Page 38 of Liar For Hire (For Hire 1)

“It has in the form of folktales and myths. People have written books about us, but from a fictional perspective.”

“Ah okay.” She thought about Skip and wondered how long Declan and his people would stay in the shadows.

“There were some among our people who believed that we should come out in the open and live as superior to the humans.”

“You don’t mean rule us?” She drew back a little.

“In essence, yes.”

“We can’t fly, but we’re not inferior. Don’t tell me they think you’re some type of evolutionary advanced race or whatever the stupid theory.”

He snorted. “Something like that. But my parents believed in peace above all else, as did my brother and me.”

“Your brother?” Her stomach roiled.

“He’s gone.”

She clutched his hands, willing strength into him to keep talking. It might help him heal in some small way. To lose his entire family, she didn’t know how she would have come back from that.

“We avoided fighting at all costs, and some thought we were cowards for that view.”

“Patrick.”

“Yes, he will do whatever he feels is necessary to get his way, even resort to cruelty. The funny thing is, he believed in our people living separate from the humans as well.”

“Then why is he your enemy?”

“Because of his ambition. He believes my parents were weak, and he wanted their position.”

Declan swiveled his head toward the door and retracted his wings. A few moments later, she heard someone coming down the hall. The door opened, and Carl appeared. “Come out.”

They were escorted to a dining room, arranged with fancy place settings. Patrick sat at the head of the table, the woman he brought with him to Janessa’s right, and another man she didn’t know at his left.

Declan didn’t argue about joining them, so neither did Janessa. The scent of food stirred her appetite, and because Declan was there, she felt okay to eat. Not that her fears had subsided. She worried about what Patrick would do to Declan since he wanted to rule. If nothing else, she figured they could go down together, fighting.

Oh yeah, I can get the better of dragons. No problem.

Patrick smiled at the two of them. “You’re my guests. Please eat all you like. Enjoy.”

Janessa glared at him, and Patrick pretended she thanked him kindly.

“Has Declan been filling you in on our history, Janessa? We go back a long way.”

“Don’t pretend you’re old buddies,” she snapped. “I know you want to kill him so you can rule.”

“Not at all. I mean he has no use to me for fighting and protecting our people, mind you.” He paused to let the insult sink in. Janessa burned up inside because Patrick’s smile didn’t waver one bit. “His lineage is respected. He’s still one of us.”

“Perhaps if you set up a school,” the woman suggested, “he could teach ancient history.”

Declan surged to his feet, baring sharp pointed teeth. The skin around his eyes grew craggy and shimmery. “Don’t push me.”

“Or what?” Patrick said.

Declan took in the men standing all about the room, as well as those that had also taken a seat at the table. A muscle in his jaw tensed, and his eyes shot burning silver at Patrick as he took his time sitting down. “I don’t care what you do with me, but you will not hurt Janessa. Let her go.”

“Now why would I let your mate go, Declan?” Still the pleasant tone of voice. “She is your mate, isn’t she? I would think you would want her by your side forever.”

“She’s not my mate.”

---