Closing the Circle: A Snippet

Coming in May is Closing the Circle, the final episode of the Guardians of the Pattern series. This one features Cameron and Draven, who first met way back in the prequel short story, Facing the Mirror. At end of Facing the Mirror, Cam makes a promise. At the beginning of Closing the Circle, he's called on to make good on that promise.

Here's a tiny taste to keep you going until May...


The decision to act was frighteningly easy to make, which Draven took to be a sign that his judgment was already badly compromised where Cam was concerned. He considered the pros and cons, weighed the risks, then grabbed his coat and stood by the door, waiting.

“What are you doing?” Cam asked.

“Coming with you. You said Miko wanted to see me. Once we’ve taken him to safety, you can give me a ride back to the campus.”

“For what? What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to fix it.”

“How?”

Draven gave him a faint smile and shook his head. “What you don’t know, you can’t be forced to tell to a Federation investigator. Or Cottrell, if he starts asking inconvenient questions.”

“Draven—”

“You do your job, Asada. Let me do mine.”

“What job?” Cam asked faintly.

“I’m your feral dog, aren’t I? Isn’t that what you told Cottrell?”

“How did you—?”

“I was in your mind. You let me in.”

“I let you in,” Cam murmured.

“Don’t worry.” Draven moved behind Cam’s chair, where he set his hands on Cam’s shoulders and leaned down to whisper, “The blood won’t be on your hands. That’s what I’m for.”

Cam shuddered. “I wish there didn’t have to be blood.” He leaned his head back against Draven’s chest and closed his eyes.