Flawless by Evans, Gabrielle (icecream ebook reader TXT) 📗

“Thane is in a well?”

Lynk spared him a glance, his eyes softening just a bit at the corners before the mask fell over his face once more, and he faced down the rest of the room. “Thane said he’s being imprisoned inside a well, but he doesn’t know who’s holding him. He also said that he Flawless 117

was abducted while in Belgium then brought here to Wyoming about two years ago.”

“What else did he say?” Torren looked anxious for the information, an expression not common to the elder’s visage.

Lynk dropped his chin to his chest and sighed. “He thinks we should try to get Zasha on our side. If we can convince Zasha that it is really Thane who is his mate, then he’ll want to do whatever he can to find him. That is Thane’s theory anyway.” He finally lifted his head and stared across the distance at Torren. “I don’t know what to think or who to trust.”

“We don’t trust anyone until they prove otherwise.” Kieran wasn’t about to gamble Lynk’s safety on a hunch. Unless someone had some solid evidence to persuade him otherwise, Zasha was still the enemy.

Torren studied him for a moment and dipped in his head in what Kieran assumed was agreement. Then he clasped his hands behind his back and turned to Raven. “What did Gideon say?”

“Not much. He did apologize about the whole fiasco with Lynk and Zasha, though. It makes me think that if something is going on in Snake River, Gideon isn’t in on it. I’ve known him for a long time, and I’m confident that I could tell if he was lying.” It was still hearsay and not nearly good enough for Kieran.

Settling against the wall at his back, he wound his arm around Lynk’s shoulders and pulled him closer to his side. It wasn’t sexual in nature, but he needed the physical contact with his mate. Maybe if he held on tight enough, he could shield the man from the entire world.

“What about Zasha?” Galen asked while everyone’s focus turned to Varik. “Did you get anything out of him?”

“He insists that Lynk is his mate.” Varik huffed out a sigh and shook his head. “He was pretty fucking adamant about it, too. If he’s acting, he’s damn good at it. So good, in fact, that he should probably pack his bags and head to Hollywood.” The vampire looked exhausted. His normally pale skin was almost gray. The dark circles under his eyes stood out in sharp relief, and he 118 Gabrielle

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looked to be having trouble holding his head up. Raven didn’t look in any better shape, and Kieran realized that being up during the day was taking its toll on the men.

“So, we’re still exactly where we started.” Torren’s growl rolled up from his chest and bounced off the walls in the room. “Basically, we have dick.”

“Well, we have a more precise location of where Thane is,” Lynk responded reasonably. “I wouldn’t say that it was a total waste.” No, but Kieran wouldn’t call their excursion a success, either.

While they continued to discuss the events of the dream and analyze different conversations, a shiver worked up his spine, signaling the descent of the sun toward the western horizon. He might only be forced to shift on the full moon, but he was still connected to the lunar goddess during the rest of the month.

Maybe it was time to face their troubles head-on. What was the worst that could happen by openly accusing Leader Tuesday of kidnapping and imprisoning a fellow paranormal?

Kieran frowned and hugged Lynk even tighter. Knowing his luck, the sky would fall or something equally as horrible would happen.

Still, it wasn’t like they were getting anywhere by beating around the bush and playing it cool.

If Leader Tuesday knew nothing about Thane’s capture, he could prove to be a powerful ally. If he was behind it all…well, things couldn’t get much worse than they already were. Right?

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Chapter Fourteen

“You have to calm down,” Kieran whispered out of the corner of his mouth. Lynk was vibrating so violently with his nerves that it shook Kieran’s thigh where their legs were pressed together on the wooden bench inside The Council meeting hall.

“I’m trying,” Lynk shot back.

Turning to his mate, Kieran grasped the witch’s chin and squeezed, forcing Lynk’s head up so that their eyes met. “Quiet,” he ordered, though not harshly. “Everything will be fine. I’ve already told you that I’m not letting anyone take you away from me.” He leaned closer until their noses almost touched and let the authority drip from his tone. “Quiet, sugar.”

Lynk calmed at once, the trembling subsided, and his muscles relaxed until he was sagging against Kieran’s side. “Thank you,” he mumbled.

Wrapping his lover up close to him, Kieran kissed the top of his head and sighed. “We’re going to be fine,” he responded for what felt like the millionth time. He still wasn’t sure if he believed it, but he had to hang on to that little bit of hope.

“Please state your name for The Council.” Torren spoke casually, but his eyes glinted with malice and anger as he stared down from the dais at Zasha.

The vampire moved to the center of the small area just beyond the benches, halfway between the elders and those gathered behind him.

“Zasha Aleric Gershwin, member of the Snake River Coven.” 120 Gabrielle

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“Mr. Gershwin,” Elder Cortez began with his faintly accented voice, “can you please inform the members of this gathering why you are here?”

Zasha stood straight and proud, his hands linked in front of him and his shoulders pushed back. “The werewolf Enforcer, Kieran Delaney, has claimed what is rightfully mine. Lynk Braddock is my true mate, and as such, I wish to file a formal complaint against Mr.

Delaney for being in violation of one of our most sacred laws.