She jerked her head back when his hot breath fanned over her parted lips.

He froze. “I want some answers, and you’re going to give them to me.”

She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. “Okay. Just please don’t hurt us.”

That response made his gaze narrow even more. “I’ve never harmed a woman before.” He tilted his head a little, his focus lowered to roam down her body then back up. “You smell totally human. I couldn’t get a good read on you before and thought it might just be your clothes. Some of us borrow already-worn clothing to fool the senses of others.” Their gazes met again. “I take it your mother mated to one? You have human blood?”

Dusti stared up at him while his words sank in. “Shit. Seriously?”

He frowned. “Just answer the question. It’s important.”

Then it sank in that something was really wrong with Drantos.

She had a friend from high school who’d become paranoid and antisocial in his late twenties. He’d been diagnosed bipolar after a group of their friends had gone to check on him. They’d discovered he’d used rolls of aluminum to wrap all the walls of his apartment and screamed at them about how no one was safe. They’d called an ambulance. The meds they’d put him on helped him stay more rational, but she was familiar with how a chemical imbalance could mess with someone’s sanity.

It was possible the guy in front of her had the same medical condition. He even sounded like Greg. It had all been about humans vs. aliens for her friend.

“Human? Is that what you said? It’s bad enough that you’re a possible kidnapper-for-ransom bad guy, but you’re also off your meds, aren’t you? Of course I’m human! So are you. You said my mother mated to one? Really? Mated? This is the planet Earth.” She shook her head. “Could my day get any worse? What’s next? A meteor shower? A forest fire? Maybe rabid squirrels will attack us.”

He slowly smiled. “I enjoy your sense of humor.” His smile fled. “Maybe you don’t know my scent, but I’m the same as your mother was. Cut the act.”

He was totally bonkers. She normally wouldn’t have messed with someone like him and just backed away, but he had her pinned where she stood. “You used to be a woman?” She looked him up and down. “That’s the best sex change I’ve ever seen. Wow. Impressive. I never would have guessed. You might want to back down on the male hormone shots. I think you’ve overdosed on them.”

“What?” He looked angry.

“You just said you were what my mom was. She was a woman. Were you born a little girl and then had a sex change? Otherwise, I wouldn’t say that.” She smirked.

He studied her face and then paled a little. “Shit. You’re not acting, are you? You don’t know, do you?”

“Know what? That you’re bipolar and went off your meds? I’m understanding that fact real quick. Didn’t your doctors warn you that you’d lose your grasp on reality if you stopped taking them? Let me guess. You felt better and thought you were cured. Listen, the only way for you to be functional is to continue taking your pills. Do you have them with you? Let’s find you some water, okay? You’ll feel much better within a few days once you’re back on them.”

He stayed quiet for long seconds, studying her face again, until she shifted her body from the uncomfortable moment. His eyes closed and his head tilted back.

“Shit. You have no clue.”

“Believe me, I do.” She patted him awkwardly. “I have a friend like you. He goes off his meds sometimes too. It’s going to be fine. Where are your pills? I’ll help you. You’ve obviously stopped taking them, which has led you to think up some crazy scenario that will land your ass in prison if you end up hurting someone. Rethink it. My grandfather might be a dick but he’s a human one. He’s not some alien bad guy trying to attack Earth or whatever you think.”

“I don’t take meds.”

“Of course you didn’t. That’s why you’re like this.”

He grew angry. “Shut it now. I’m not crazy.”

He wasn’t about to listen to reason. That was apparent. She decided to play along with his delusions. It was possible to reach him if he had any compassion. “Fine. All I’m asking is that you don’t take it out on us if he doesn’t do whatever you want. I’m serious about how he never lifted a finger to help us. I think he tolerates Bat, so he may give you money for her, or whatever you demand, but don’t hold your breath when it comes to me. He flat-out didn’t even want me to come to Alaska and was kind of a prick when Bat mentioned bringing me. He told her no, but she never listens to anyone.

“I came because I just wanted to spend time with her and—bonus—he’s dying. I really hated him as a kid. He treated me like I didn’t exist when he came to our house. Do you know what that does to a little girl? He made me cry at first, wondering what I’d done to make my own grandfather hate me. I finally came to the realization that he was just an asshole.”

“I’m not going to ransom you. Is your illness real? Did you need that shot your sister gave you?”

She bit back a curse. He was really into his delusions. “Of course. Like any sane person would want to be jabbed with needles. I’m not a drug addict. I don’t get high. I really needed it. It’s for my anemia. I have a rare form of it. Iron pills don’t work.”

Drantos looked down at her, his gorgeous eyes seeming to study her again. “You’re flawed. Decker would consider that an embarrassment to his bloodline. I assume your sister doesn’t have to take any form of medications?”

“No.”

“I didn’t think so, if Decker wants her to come to him.”

“Okay,” she said slowly. “Whatever that means.”

“It’s all about the bloodlines sometimes.” A thoughtful expression gripped his handsome features. “I believe I’m starting to figure out why he sent for your sister.”

“Again with the whatever that means.”

“There would have been a larger chance of birthing a weak-blooded child when your mother bred with your father. You’re flawed, as far as Decker is concerned, but your sister is still useful to him. You’re dependent on those shots. I take it that you’ve had this condition most, if not all of your life?”