Page 42 of Draco's Defiance

“Good question, little girl.”

He didn’t like the way she recoiled, but he understood. Most human brains weren’t capable of acknowledging there was more to life than their own three-dimensional worlds. He only hoped his instincts about Moira were correct, and she was one who could.

“That’s not answering my question.” She pulled in a breath. “Can you explain, please?”

“I’ll try to.” Pausing, he watched her responses as he considered his words. It wasn’t everyday he told another soul about his gifts and he had no idea how to approach the matter. “If you promise to try and stay calm.”

“Stay calm?” The line creasing her brow deepened. “What are you going to tell me, Draco? Are you some sort of serial killer?” Her gaze darted instinctively to the door. “Am I in trouble?”

“I’m not a serial killer,” he assured her, amused that it had been her first thought. What did that say about Moira? “How would that explain me being able to know what you’re thinking?”

She shrugged, shaking her head. “I don’t know, it’s just your expression is troubling. I get the feeling something bad is coming.”

Smart girl...

“Not bad.” Although he accepted the concept was relative. Moira might not appreciate everything that was about to unfold. “Just not like anything you’ve ever known before.”

“Draco, please.” Her voice trembled with emotion. What was that? Fear? Was that why her demeanor was so fucking sexy? Why, rather than thinking about how to phrase his next, most critical, few sentences, his thoughts were filled with the curve of her ass and the alluring shade it turned under the tutelage of his palm. “I don’t understand what you mean, and you’re frightening me.”

“Okay.” He lifted his palms in an act of conciliation. “I’ll explain as best I can, Moira. Give me your hand.”

“Why?” She glanced at her fingers instead of meeting his eyes.

“Because I asked you to.” Reaching for her nearest hand, he tugged her fingers toward him. She didn’t resist him, but he noticed how she hardly cooperated either. Her elegant fingers curled around his digits as he took her hand in his. “Thank you.”

Come on. Her chin rose as she shifted her focus to his face. Come on. Just tell me! Say whatever you need to say.

“I can hear your thoughts, Moira.” He smirked at her spiraling inner monologue.

“What do you mean, ‘hear my thoughts?” Is he insane? “No one can do that, Draco. Telepathy doesn’t exist.”

“I can.” He patted the top of her hand soothingly. “Not with everyone, but I can.”

“You’re serious?” Her gaze was pointed as she awaited his answer, her mind quiet as if she couldn’t believe he meant it. “You really think you’re telepathic?”

“Usually only with my brothers.” An image of the three men exploded in his mind. “You’re the first non-family member it’s ever happened with.”

“Draco.” Leaning closer, she forced a smile. Is he okay? I really like him. Maybe there’s something I can do to help? “I’m sure there are people who can assist with this type of thing.”

“This type of thing?” It tickled him that she assumed he was crazy. It only proved what he already knew. Human brains weren’t designed to accept life beyond the rigid cages they created for themselves. They only believed what their limited senses were prepared to reveal to them.

“I’m just saying it’s okay.” She swallowed, her smile sympathetic. Bless him. He truly thinks this is possible. That a couple of coincidental comments equate to telepathy. “I really like you, and this doesn’t change anything. I’ll help you. If you like, we’ll find help together.”

Oh, dear. This was going to be more difficult than he’d thought. Evidently, the only way to convince Moira was to literally parrot back the things she’d last thought. There was little room for argument if he could repeat her thoughts in real time.

“Bless him.” His grasp on her fingers tightened. “That’s what you just thought about me. And then ‘he truly thinks this is possible. That a couple of coincidental comments equate to telepathy.’”

Her breaths were ragged, time seeming to stretch out around them as she listened to him. How? Mentally, she screamed the question. How can he know that? How is this possible?

“I don’t know how it’s possible,” he answered, although she never articulated the question aloud. “With my brothers and I, it’s just always been this way, a product of our other skills...” He didn’t stop to dwell on what that meant. “We’ve always been able to do it.”

“I can’t believe this.” Her jaw dropped, her eyes scanning his face for any sign that this might be a party trick. “I’ve never heard anything like it.”

“I know.” He released some of the pressure on her hand, fleetingly reassured that she hadn’t screamed, shouted, or tried to bolt for the door. So far, she’d taken the news better than he’d expected. “No one has, and aside from one or two people, no one else knows about this, Moira.” He couldn’t overstate the point. “And it has to stay that way.”

“What?” She blinked at him. What does he mean by that? “I won’t tell anyone. You know that, Draco.”

He didn’t know anything of the sort, but wasn’t going to push the matter at that juncture. More important that he make the point. Then his coming actions would make more sense to her.