“Move.” He said.
“No.” I said.
The word came out sharp and immediate and his jaw flexed.
“Storm.” He said.
“No.” I said.
The gun remained raised and the rider remained terrified.
The silence stretched and then finally I stepped directly between them.
If he wanted the shot, he would have to shoot through me first.
That realization finally broke through and Drake lowered the weapon and slowly and painfully.
The tension around him remained but the moment passed. Barely.
The captured rider collapsed in relief and I exhaled. Then looked directly at Drake.
“We are not them.” I said.
His eyes stayed on mine and eventually he nodded.
It was tiny and reluctant, but enough.
The fight ended less than twenty minutes later.
The surviving attackers fled and several got captu
