Page 60 of Daughter of Druids

Bal hesitated, a torn look marring his otherwise perfect features. “Just hear me out, please. I’m sorry to just show up like this.”

“I’ve been calling you.”

“It’s not secure anymore.”

“Well then, how did you find out where I live?And break in?” Nayome dragged out the last words, as she slowly circled around to the far end of her living room, putting as much distance between her and Bal as possible. He had been waiting at her kitchen island, and was standing now—hesitation keeping him from moving any closer to her.

“Gabe knows.”

Those simple words sent Nayome’s world crashing in on itself. “You told him?” Nayome whispered, fear replaced the hollow look in her eyes.

Wincing, Bal couldn’t seem to find the words to defend himself. Probably because there weren’t any. “Nayome—”

“You promised.”

“I know I did, and I’m sorry. Please listen to me though, the situation has gone too far, we have someone with an in, monitoring the agency’s case files. And there is something else—”

“Bal, if Gabe gets to my head, I could be brain dead…arguably worse than anything the FBI would do to me if they found out I was…whatever I am.”

“Nayome, he wouldn’t, not once he see’s who you are.”

“No. This is all too much, I’m not cut out for all this. I thought once I got back to New York things would go back to normal. I want out. I take everything I said to you back, about finding answers. I want out of all this.”

“Nayome.” Bal looked pained, like he wished he could grant her that wish. “It’s too late for that.”

Shaking her head, backing up against the wall, Nayome was struggling to find words. “Just leave, please.” She hated the way she sounded, vulnerable, almost begging. Her head snapped around, eyes widening like a deer in the headlights at the sudden sound of a powerful knock on her door.

Glancing back frantically at Bal, she could see the answer to her unvoiced question in his eyes. Shaking her head in denial, she reached up, clutching desperately at the only comfort she had left in this world, the warm piece of amber strung around her neck.

“I wanted to warn you, before he got here—Gabe said he would give us a few minutes before coming in.” Bal looked sick, like he genuinely hated what he was doing to her. Nayome felt like an idiot. She should have known. It had been insane of her to think he would keep her secret from his own people, that he would protect her from Gabe.

“Nayome, I promise you; Gabe isn’t here to hurt you. We need to talk, to figure out a way to protect you.”

“Protectme?” It came out as a cynical laugh, as Nayome caught a glimpse of Gabe’s impossibly wide shoulders slipping in her door, his large frame filling the space of her small foyer.

“Nayome, I am pleased to see you have kept well.” Gabe spoke slowly as he approached, hands out in the universal sign ofI come in peace.

“Stay away from me,” Nayome said, the words coming out like a growl as she backed up until she butted into the door jam of her bedroom.Nowhere to go. Gabe halted his progress forward, leaving most of the length of her living room between them.

“Balfor has told me his suspicions of your lineage,” he said, and Nayome thought his attempt to speak softly did nothing to cover up the menace in his ice blue stare. “If there is some truth to it…well, it is important that we keep you safe.”

Nayome eyed him, remembering the feeling of his compulsion manipulating her thoughts. “You don’t believe him, though,” she said, watching Gabe’s reaction closely. “What happens if I’m just a human who knows too much?”

“Nayome, please rest assured that I do not wish to do you any harm.”

“But you will. If you have to.”

Gabe looked consideringly at her, and she was surprised when he responded in the affirmative, giving her a curt nod. “Yes. If it comes down to it, I will always do what I must to protect my people.”

Nayome didn’t know what to make of that, but was oddly reassured that he was at least being honest with her. Even if he was honestly telling her he would wipe her mind clean if necessary.

“Nayome. Time is of the essence,” Gabe continued, not waiting for her to respond to his threat. “We have sources that indicate the FBI has put forward a motion requesting you be brought in for formal questioning. A warrant has already been submitted requesting permission to search your premises, confiscate your property.” Gabe sounded matter of fact, as though he wasn’t used to people questioning anything when he laid down the facts.

Nayome blinked a few times, trying to process what he was saying and keep the maximum amount of distance between them, as Gabe took another step into the room. “What…how could you possibly know that?”

“Whether you are one of us, or a human who knows too much—we can’t allow them to take you in. Your mental defenses are impressive, so even if I attempted to take your memories, I couldn’t be sure it would stick. You need to come with us.”

“No,” Nayome said, shaking her head violently back and forth in denial.Over my dead body, I’m not going back with them.

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