match the mischief in her eyes.
Jolaj stood patiently by the drink display and listened as Ajak answered the detective’s questions with discretion. He didn’t reveal the true nature of the relationship between Oz and the human girl despite O’Leary’s expert interrogation.
When all the questions had been asked, Ajak turned to Jolaj. “Sir, Agent Rowan believes Oz could be in danger.”
Jolaj weighed his words carefully. “I will do my best to ensure his safety.”
Ajak nodded his acceptance then looked to Lily. “And will the friend of my descendants be a friend to us all?”
She stepped closer to him. “I will always be a friend to those who would honor all that I honor.”
Jolaj was shocked to hear her use the translation of the formal pledge of his people.
She stretched out her right hand. It was steady, but Jolaj wasn’t fooled. She was wound tight in expectation of touching the boy. “I hope to always call you friend.”
Ajak returned the greeting, loosely gripping her hand. Jolaj wanted to move closer, to be there to hold her if her fear overtook her. IT was a foolish notion. He was only likely to frighten her more, so he stood still and silent as the boy’s retracted claws pressed lightly against her skin.
She kept a smile on her face, but she shivered at the touch. The sight heated his blood with a territorial hunger he had no right to indulge. Despite his best efforts he couldn’t stop himself from going to her. Stepping clear of the gold and green display, he wrapped his hand around her arm, needing to urge her away from the younger male.
Her breathing changed, stalling in her chest as her cheeks washed palest white. Jolaj released her instantly and took a step back. For a single moment, he had forgotten her needs and remembered only his own.
Some humans feared the Ormney instinctively as any predator fears another larger, stronger predator. As any person feared the unknown. But he knew her fright was all the more powerful for the real knowledge she kept of his people. He had seen the silver/white scars covering her belly and splashed across her breasts and arms. She knew too well of their primitive natures. Their bodies and instincts had been meant for a more primitive environment, just as his heated reaction to the sight of an unmated female touching an unmated male belonged to a less civil society.
Damn the inappropriate genetics. May their descendants avoid such unseemly struggles.
“Lily?” Detective O’Leary stepped squarely between them. “You okay?”
“Yes.” Her voice shook with the single syllable.
Sean cleared his throat. “Ah, I’m going to head back over to the crime scene. You want to walk over with me?”
“No,” said Lily. “I’m going to visit the shop lav then I’ll catch up.”
“I can wait.” A threat meant only for him, lay beneath O’Leary’s clipped response.
“Go on. I’m fine.” Lily waved her reluctant cousin away.
The man didn’t budge. “Do what you need to do, I’m not going anywhere without you.”
Lily grabbed O’Leary’s arm and led him toward the door. “I’m fine and so is the Law Keeper. I’ll explain later.”
They argued a minute more, the detective glancing his way at every break in the conversation. Jolaj hid his hands behind his back and did his best to look unthreatening. He was tempted to grab a few of the drinks and juggle them like a street performer. He hadn’t heard her desire for him to leave in any of her words. When Sean did leave, Lily waited for the store staff to wander back to their tasks and Jolaj encouraged Ajak to make his deliveries. They would talk later.
Lily caught Jolaj off guard when she appeared in front of him and reached up to grab a fistful of his tunic. She yanked hard, pulling his face down close to hers.
“Now, you want to tell me where in hell Oz is?” Anger flashed in her eyes even as her words shuddered under breathless fear.
“I don’t—”
“Wrong answer,” she snapped.
Jolaj stood patiently by the drink display and listened as Ajak answered the detective’s questions with discretion. He didn’t reveal the true nature of the relationship between Oz and the human girl despite O’Leary’s expert interrogation.
When all the questions had been asked, Ajak turned to Jolaj. “Sir, Agent Rowan believes Oz could be in danger.”
Jolaj weighed his words carefully. “I will do my best to ensure his safety.”
Ajak nodded his acceptance then looked to Lily. “And will the friend of my descendants be a friend to us all?”
She stepped closer to him. “I will always be a friend to those who would honor all that I honor.”
Jolaj was shocked to hear her use the translation of the formal pledge of his people.
She stretched out her right hand. It was steady, but Jolaj wasn’t fooled. She was wound tight in expectation of touching the boy. “I hope to always call you friend.”
Ajak returned the greeting, loosely gripping her hand. Jolaj wanted to move closer, to be there to hold her if her fear overtook her. IT was a foolish notion. He was only likely to frighten her more, so he stood still and silent as the boy’s retracted claws pressed lightly against her skin.
She kept a smile on her face, but she shivered at the touch. The sight heated his blood with a territorial hunger he had no right to indulge. Despite his best efforts he couldn’t stop himself from going to her. Stepping clear of the gold and green display, he wrapped his hand around her arm, needing to urge her away from the younger male.
Her breathing changed, stalling in her chest as her cheeks washed palest white. Jolaj released her instantly and took a step back. For a single moment, he had forgotten her needs and remembered only his own.
Some humans feared the Ormney instinctively as any predator fears another larger, stronger predator. As any person feared the unknown. But he knew her fright was all the more powerful for the real knowledge she kept of his people. He had seen the silver/white scars covering her belly and splashed across her breasts and arms. She knew too well of their primitive natures. Their bodies and instincts had been meant for a more primitive environment, just as his heated reaction to the sight of an unmated female touching an unmated male belonged to a less civil society.
Damn the inappropriate genetics. May their descendants avoid such unseemly struggles.
“Lily?” Detective O’Leary stepped squarely between them. “You okay?”
“Yes.” Her voice shook with the single syllable.
Sean cleared his throat. “Ah, I’m going to head back over to the crime scene. You want to walk over with me?”
“No,” said Lily. “I’m going to visit the shop lav then I’ll catch up.”
“I can wait.” A threat meant only for him, lay beneath O’Leary’s clipped response.
“Go on. I’m fine.” Lily waved her reluctant cousin away.
The man didn’t budge. “Do what you need to do, I’m not going anywhere without you.”
Lily grabbed O’Leary’s arm and led him toward the door. “I’m fine and so is the Law Keeper. I’ll explain later.”
They argued a minute more, the detective glancing his way at every break in the conversation. Jolaj hid his hands behind his back and did his best to look unthreatening. He was tempted to grab a few of the drinks and juggle them like a street performer. He hadn’t heard her desire for him to leave in any of her words. When Sean did leave, Lily waited for the store staff to wander back to their tasks and Jolaj encouraged Ajak to make his deliveries. They would talk later.
Lily caught Jolaj off guard when she appeared in front of him and reached up to grab a fistful of his tunic. She yanked hard, pulling his face down close to hers.
“Now, you want to tell me where in hell Oz is?” Anger flashed in her eyes even as her words shuddered under breathless fear.
“I don’t—”
“Wrong answer,” she snapped.
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