Page 11

11

Lyric

S ee? He is already ours.

Jinn has been through a traumatic ordeal. Just because he finds comfort from our touch doesn't mean he's ours.

His heart rate sped up when we took his hand. He couldn't keep his eyes off us as we changed into the strange hospital clothing.

I know, Lyrican. I know. We rescued him. We make him feel safe, but that doesn't mean ? —

He is ours. I feel it.

I'm trying to explain to you that we make him feel safe right now. That does not guarantee any future.

You spoil everything with too much rationalization. Even the flying isn't fun anymore.

Lyrican and I never argued. But then we didn't communicate all that much. In the last two days we'd had more conversation than we'd had in an entire month. He never criticized me. But that last thought of his hit me hard. Did he really think I spoiled things for him? Had he come to resent me?

Right now, Jinn safely slept on the hospital cot with two blankets. I stood by the head of the cot watching over him. It felt perfectly normal for me to do so.

There had been good news about his ankle. It wasn't broken.

One time a nurse came in and said, “Your husband is doing well but we’re waiting on more tests.”

A tinge of guilt flickered when I didn’t correct him.

“What about the police?”

“I don't know anything about that. Sorry.”

Another kind orderly brought me a juice box. Fifteen minutes later, they brought a meal for Jinn. He woke at the clatter.

“I smell food,” he said.

“Yes. We thought maybe you'd like to eat something.” He turned toward me. “Would you like some, too? We can bring in another tray.”

I shook my head. “No.”

The nurse adjusted the cot so the back came up. Jinn was now sitting upright, and the bed tray was wheeled over. The blanket fell from his shoulders making him look more vulnerable and small. His hands came out from the sides of the blanket and he took the lid off his tray.

“Look.” He let out a short laugh, the first time I'd heard that sound from him. “Baked chicken, green beans, and a roll. Ohh and look at that. Jello.”

“Smells wonderful,” I said.

He looked up at me probably to see if I was joking, but I just kept smiling. I was so happy to be by his side and know he was safe.

About halfway through Jinn’s meal, a uniformed officer came through the door.

“Hello, sorry to interrupt. Are you Jinn Trata?”

Jinn nodded.

“Would you still like to make a police report?”

“Yes, sir.”

The officer began asking a barrage of questions. I was proud that Jinn answered each one clearly, without hesitation or fear.

This was the first time I got to hear his whole story, start to finish. My heart lurched in my chest when he said, “He wanted to claim me, but I said no. I did not give consent.”

From then on, Jinn had been stalked relentlessly.

When the officer discovered I had found Jinn, he had questions for me as well. I saw the twitch of his lips when he took down my name. He recognized me. I was used to it. But he didn't ask me any unnecessary questions. I was grateful he kept this strictly professional.

When he was finished, he said, “I think I have everything I need from both of you but if you think of anything else, contact me here.” He handed each of us a card. “I can tell you that we will do everything we can to hunt this dragon down. Our investigation has already begun. I can also tell you that we are familiar with this person and that he does have a record.”

Jinn looked shocked. “He's done this before?”

The officer shrugged. “That's all I can say for now. Do you know if you'll be spending the night here?”

“I don't think so.” Jinn looked up at me.

“I heard the nurses talking about releasing him after you took the report,” I added.

“Do you have anywhere safe to go?” the officer asked. “A parent, a friend, a relative. Somewhere he doesn't know about where you'll be safe.”

I stepped forward. “He can come home with me. I'll make sure he's safe, guaranteed.”

“What?” Jinn turned to me. “Lyric, you don't have to do that. You've already done so much for me. I can't ask for more.”

“Of course, you can go wherever you wish. But I have a big place with security and a very nice guest room just waiting for you. And you didn't ask. I invited you.”

Jinn looked back at the officer. “I guess I do have somewhere safe to go, then.”

“Well, as of now Colt/Coltan is at large. We will keep you updated.” He looked at me. “If I can get your address, sir, we can make sure there's extra security in your neighborhood. I'll have a car drive by every hour. My advice is to stay out of sight as much as possible.”

“But I have work,” Jinn began.

“If you have any sick days, take them. Just my advice,” the officer said.

Jinn bowed his head. “Thank you.”

When the officer left, I put my hand on Jinn's shoulder. “Please come home with me. I know I can keep you safe. I'm invested now. Lyrican and I care what happens to you.”

“Your dragon has very protective instincts,” Jinn replied with a sheepish smile.

“Well, it's an alpha thing, too. I can't deny it. I feel the same way as Lyrican.”

Jinn put his palms up to his face and rubbed hard. “I'm so sorry I got you involved in all this.”

“It's not your fault.” I squeezed his shoulder. “It's Colt's fault. You must remember that. None of this is your fault.”

“I know, but?—”

“But nothing. I would love to have you come stay. My house is big and I rattle around it alone most of the time. If you say no, that's all right. But I will constantly worry.” I leaned down to him. “No pressure.”

“I do feel safe with you, I'll admit. And I really wouldn't want to worry my fathers. It's embarrassing to them that I'm not married with kids yet. They wouldn't understand why I got myself into this situation. And they'd probably blame me.”

“With me there will be no blame. I'm between races right now. I have nothing planned and I told my agent I didn't want to do any interviews right now. We'll see if he booked me anyway.” I rolled my eyes. “But what I'm trying to say is I have time to escort you to and from work if you want to keep going. And I will enjoy having a guest. That's the honest truth.”

“And you're not just being polite?”

“No, Jinn. I honestly welcome your presence.”

The hospital finally released Jinn that afternoon.

Standard procedure was to wheel an outgoing patient out in a wheelchair. I demanded to be the one to do it.

As I was pushing him through the halls past the big waiting room, Jinn turned his head to look at me.

“How are we going to get to your house?”

“Don't you worry. I've got that all taken care of.”

“What do you mean?”

I remained silent as I wheeled him through the glass front doors. There, waiting for us by the ER exit, rumbling softly, was a sleek black limo.

When I wheeled him up to it, his mouth dropped open. “This is for us?”

“Yep.”

“You have a limo?”

“No. I have a service. They take good care of me.”

“That must be nice.” He started to get up.

I came around to the front of the wheelchair and helped him stand as the driver opened the back for us. Jinn got in carefully. I could tell he was still in pain, but the doctor gave us a prescription for that which would be delivered to the house.

The hospital had given Jinn crutches, and I handed them to the driver to put in the back.

I got in behind Jinn, and we settled ourselves in for the ride.

“It's about a twenty-minute drive,” I said.

The car started to move. I reached into the fridge and got us each a cold bottle of water.

“I've got soda, too.”

Jinn shook his head. “Water is enough.”

I can't wait until we get home. He will be our omega now.

You can't keep thinking like that. He's already been through an ordeal with another dragon who thought he owned him. Please watch your thoughts and actions.

I respect and revere omegas. I would never hurt him. But you are always too busy being rational and showing your polite face to the masses. If you paid attention you would see the omega feels the same as we do.

I didn't give him a response. As much as I hoped he was right, Jinn was still very vulnerable. Fragile. It was the wrong time for anyone to fall in love.

I leaned forward. “Remember, you will be my guest. Anything you need will be provided. If you need to go by your place I'll go with you. But remember, the officer recommended against that.”

“I don't feel safe going there. I don't need much. A toothbrush, a comb. Some clothes.”

“I have some of that at my place. What I don't have there, we'll order.”

“I promise, I'll pay you back.”

“No need at all.” I swept my hand through the air. “I will take care of everything. Believe me, it's not a problem or a hardship. And before you say it's such an alpha thing, well maybe that's true, but I want to do this. And I don't want you to worry about a thing except getting better.”

“I hope they catch Colt soon.”

“Me, too.”

I was famous enough and rich enough that I had little choice but to live behind a security gate. My estate was walled. I'd made a few calls from the hospital phone and got extra security for the week. I mostly used computer security but now I thought it would be a good time for some dragon shifter help.

The gate opened and we were met by a hulking armed alpha. I got out of the car to shake hands.

“Sir, good to see you,” he said.

I recognized him as David. He’d worked as my bodyguard in the past. He and his team were trustworthy.

“Hi, David. I'm glad you could come at such short notice.”

“No problem. We understand the situation and have the place covered from land to sky.”

“Thank you. If you'll look inside the back here, I want you to meet my guest. His name is Jinn and he'll be staying here for a few days while he recovers from a few injuries.”

Jinn gave a little wave.

David said, “Good to meet you, Jinn.”

“Nice to meet you, too.”

I got back into the limo, and we drove up to the front porch. I barely saw my property. I had my eyes focused on the front door and getting Jinn inside and safe and settled.

But Jinn was all wide-eyed, leaning back and forth to peer out the windows.

“This place is huge. And so lush. It must be wonderful for Lyrican and you to shift here.”

“It is very private. We both enjoy it.”

“How long have you lived here?”

“About five years now. We had another nice place before that, but Lyrican wanted a more rural space with more acreage. It's my dragon who wins all the races, so I can't really deny him much. I got it for him.”

When the driver opened the doors for us, I got out first, then helped Jinn exit. The driver grabbed the crutches and brought them to Jinn. He balanced himself on them and leaned forward and looked up at me.

“One more new thing to get used to.”

“It's all temporary," I said.

And I meant it. The injuries, the crutches, the threat of Colt.

But as for having Jinn as my guest, living with me in my home, I couldn't help but echo Lyrican’s hopes that that part of the deal might not be as temporary.