Page 158 of The Other Side
“Mikkel is saying he’ll improve the odds.”
Osian stared at him in disbelief. “You make it sound simple.”
“No.” Drum smiled sadly. “I make it sound necessary. Now I know all this exists, how can I pretend it doesn’t? Maybe one day this side will learn about what else there is in this world. Maybe people really high up already know. How many cases do mortal police fail to solve because immortals are behind the crime? I’m not stupid, Osian. I don’t want to die. I’m not going to throw a ball for a werewolf and expect it to play catch. But I can learn. I want to learn.”
“I don’t know if I can teach you.”
“You don’t have to teach me everything.”
“I’d have to watch you make mistakes.”
“You already do.”
“I mean mistakes that kill.”
Drum’s expression softened. “Mikkel will teach me too. And Luke and Jules and Erin and Zeon and everyone here who’s different. I don’t want to be reckless or play hero. I want to do my part. But I need you to say yes.”
Mikkel watched him carefully, saying nothing.
“If you can’t,” Drum said. “Then I’ll understand and I won’t do it.”
Finally, Osian whispered, almost to himself. “Oh fuck. If—” he stressed the word, “—if I agreed to this…”
Drum held his breath.
“…then we do it my way.”
Mikkel remained silent.
“No field deployments until Drum is fully trained. Me too. Combat. Recognition. Protective wards. Emergency protocols. When to run. Especially when to run. And your protection, Mikkel.”
Drum slowly nodded. “I can live with that.”
“You don’t argue with me in the field.”
“Depends.”
Osian glared. “It doesn’t. You carry protection even if you think it’s unnecessary.”
“Fine.”
“You never investigate supernatural activity alone.”
“Fine.”
“And if I tell you we’re leaving—”
“We leave.”
Osian searched his face for any hint of bravado. Finding none, he released a long, exhausted breath. “I still hate this.”
“I know.”
“I’ll probably continue hating it.”
“I’d be worried if you didn’t.”
Another silence settled. Then, Osian looked at Drum before turning to Mikkel. “Okay.”
