TherianPromise (16 page)

“Were the drugs helpful?” The wall behind his desk was
wainscoted in rich reddish-brown wood and the edge of a large gilt-framed
painting was barely visible. He’d obviously positioned his desk so that few
clues to his location were evident.

“Very. It took a bit longer for him to go under than I would
have liked, but once the drugs kicked in, he was extremely cooperative.” She
hesitated, unsure if indulging her curiosity was worth the risk of annoying her
boss. “May I ask a question, sir?”

“Of course and stop calling me sir. Milliner might need his
ego stroked on a regular basis. I prefer candid honesty.”

“All right. I couldn’t help wondering why you hadn’t used
the drugs on Osric before now.”

“We discussed it, several times in fact. But the memory loss
isn’t complete. If we’d strapped him to a chair and interrogated him, he would
have known we didn’t trust him. This way he’ll wake up in bed with jumbled
flashes of a night spent with his lover.”

She nodded, fervently hoping that was all he remembered.

“What did you learn?”

She’d learned that Milliner was more of a bastard than she’d
thought—if that were possible. And the project had been going on far longer
than she realized. “Most of what he told me was not new. Osric likes to brag.
But I asked him if he had plans to betray the backers and he told me he couldn’t
betray someone unless he’d sworn allegiance to them first.”

“Did he tell you who held his allegiance?”

“He said he served someone named Zophiel.”

“Zophiel?” His dark brows drew together over his aquiline
nose. “Surely that isn’t a real name.”

“According to Osric
she
is God’s spy and the angel of
Divine Justice.”

“A female angel?” He chuckled and ran a hand through his
hair. “This gets better and better.”

“I pushed for more details and he went into some sort of
trance. He rocked back and forth and chanted in a language I’d never heard
before.”

“We all sensed that he was up to something. We never dreamed
it was this creative.”

“She’s likely a figment of his imagination. He was abandoned
by his mate and ostracized by his people. Then he was captured by Milliner and
treated like a guinea pig. That’s enough to make anyone create a loving
mistress who values and adores him.”

“If that’s all she is.” He was quiet for a moment, his dark
eyes narrowed and intent. Then his expression reset and he smiled at her. “As
usual, you’ve performed extremely well.”

“Then will I be able to leave the complex?” Her heart
thudded and her belly clenched. The promise of freedom is what kept her going,
allowed her to survive Osric’s cruel treatment.

“We need to determine if this Zophiel is a legitimate threat
or simply an imagined companion.” His eyes turned cold and unapproachable. “We
haven’t forgotten our promise, nor do we intend to renege. We just need more
time.”

Suspicion dropped into the pit of her stomach, but she
managed to nod. “If he tells me any more, I’ll let you know.”

Roberto nodded and the screen went blank.

* * * * *

Carissa flew across the living room and wrapped her arms
around Ava. Both women cried out with happy enthusiasm and Kyle couldn’t help
but smile. He glanced at Quinn and found a similar smile softened the
perpetually somber expression of his best friend. It had been a very long time
since Kyle had seen Quinn so relaxed.

“I know it’s only been a week,” Carissa said, “but this has
been the longest week of my life!” She gave Ava another hug before stepping
back and inspecting her sister from head to foot. “You’re really all right?”

“I’m fine.” Ava laughed. “You’re the one who managed to
rearrange your entire life while we were separated.” She blinked back tears and
motioned toward Quinn. “Introduce us.”

“Quinn, this is my sister Ava.” She made a sweeping motion
toward her sister then reversed direction and said, “Ava, meet Quinn.”

Ava crossed to Quinn and shook his hand. “You make her
unhappy for any reason and I’ll come after you.”

Quinn chuckled and his smile widened. “You have nothing to
worry about.”

“Why don’t we give them a few minutes to catch up?” Erin
suggested. She stood next to Ian, not far from the front door. The imposing
raptor-shifter observed the scene in silence, his gold-veined blue eyes ever
watchful.

Ava and Carissa sat on the sofa and immediately began a
lively conversation. Kyle led his mother, Ian and Quinn through the sunny
kitchen and out onto the wide, multi-level deck. Jake’s house was large and
orderly, but the expensive furnishings and stylish décor reveled nothing about
the sole inhabitant. Jake might sleep beneath this roof, but he lived at
Toulouse Tavern.

“Where’s Jake?” Ian asked as Kyle slide the glass door shut
behind them. Afternoon sunlight bathed the backyard, yet the breeze was
surprisingly cool. Jagged peaks surrounded them, the Aspen Mountain visible in
the distance. It was easy to understand why so many flocked to this area. The
setting had just the right balance of grandeur and tranquility.

Dragging his gaze away from his surroundings, Kyle answered
Ian’s question. “Cheyenne and Liz’s daughters were taken from Cheyenne’s
apartment sometime last night. There were signs of a struggle, but Liz has no
idea who would take them or why.”

“Oh my God. Jake and Enya must be frantic.” Erin shook her
head, worry and compassion obvious in her bright green eyes.

“Abolitionists?” Quinn’s expression instantly hardened
taking on a lethal edge.

Kyle shrugged, the gesture born of frustration not apathy.
“I can’t imagine anyone else who would dare such a thing, but they haven’t been
this aggressive in years.”

“Unless you count Gage trying to kill me and Ian.” Quinn
arched his brow, challenging Kyle to contradict the point.

“Gage’s actions weren’t sanctioned by Nehema,” Ian said. “In
fact, she was furious when she learned what he’d done.”

“Who the hell is Nehema?” Kyle looked at Quinn then back at
Ian. “For that matter, who is Gage?” Apparently there had been some interesting
developments while he was incommunicado.

“Gage is the Abolitionist who ‘rescued’ Willona and set her
up with a new life,” Ian explained. “He took a shot at either me or Quinn and
hit Carissa by mistake. We captured him as he was setting up for a second try.”

“Did you take him alive?”

“Of course.” Ian’s smile was chilling. “He did his best to
resist my scans, but in the end I learned everything he knew. Which wasn’t
nearly as helpful as I’d hoped. A woman named Nehema calls the shots, but Gage
had only spoken with her on the phone. His direct contact was a man he referred
to as Team Leader. I have his image, but little else.”

“The kidnapping could be retaliation,” Kyle suggested.

“I’d agree if they’d taken someone from your clan. Jake had
nothing to do with Gage’s capture.”

Ian had a point. Kyle sighed and reviewed the events,
searching for patterns or subtle clues. “We’re back where we started. If this
wasn’t Abolitionists, who had a grudge against Jake or benefited from the
crime?”

“Has there been a ransom demand?” Quinn motioned toward the
mansion beside them. “Everyone knows the tigers are loaded.”

“I still think Abolitionists are our best bet,” Erin said.
“Three females, one nearing definition. It’s not really a departure from their
MO.”

Ian didn’t look nearly as convinced. “Liz’s girls are, what,
eight and ten? They’re years away from definition.”

“But Cheyenne isn’t,” Kyle reminded.

“Cheyenne lives alone.” Erin’s brow remained knitted, her
lips compressed. “They probably came for her and had no choice but to take the
girls.”

“No choice?” Ian sneered. “Are you crazy? There are always
choices.”

“I’m not defending them.” She sounded shocked by Ian’s
conclusion. “Why are you so testy?”

“Sorry.” He raked his hair with his hand as he took a deep,
calming breath. “There have been too many attacks. Too many unanswered
questions. I need an objective or better yet a good fight. Just ignore me.”

“You’re tired and frustrated.” Erin wrapped her arm around
his waist and gave him a maternal squeeze.

“At least we know Devon’s safe,” Quinn offered. “That’s one
less unanswered question.”

Ian didn’t argue, but Kyle spotted suspicion in his gaze as
he glanced away. “What are you talking about? Did Devon come home?”

“She sent me a video message this morning,” Erin explained.
“She said she’d come back as soon as the Charter was changed and forced
definitions were abolished. I want to believe it, but something about it still
feels wrong.”

“Prisoners of war are forced to create video messages all
the time.” Ian looked at Kyle as he went on. “I’ve had a bad feeling about this
from the beginning. This might have started out as a protest for Devon, but she
would never be this cruel.”

“How did she look in the video?” Each time Kyle tried to
sense his sister he crashed into her mental shields. His mother had reported
the same problem. Wherever Devon was, it certainly seemed like she didn’t want
to be found.

“The video was damn convincing,” Ian admitted, “but it’s all
a bit too convenient. As Erin said, it just doesn’t feel right.”

“I haven’t called off the search and I won’t until she’s
found,” Kyle assured them. “It doesn’t matter if she’s protesting or if this is
beyond her control. We will find her.”

Ian’s stiff nod was mirrored by Erin.

“What’s being done to find Cheyenne and the girls?” Quinn
asked after a tense pause.

“Jake knows we’ll help in any way we can, but we have a
different mystery to investigate right now.”

“What mystery?” Quinn prompted.

Kyle motioned toward the patio furniture grouped at one end
of the spacious deck. He sat across from his mother, flanked by Quinn and Ian.
“Ava had a vision about Carissa. She saw the ritual.”

“Did she think we were hurting Carissa?” Quinn was clearly
upset by the idea.

“The vision was detailed enough that Ava realized Carissa
participated willingly. However, she was still left with a sense of dread, as
if something horrible was happening or was about to happen.”

“Go on,” his mother urged.

“She grabbed her stuff and headed for the motorcycle stashed
behind the cabin. I grabbed her as she came around the corner. I didn’t want
her to scream or run. The next thing I knew we teleported halfway across the
State.”

“Ava can teleport?” Erin sounded intrigued, not surprised
while the two men stared at him with obvious skepticism.

“It was a spontaneous reaction to my touch.”

Quinn laughed. “And I thought I repelled females.”

“She thought she was in danger and her instincts spiked?”
Ian ignored Quinn’s attempt at humor. “Was the location random?”

“I thought so at first, but we encountered armed guards in
the middle of the forest.”

“They weren’t forest rangers?” Quinn asked.

“With M16s?” Kyle shook his head. “We
borrowed
their
Jeep and drove until we found a road. Jake gave us directions then brought us
here and ditched the Jeep.”

“I’ll scan Ava’s memory then search from the air and see if
I can find whatever they were guarding.” Ian started to push back his chair but
Kyle stopped him.

“You can’t touch her. She hurt herself when she landed and I
had to heal her. It left me incredibly weak.”

Ian’s gaze narrowed, his tall body tense and agitated. “What
does that have to do with my scanning her mind?”

“We exchanged energy a couple of times and it triggered
synchronization.”

Ian folded his arms over his chest and glared from Quinn to
Kyle. “It’s mighty convenient that both of Maggie’s granddaughters ended up
bound to cats.”

“We’re not bound,” Kyle stressed.

“Yet.” Ian shoved back his chair and moved to the deck’s
railing, turning away from the table. “This gives you three months to convince
her to mate with you. Just like Quinn you’ve shut out the competition.”

Kyle knew it hadn’t happened like that, but he also knew how
it looked. “I was dying, Ian. I didn’t have a choice.”

“There are always choices,” Ian muttered then turned around
and retreated behind an expressionless mask. “An aerial search is our best bet
of figuring out what the guards are protecting.”

“I agree.” Kyle understood Ian’s strategy. Even if he’d
intended to court Ava, there was nothing he could do about it until her
physiology reset. Fixating on a situation beyond one’s control was an utter
waste of energy. Besides, the safety of the tiger females had to come before
personal agendas. “Jake figured out a rough perimeter and the most likely areas
within the search area.”

“Show me.”

Rather than retrieve the map from Jake’s office, Kyle sent
the image to Ian telepathically. He also transmitted his memory of their
conversation and as much as he remembered about the actual escape.

“You saved her life.” Ian’s expression didn’t change, but
his tone softened a bit.

Kyle hadn’t purposely shared the intimate details of his
interaction with Ava, but Ian was the strongest telepath he knew so it wasn’t
surprising that he’d absorbed more than Kyle had intended. “And she saved mine
in return. The rest just happened.”

“Or the rest was meant to happen,” Erin added with a cheeky
smile.

Ian glared at her while Quinn and Kyle rolled their eyes.
Erin might be the network Historian, but she’d always been a hopeless
matchmaker.

“I’ll see what I can find.” Ian tugged off his boots and
stuffed his socks down inside them. Erin rose to collect his garments as he
continued to undress. He pulled off his shirt and she folded it neatly and set
it on the table. “I should return by nightfall. If not…” He shrugged. “I’m
probably screwed.”

“That’s not funny.” Erin gave him a quick hug and Ian moved
to the middle of the deck. He spread his arms and raised his face to the sky.
The golden streaks in his hair glistened and his skin began to glow. He leapt
into the air and his shape blurred, transitioning from human to bird in a
smooth, flowing motion. Wide, majestic wings spread, propelling him higher with
each strong rhythmic flap. He soared then swooped then glided, sailing
gracefully upon the cool mountain wind.