Only Human Read Online Free PDF Page B

to dig myself out of the hole I seemed to be shoveling deeper every time I spoke.
    “Of course I adjusted my weapon. It’s ten o’clock at night, we’re downtown, and I’m about to walk outside to my car. It has nothing to do with the two of you and everything to do with me being a small female in the city at night.”
    I raised my empty hands so they could see them. “I didn’t pull the gun. It’s still at my waist under my clothes. And, sorry about the change of conversation, but based on what Gwen just said, I’m guessing there’s a rule stating if you couldn’t erase my memory then you can’t just let me walk away, right?”
    Two affirmative but terse nods.
    “Yeah, you aren’t the only species with rules about who can know about you. Other species trust me with their secret, and I can assure you I’ll keep yours safe, too. Besides, I’m also guessing you gave me fake contact information, so there’s no way I could point to the two of you, and who’d believe me if I told the story, anyway?”
    Kieran ignored my words and said, “You’ve had some sort of training. You mentioned shields?”
    I leaned back in my desk chair, trying to look relaxed. “I’ve spent my fair share of time in Native American ceremony as well as lots of time on mountains meditating with monks. I’m not psychic, but probably only a few steps short of it. Extremely sensitive, I guess.”
    “There is something you aren’t telling me, you are leaving too much out. You’ve learned to be defensive. Have you learned to be offensive as well? You mention knowing other mythological creatures. Have they taught you things?”
    I kept to my relaxed posture leaning back in my chair, and gave him a steady look. I knew he could smell my fear and anxiety, but I had it mostly under control so he wouldn’t smell much. “I will not speak to you about any others .”
    I bet he was great at poker. His face was completely devoid of emotion as he said, “Please, come sit in the chair in which you started. Give me a moment while I ask for permission to let you go with knowledge of us. To do so means I am personally vouching for you until my Master can speak with you, but I feel responsible that I did not verify you were under our control before we started speaking. And, I do believe you are aware of others, besides us, which means they feel you are trustworthy. So I will ask.”
    I didn’t like it, but I moved. Once I was seated, Kieran walked to the window and looked out. Time dragged on and I realized he must be talking to someone in his head. I very slowly began building up an energy reserve and hoped no one noticed. If I pull it in all at once then anyone who can sense energy or magic or whatever you want to call it can tell what I’m doing. Drawing on the energy around you in large quantities is kind of like slamming a magazine into a gun and racking it — it tends to make situations even more volatile.
    After what seemed like five minutes, he turned towards me and said, “I’m sorry to make this sound as harsh as it will, but it’s the best I can do. You have a choice, we can kill you now, and your family and friends will be safe. Or, you can walk out and promise to keep your mouth shut, but should you ever tell anyone of our existence then we will kill you, your family, and close friends. If one of them strikes our fancy, we may give them the option of becoming one of us.”
    “Will there be some sort of trial, or will you just take someone’s word for it and start killing?”
    “You will have a chance to speak up on your behalf, of course. Also, it is likely my Master will make inquiries about you in the supernatural world to see who you are friends with, to verify you were already aware of others.”
    “I keep the secrets of others. I can keep yours as well. I do insist that should my honor ever come under scrutiny, you come to me with polite questions and not the assumption of guilt.”
    He nodded, pulled his wallet out, and