Flawless Evans, Gabrielle (ebook smartphone .txt) 📖

floor and settled into his mate’s lap. Curling into the man’s much larger body, Lynk rested his head on Kieran’s shoulder, sighing happily when those big, muscled arms wrapped around him protectively.

Clearly his lover still had reservations about Zasha. Since the idiot had gone as far as to bite him, Lynk really couldn’t blame Kieran for his distrust. The vampire was Thane’s Infinity, though, and therefore family. Sooner or later, Kieran was going to have to get over his dislike of the man.

“Axton said he wanted to give me some time alone with my family, and that he was going to go explore the city. He’d been coming home with me for five or six years by that point, so he knew the area well. It was pretty common by that point for him to go out on his own while we were there, so I didn’t think anything of it, either.

I’m guessing that’s when he met the witches.”

“You think that circle is responsible for getting Thane back to the States.” Lynk bobbed his head, frowning in concentration while he tried to follow the path of logic. “That makes sense, but where were Flawless 143

they keeping him? Thane said he was held captive for nearly two years, but only the last few months were spent in that well.”

“I can’t answer that.” His upper lip curled, and Zasha looked royally pissed off. “I promise that I’ll find out, though.” He looked right into Torren’s eyes and growled. “I’ll make them pay for what they did to him.”

“Maybe Thane can tell us more when he wakes up,” Lynk hurried to add, trying to defuse the hostility flashing in the vampire’s eyes. “I don’t think it’s a huge stretch to assume the witches who attacked us on Halloween could be involved with this. I think we need to find out what they know.”

Torren dipped his head in Lynk’s direction. “I agree. We have Thane with us, and once he’s stronger, we can focus on getting Mikko back as well. How he came to be in that well is important, though. We have to make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

“Speaking of that happening to other people”—Kieran sat up a little straighter, repositioning Lynk in his lap—“we started looking for Thane in Snake River because Aslan said he was held as a blood slave in a coven nearby. Snake River is the only one in the vicinity.” He said no more after that, but the accusation was clear in his voice.

“We’re not the only coven.” His eyebrows drew together, and Zasha shook his head once. “There’s another coven that lives near the base of the mountains not too far from here. It’s a small coven, only ten or twelve members.”

“How do you know that?” Torren looked disgruntled as he rubbed at the back of his neck. “Why didn’t I know that?” Zasha shrugged. “Like I said, they’re small and mostly keep to themselves. Axton lived with them before coming to Snake River.” Alarm bells went off in Lynk’s head, and he sat up so quickly that the top of his head whacked against Kieran’s chin. He barely felt it, though. “Near the mountains, away from heavily populated areas, it sounds like the perfect place if someone needed to hide something.” 144 Gabrielle

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“Or someone,” Zasha growled. “You think Axton kept Thane there.” He growled again but bobbed his head in agreement. “You’re right. It makes sense, and everything is too connected to be mere coincidence.”

“Can you show us where this coven is?” Coming out of his thoughts, Zasha lifted his head to face Torren again and nodded. “I know the general area.”

“I think everyone needs to rest tonight, but we’ll call another meeting tomorrow to go over the situation and plan a course of attack.” Torren seemed much less volatile now that they had a plan.

“You’re welcome to spend the day here, but Thane needs to rest now.”

“I just want to see him.” There was pain in Zasha’s amber eyes, and he sounded so sad. “I won’t disturb him, but I need to see that he’s okay. Please?”

“Torren,” Lynk said softly, his eyes pleading for his brother to stop being such a control freak for once in his life.

With a heavy sigh, Torren pushed up from his chair and motioned for Zasha to come with him. “Follow me, and I’ll show you where he’s sleeping.”

“Thank you,” Zasha whispered to Lynk before turning his gaze to Kieran. “I know you probably hate me, and I can’t blame you, but I am so sorry for what I put you through.” To Lynk’s complete surprise, Kieran offered his hand to the vampire. “I get it. I’d do whatever it took to get my mate back if I thought someone was keeping him from me.”

“That was nice of you,” Lynk whispered up to his mate once they were alone in the room. “I think he’s a good guy. I’m glad you’re willing to give him a chance.”

Kieran huffed and kissed the top of his head. “Yeah, well, let’s not break out the friendship bracelets just yet. I won’t kill him, but that’s all I’m promising right now.”

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Ducking his head to hide his smile, Lynk knew it was a big step for Kieran. Considering his possessive attitude and anger management issues, not murdering the vampire was a pretty good place to start.

* * * *

“I’m coming for you, Lynk.”

“I’m counting on it,” his lover called back from the distance.

Kieran could hear the smirk in his mate’s voice, practically feel the anticipation flowing off of him. It was a game they often played on warm summer nights, one he always looked forward to. The moon lit his path, their bond pulled him deeper into the forest, and every part of Kieran thrummed with the desire to get his hands on his mate.

He knew from experience he’d find Lynk