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I cleared my throat and nervously scratched my nape. “So… How many of you know about me?”
He snorted. “By now, pretty much everyone.”
My stomach dropped. Surprisingly, I didn’t go into the panic I had expected. Keran pointing out it was no secret last night had apparently prepared me mentally for what I was beginning to think my subconscious had known all along.
“Why didn’t any of you say anything?” I asked with genuine curiosity.
“At first, because you clearly weren’t aware of your true nature,” Jaek replied casually. “The few of us who knew felt it was safer for you to keep it a secret. By the time the Magnar passed the edict outlawing hunting and abusing hybrids, you’d already taken over the shelter. Revealing what you were would have undermined your efforts with the Twelve. As a human, you had more credibility in their eyes. And after that, it had lost any importance.”
I slowly shook my head in disbelief. “How was I so damn blind?”
Jaek chuckled. His rough Braxian features, made even rougher by his burn scars, softened as he gave me a sad smile. “At times, you can indeed be even blinder than me, Dawn,” he said teasingly, touching the scar tissue that completely shut his right eye.
I didn’t miss his underlying meaning. A part of me wanted to tell him that I was well aware of his feelings. But what would that accomplish except hurt him?
Keran and his men finishing their sparring spared me from answering. Although Jaek tensed, he didn’t seem on the verge of panic.
“Good, they’re done,” he said, his back stiff. “I also came here to share some information you and your Prince will want to hear.”
Him referring to Keran asmyPrince did funny things to me. There had been no underlying meaning to his words, and yet they affected me in a way I couldn’t describe.
Couldn’t or didn’t want to describe?
The wave of possessiveness they had stirred was definitely something I didn’t want to acknowledge. The Prince attracted me in a way that defied logic, especially considering I hardly knew him. Even if we had a tumble, there would be no future between us—he would never truly bemyPrince.
“Now, you’ve got me curious,” I said in all sincerity, glad my voice came out firm and free of any hint of my inner turmoil.
Keran and his men approached us, their godly bodies glistening with sweat. As always, I felt fragile before them. Even Jaek, who was taller and bigger than me, looked like a teenager in comparison.
“That was impressive,” I said to Keran as he came to a stop near us.
“Thank you, Dawn,” he said with a polite smile before his stormy eyes turned to Jaek. The way his nostrils flared indicated he was likely assessing Jaek’s bloodline.
“Keran, this is my friend Jaek. He came here twenty-eight years ago. He’s since graduated with honors as a biochemist and works with Haven’s main hospitals and research departments. Jaek, this is Jakar Keran Xeldar, and his bodyguards, Tagar and Nowik,” I said, gesturing at each man in turn.
“Biochemist? Nowthatis impressive,” Keran said with genuine admiration. “It is a pleasure to see you faring so well.”
“Thank you for coming to our aid, Jakar,” Jaek replied politely.
Although he remained a little stiff, he looked well in control of his emotions. Once again, a wave of admiration and respect swelled through me for how well Jaek was handling what had to be a traumatic experience for him.
“Please, call me Keran. And you do not have to thank me. It is both my duty and my honor to assist. It shames me that we have done too little—and often too late—for many of you,” Keran said in a soft tone.
My heart dropped when Jaek didn’t respond. His silence spoke volumes as to the fact that he indeed felt the Braxian ruling class had done far too little while closing their eyes for far too long.
“Jaek says he has information we will all want to hear,” I said before the uncomfortable silence could take root.
Keran raised an inquisitive eyebrow at Jaek.
“Yes, you will want to hear what I have to say about the off-worlders approaching us,” Jaek said with a stiff nod.
“Absolutely,” Keran said with an intense look. “Let me go take a quick shower and make myself more presentable. Then we can go over what you want to share.”
“It’s not necessary,” Jaek said with a dismissive gesture. “I don’t mind, and I have to leave soon, anyway. It won’t be long.”
“Very well,” Keran said, looking as intrigued as I felt.
“Everyone knows about Jardan Korey coming here to recruit us. But there is a second group of headhunters that are being extremely secretive about doing the same,” Jaek said, his voice tense.
