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People, like Wyn and Gia, Preterns, as many had taken to calling the people who were something other than human, weren’t even safe to walk down a city sidewalk in some places. There were entire states in this country where it was no longer illegal to kill a person—assuming the person wasn’t human. There were even laws being put into place to protect citizens who claimed they had a valid fear that their would-be attacker might have been either Pretern or a Pretern ‘sympathizer’.
It was like people couldn’t learn from history, no matter how bloody the wars, no matter how high the death toll.
Those laws were part of the reason Gia longed to return to return to Europe. In some places, her kind were protected while only a small minority of the population were bigoted monsters like the men Rand had led in his attempt to cleanse this region.
They’d already had their war between species and it had been brutal and ugly. Survivors from the last one still lived and it was required learning in nearly every European country that students study those wars, go to the battlegrounds, learn the tolls of those wars. Europe, at least, was still a sanctuary for non-humans.
But if those like her who could pass as human remained hiding, those strong enough to stand and fight chose to hide instead, what would happen to the more vulnerable, like Wyn?
“I don’t know what will happen to your mother, sweet,” she said, brushing Amy’s hair back before shifting her gaze to the boy. “But I’ll make sure they understand why she acted as she did. And I’ll make sure neither of you are alone.”
Tears burned in his eyes, and an understanding that he might end up alone far too soon—alone in a way nobody could fix.
Gia had been alone in such a fashion most of her adult life. She wouldn’t wish such on a child. But she wouldn’t lie and tell him he was wrong.
Children, especially those with a little bit of Fae in them, could see through lies much easier than one might expect.
“This storm won’t pass any time soon.”
The dragon shifter’s voice was like crushed rocks and velvet, all at once. Fighting a shiver of reaction, she peered at him across Amy’s body.
Yes. He had indeed gone to fetch clothing. He’d found somebody similar in stature, but he was either broader through the shoulders and more defined in the chest or the unwitting donor had simply liked his t-shirts very, very tight, because the dragon’s human form strained the seams of the shirt in a very...appealing fashion. Her eyesight, keen even in the low light, took in the drab olive color and noted the combat fatigues and boots, laced up neatly. He must have found clean gear in somebody’s pack because she smelled only the faintest scent of the previous owner, and nothing of death on the material.
He wore rogue militia casual rather well.
She found herself wishing he was still striding around naked, though.
She made herself stop staring so she didn’t so something embarrassing. Like drool.
“This crevice is large enough to hold us,” she said, dragging her eyes from him. “I’ll make a fire. We’ll be fine. You—”
“Do not insult me by telling me to leave three people alone to the elements after finding you fleeing from those who’d kill you—in my territory.” His eyes flashed gold as he said those last words.
Gia huffed out a sigh but said nothing to him. Instead, she looked at Wyn who watched with wide, fascinated eyes.
“Make a note, Wyn. Apparently, dragons can be quite sensitive.”
