Page 65 of Dealing With Drak

We’ll never know what his next move might have been because before he can open his mouth, the knife in his hand falls to the ground, and he’s yanked back while Caleb is pushed forward. In a blink, I rush to my brother’s side, helping him catch his balance before he falls.

Behind him, I watch in pure relief as Drak rips the man’s throat out, not even giving him a second to scream. His body drops to the ground with an unpleasant splat, and I ignore the sight entirely, pulling Caleb close.

“You’re okay,” I exclaim, squeezing him tight. Pulling back, I punch him in the arm hard, and then hug him even tighter. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, you fucking asshole!”

He doesn’t flinch in pain, only wraps his arms around me in return.

“I can’t believe… how are you here?”

“I just told you I’ve been scouring the damn planet for you.” I feel myself starting to get choked up.

“The sorority—” he starts.

“They’re all fine. How long have you been here?” I don’t let go of him all the way but enough to look up at his dirty face. “You need a fucking shower.”

Seriously, he’s sweaty and probably hasn’t bathed in days.

If he smelled like this on a normal day in some alternate universe where the apocalypse never took place and I was just at home visiting, I’d probably chase his ass down with a hose. But right now? I hardly care how bad he stinks. I’m just relieved to see him.

Caleb bubbles with a hearty laugh. But his eyes track movement behind me, and he blinks like he’s just noticing Drak. I don’t know how it’s possible that he didn’t register the violence from moments before, but it seems that he’s realizing now. His spine straightens, and I can tell he’s about to put up his guard.

“What the fuck? Anna?—”

“It’s fine, he’s with me,” I rush out, grabbing his arms so he can’t reach for the gun I know he has hidden behind his back, tucked under his shirt. “I know it’s going to sound insane but you’re not seeing things. He’s not a monster he’s my—fuck, this is difficult to explain.”

“He?” Caleb balks. “That’s a person?”

I grip his arms harder in warning. “Yes, and he just saved your ass! He’s the only reason I’m here, too, so you better be nice to him. Just… trust me, okay?”

“He’s eight feet tall!” Looking behind himself now, he assesses the damage from our attacker. “Jesus, did he rip that guy’s throat out with his hands?”

Yes, he did.

Drak ripped a human man’s neck right from his head and body without breaking a sweat to save my brother, and I’ve never loved him more. He could have shot him from afar easily, but he didn’t. He made the kill gruesome so that it was personal. He single-handedly assured that that man died with fear in his heart for scaring me.

“More like seven something,” I argue then shake my head. “And it doesn’t matter. He won’t hurt us. He’s from another planet?—”

My brother’s eyebrows jump to his hairline. “What kind of drugs are you on?”

“Oh, so zombies can be real but aliens can’t?” I snark, glaring at him. “Would you just trust me? His name is Drak, and he’s my boyfriend, so watch your mouth about him.”

“He’s your what?”

I groan, reaching up to pinch the bridge of my nose. “Drak, come here please.”

Caleb moves to take a step back but halts at the look I level him with.

“Trust. Me,” I repeat.

My mate slowly comes to my side, towering over my brother and me. He still has blood splattered on his chest and hands, but he tries to muster a non-threatening smile.

“Hello, hu-nim Cay-leb,” Drak says in near-perfect English. His soul seed is glowing once more, and I smile at the sight of it. “I am sorry to have frightened you.”

Caleb’s eyes are wide, but he doesn’t run away. “Hi?”

“Do you see the way his chest is glowing?” I ask my brother.

“Kind of hard to miss, sis.”

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