowed his head. “I see.
“Thank you, for everything.” I curled into Stryker’s side. “Will you take care of him when I’m gone? Please?”
“I’ll do my best.” Draco nodded, then his gaze ticked to the sleeping dragon behind me. “Thank you for not outing me.”
“Not outing you?” I stared at him, confused.
“My talent. You didn’t even tell Stryker. I could feel that, you know. And you chose your words carefully when speaking before my brothers.” His attention shifted to me, those opalescent blue eyes of his reflecting the light.
“He said you’re a private bunch and it wasn’t my place to say anything.” I laughed. “Honestly, I just thought you were a glorified lie detector. Like you’d ask pointed questions and when I answered you could tell if it was the truth or not.”
“Close.” He grinned, showing off perfect white teeth. “It’s that, but more. It’s not that I know you’re telling the truth or lying. I feel what you’re feeling. And while it would tell me if you’re lying or not, it does so much more.”
He sat down in the dirt a few feet away from Stryker’s front talons. “When you told me I was the bad guy, I felt that radiating off you. It fucked with my head. And I went home, knowing I needed to figure out how to help Stryker… and you.”
