Page 59 of The Edge of Dawn

And perhaps, protective.

Her gaze traveled across the cabin. She didn’t see much at all except for darkness… until she saw him.

Her breath caught.

How could she have missed him?

Against the dark wall, he was a starkly luminous contrast. His silver-pale skin almost seemed to glow in the dim light. He looked serene, but as she locked eyes with him, his nostrils flared ever so slightly, and she swore a little tremor coursed through him, so faint she could barely detect it.

Somehow, he was different.

It was as if some line had been crossed, but she didn’t understand what that line was.

“How long was I asleep?” Her voice came out harsher than she’d intended.

“Long enough for you to get the rest you needed,” he rumbled.

“You were watching me the whole time?”

“Would you be upset if I said I was?”

To her surprise, she wasn’t. If it were anyone else, she might have found it a little creepy, but this was Dragek.

Funny how she almost felt like she could trust him with her life.

“No, it isn’t that. I’m just surprised you would spend so long watching over me. Don’t you have… um, duties to attend to?”

“Not at the moment,” he shrugged. “Although I inevitably will.”

Jade was taken aback by how relaxed he seemed. He was acting as if he had nothing better to do than sit watching her while she slept.

His legs were crossed. He was still barefoot and bare-chested, his long, dark hair flowing over his shoulders. He looked like he’d just come out of some deep meditation.

Jade rose to her feet. The restraints that had crossed her chest during the flight were gone, allowing her freedom of movement.

“Wait.” But before she could stand properly, Dragek moved so fast he became a silver-and-black blur. Suddenly, he was at her side, putting one arm around her waist and draping her good arm across his shoulders.

How did he move so fast?

Not even the most talented and highly trained human athlete or martial artist could move like that.

Not in a million years.

She was truly amongst others now.

“You should not put weight on your foot yet,” Dragek growled, sounding a little like her mother. “Medic’s orders, remember? There is a machine that will help transport you from here. Let me summon it.”

She was powerless to stop the flush that spread across her cheeks as he took her weight, almost lifting her off her feet. Her heart pummelled wildly. She couldn’t help but lean into him, intensely aware of his warmth and his masculine scent.

Stars, she was getting used to this—even if she didn’t quite know what this was.

“What’s going to happen to me now?” She tried to regain her bearings by focusing on what was right in front of her. Knowing was the only thing she had any semblance of control over right now.

Dragek stopped just short of lifting her into his arms again. She almost wished he would.

Don’t be ridiculous.

The pain medication must have made her a little delirious.

---