"Is Parka gone stomp Maddy?" Jamie asked in alarm. Stryker felt hyper-sensitive to his very presence. Every move he made had him moving in return, like a magnet. Last night, for however disastrous it had seemed, had changed something between them; concrete now bound them. He understood Jamie better than he ever had and the Little seemed more at ease, more sure of himself, each action hindered by less hesitance.

In a way, he was glad it had happened. It was almost like it had needed to happen.

"If we're lucky," he said before shaking his head and dropping a kiss on Jamie's forehead. "Go stand by Kernal, baby boy....