Drantos Read online

  “He’s probably used to dealing with the nut job and just placates him. It’s what you do. How many times have you visited Greg, only to find him wearing his metal helmet so aliens can’t feel his presence or some such nonsense? You actually told him you found an alien-free zone to trick him into going to see his doctor, so they could admit him to the hospital and put him back on his medication until he was stable again. You even wore one of his spare helmets to drive him so he felt secure that they couldn’t read your mind to find him.”

  “He wouldn’t get in my car otherwise.”

  “But you do it. That’s my point. And he’s just your friend. Kraven and Drantos are brothers. He probably just plays along when Drantos is having an episode of whatever the hell is wrong with him. At least he’s still functional. He helped set up this camp and built a fire pit. I bet Greg would be screaming that aliens were going to kidnap us if he were with us right now, and trying to make another helmet out of the plane wreckage.”

  She couldn’t deny that. “I—”

  “We have enough wood to last us all night.” Drantos suddenly dropped to his knees on the edge of Dusti’s spread-out blanket. He shot her a warning glance before he turned his full attention on her sister. “The temperatures are going to drop lower tonight but everyone will be fine with the fire burning. What were you two talking about?”

  “Dusti is worried about her friend at home. She likes to call him every day to make sure he’s okay, but of course she can’t since we’re here. He’s sickly. I was just telling her someone else would check in on him,” Bat said without missing a beat. “It’s so cold already. Don’t tell me it’ll get worse?” Bat changed the subject and wrapped her arms around her waist, hugging her middle. “The wind is already icy.”

  Movement had all of them glancing toward the woods in time to watch Kraven step out of the darkness. He’d gone to clean up after cooking the deer. He strode to the pile of things taken from the destroyed plane, bent, grabbed two blankets, and then approached. He spread one of them on the ground.

  “The area is secure. There’s nothing near us that could become a danger.” He winked at his brother. “The bear didn’t enjoy being chased off but he’s far north now.”

  “Bear?” Bat’s eyes widened with alarm. “Will it come back and attack? Some of these people are injured. Won’t the smell of blood attract it to come investigate?”

  “He won’t return.” Kraven shoved the other blanket under one arm. “I’m wiped out.”

  “It’s been a long day,” Drantos agreed. “We’ll get up early and reevaluate the situation.”

  Kraven sat down on his blanket and dropped the rolled one next to his lap. He peeled off his leather jacket next. In seconds, he’d bunched it into a ball to shove behind him. He completely ignored the women while he spoke to his brother.

  “The search-and-rescue teams will easily spot this mess from above. I tracked back and there’s a lot of damage to the trees. They can’t miss it.”

  “We need to make a decision then.” Drantos motioned his head in the direction of the survivors. “Stay or go? You know he’ll have heard the news by now and sent out his enforcers to find them.”

  “I was thinking the same.” Kraven sighed. “We’ll leave at dawn before they can find the site. We’ll have to move fast. They’ll be tracking us as soon as they realize some of us are missing.”

  Drantos nodded. “It’s going to be rough.”

  “What are you talking about?” Bat frowned. “Are you wanted by the police? You’re plotting to take off before the rescue teams arrive, aren’t you?”

  Both brothers turned their attention on Bat, silently regarding her. Dusti opened her mouth to tell her sister to shut up. She was afraid Bat would set them off somehow and make the situation worse. Bat spoke again before she could.

  She blew out a breath. “I’m a defense attorney. I can help.”

  Dusti’s mouth sagged open in surprise, then outrage. “You’re offering to represent them? Really?”

  “It’s what I do, and while I didn’t appreciate getting manhandled, they did get banged up in the crash trying to protect us. And the meal was good too. It beat eating those tiny cookie and nut packages we found on the plane.” Bat shrugged.

  “I just…” Dusti stopped talking before she blurted out that she’d just informed her sister that Drantos was off his meds. She worried he’d have some kind of meltdown if he realized she’d shared his secret.

  Bat smoothed things over. “You know who my clients are, Dusti. It’s what I do. They have the constitutional right of being represented in a court of law, even if they are guilty. I know the justice system is flawed but everyone deserves the best defense possible. Innocent until proven guilty. Ring any bells?” Bat lifted her chin, her gaze narrowing on her sister. “I know you hate my job but I’m damn good at it. I’d defend Greg if he hurt someone.”

  She shouldn’t be surprised by her sister offering her services. At least she’d have a good defense for Drantos—insanity. “I know that.” Dusti sighed. “I’m tired. It’s been an awful day and I just want to get some sleep.”

  “Good idea.” Drantos suddenly shifted his position and slid to his hands and knees, facing Dusti. “Move over and make room for me on the blanket.”

  “What?” She gaped at him.

  “The temperature is going to drop more within a few hours. Take off my jacket, we’ll use it for a pillow, and I’ll keep you warm.”

  “I’m not sleeping with you!”

  Those strangely beautiful eyes of his seemed to glow for a split second again. It startled Dusti and made her realize she hadn’t just imagined seeing it in the woods.

  “You are.” His voice deepened. “Lie down on your side after you take off my jacket. My body heat will keep you warm if I spoon with you. My brother and I are going to make sure both of you make it through the night.”

  “Hell no,” Kraven groaned. “They can keep their own body heat.”

  “They can’t.” Drantos stretched out beside Dusti and literally pushed her over a few inches to make room for him. “You know they need us.”

  Kraven clenched his teeth, the muscles in his jaw tensing visibly. “I’ll trade you.”

  Drantos seemed to ignore the comment, instead arching an eyebrow at Dusti. “Take the jacket off now and lie down.”

  “No.”

  The blue of his eyes turned colder. “Now. You and I are going to curl up and get some rest together. You will allow me to hold you to keep you warm.”

  A shiver ran down her spine at his raspy, deep tone. Fear had her moving to do as he’d ordered. She removed his warm jacket. She shivered again, this time from the cold, and handed it to him.

  “Wait a minute,” Bat protested. She gasped in the next instant.

  Dusti swung her head to stare where her sister had been, only to find her gone. She turned her head farther and spotted Bat flat on her back with Kraven stretched out next to her. He had one thigh over her sister’s legs and his hand cupped her face. They seemed to be staring at each other, faces inches apart. She couldn’t be sure though, since she couldn’t see Kraven’s eyes. But he had obviously put her sister in that position and had her pinned.

  “He won’t hurt her. He’s just going to keep her warm and quiet until she falls asleep.” Drantos gripped Dusti’s arm to force her to face him. “Don’t make me control you too. You wouldn’t like it, and I wouldn’t either.”

  “You’re threatening to hurt me? You said you wouldn’t do that.” Fear shot up her spine.

  He suddenly sat up and gripped her head. His long fingers curled around the back of her neck while his face drew closer. She stared into his gaze and saw the blue of his irises seem to lighten, turning a brighter shade. His hot breath fanned her lips when he leaned closer until their noses lightly touched. She couldn’t look away from his incredible eyes. They stunned and frightened her at the same time. Eyes shouldn’t change colors that way.

  “I’m strong-blooded a