Page 57 of The Edge of Dawn

She wasn’t an assassin, accustomed to stealth.

She was protected.

This was Noali, Ashrael’s mate.

Dragek hadn’t actually spoken to her before, but he knew who she was. He’d sensed her presence countless times.

She was coming to meet Jade, no doubt. Actually, she would be the most suitable one to take over Jade’s care from here on in.

So why was it that he felt so selfish right now?

He didn’t want to let the human go just yet.

He wanted to savor this moment for a little longer, to keep her all to himself.

Besides, she was sleeping so peacefully, and after all that she’d been through, her fragile human body needed the rest.

So he reached out to the formidable human with his mindvoice. Can’t it wait? She is asleep.

Oh, hello, Dragek. It’s nice to meet you too. I’ve heard a lot about you. Her reply was calm and unflappable; she certainly wasn’t intimidated by him. I suppose it can wait. Based on what Ash has told me, I’m guessing she’s awfully tired, and you don’t want to disturb her rest.

Something like that. She is sleeping deeply.

Well, I suppose that’s reasonable… and rather considerate of you. I’ll be nearby, then. Why don’t you watch over her and call me when she’s ready?

Very well. But answer me something.

Yes, Dragek?

Not too long ago, I was sent to kill one of your kind. And now you’re leaving this… untrained, valuable human under my watch. Why are you and your people so trusting of me all of a sudden?

Dragek… Noali’s mindvoice softened a fraction. We understand that you weren’t acting of your own accord. Believe me, as Ash’s mate, I can understand a little of what that would have been like. I have already looked into your soul and gotten a sense of your intentions. I know you wouldn’t hurt that woman.

Dragek’s surprise spilled over. Peered into his soul? When had she done such a thing?

Because surely, he would have felt it.

You may go now, Noali, he growled, bristling, indignant, drawing the protective cloak of his ka’qui around both Jade and himself. I’ll alert you when she’s ready. Until then, she is not to be disturbed.

It’s all right, Dragek. I understand.

And with that, the human left him to become lost in his thoughts and this newfound feeling of slow-burning arousal, which was barely contained for now, and only because he was so very good at control.

This… it couldn’t last forever.

It was merely a fleeting moment; an anomaly in the shifting tide of his existence.

Sooner or later, there would be a disturbance, a threat. He wasn’t psychic; he just understood how the Universe worked.

And Tarak al Akkadian would call upon him to do the very thing he’d been created for.

At least this time, he might agree with the motivations.

A faint sigh escaped his lips as he looked down at his very own hands—battle-scarred, blade-callused, stained with enough blood to darken the stars.

Of course he wouldn’t hurt her.

But would Jade be so trusting of him if she knew what he truly was?

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