Sought Read online

  “Better addicted to bonding fruit than pretzels with horseradish, soy sauce, and peanut butter,” Kat pointed out, laughing.

  “I guess so.” Liv stopped eating and stared at her pretzel thoughtfully. “You know what this needs? Some hot sauce. Do you have any?”

  “I don’t think so.” Sophie got up to look. “Tranq Prime food is pretty bland…except when it’s completely disgusting, which is most of the time. Sylvan doesn’t care much for condiments.”

  “I can run get some from our suite if you want. I think I have a tiny little bottle of Tabasco somewhere,” Kat offered.

  “No!” Sophie yelled at the same time Liv said, “Not on your life.”

  Kat looked at them in surprise. “What? You changed your mind?”

  Sophie came back to the couch looking sheepish. “No, it’s just that Liv and I made a pact not to let you out of our site for a little while. Since every time you leave you wind up doing crazy things like getting soul bonded or poisoned.”

  “We’d just feel safer if you stayed right here with us for awhile.” Olivia smiled and squeezed her hand.

  “Fine with me,” Kat smiled and settled back against the comfortable cushions. “But if you want to keep me in your line of vision every single minute I’m afraid you’re going to have a fight on your hands. Deep and Lock are expecting me back in time for dinner…if we even manage to eat. I swear those two are insatiable.”

  “Said the girl who can’t get enough kinky threesome sex,” muttered Liv.

  “Liv!” Sophie nudged her sister and grinned. “We agreed we weren’t going to keep on teasing her all the time about that. We have better things to talk about.”

  Olivia raised an eyebrow. “Than sex? I don’t think so.”

  “How about how Lauren’s mom reacted to the news that her daughter is headed for the Maw Cluster—wherever that is,” Kat said soberly. “Do you guys think I was able to give her any hope at all? I feel so bad about the whole thing.”

  “I think she took it reasonably well,” Sophie said thoughtfully, breaking off another piece of pretzel and popping it into her mouth.

  “You told her that her daughter was safe and with a male she trusted. And that she’d be coming home eventually,” Liv spoke distractedly, busy with doctoring another pretzel into submission. “What about maple syrup, Sophie? Got any of that?”

  “Actually, I do.” Sophie popped up again. “But please tell me you’re not going to mix it with soy sauce and horseradish.”

  Liv gave her a mock glare. “Just get it. Anyway, as I was saying, Kat,” she continued. “You did the best you could. I mean, you risked your life to get that information. And I think Aunt Abby was grateful that you tried.” She sighed and took the maple syrup Sophie was offering her. “Thanks. Detective Rast is still coming up in a couple of days to check things out, though. I think he wants to make sure we’re not hiding Lauren somewhere on the ship or something.”

  “What? Why would we do that?” Kat protested.

  Liv shrugged as she added the syrup to her nightmare of a pretzel. “Dunno. I get the feeling he doesn’t quite trust the Kindred.”

  “That’s because he doesn’t know them like we do,” Sophie said, watching as her twin took a big bite of the dripping concoction in her hand. “I swear I’m never going to bake for you again, Liv—you’re ruining my perfectly good pretzels.”

  “I’m improving them,” Olivia corrected, licking her fingers. “God, that’s good! Anyway, Rast should be here on Friday.”

  “What? You never told me that!” Sophie put down her pretzel and frowned. “He’s going to be here right in the middle of my bonding ceremony.”

  “You’re bonding ceremony?” Kat and Liv said at the same time.

  “When were you going to tell us? Where are you going to hold it?” Kat demanded.

  “And how do you think you’ll get an entire wedding together in just a few days?” Liv asked.

  Sophie blushed. “It’s not going to be a big to-do, you guys. Just something small and intimate—only friends and family. And since Nadiah is on her way, we thought this would be the perfect time.”

  “So she finally came of age?” Kat remembered the way Sophie had described Sylvan’s cousin, who had helped her out considerably on Tranq Prime. With her bubbly personality and multicolored hair she sounded like fun.

  Sophie nodded. “Yup. Her mother is having a fit, too. Apparently she wants Nadiah to settle down and marry some stodgy full-blooded Prime guy they have all picked out for her. In fact, I think there was some kind of childhood engagement or something and she’s claiming Nadiah has no choice.”

  “Is that true? Will she cave and marry him?” Olivia raised her eyebrows.

  “Anyone else might but not Nadiah.” Sophie laughed. “She told me all that from Tranq Prime and then the next time I heard from her, she was aboard a cargo carrier bound for the Mother ship. So I’m guessing the Prince Charming dear old Mommy picked out is going to be left standing at the altar.”

  “Well you won’t be.” Kat kissed her cheek impulsively. “You’re going to make a gorgeous bride, Sophie.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled. “I just wish there was someone Nadiah could do the luck kiss with during the ceremony. I know it would give her such a thrill, but all of Sylvan’s brothers and second brothers are spoken for now.”

  “Isn’t there anyone?” Liv asked, eyeing the last pretzel.

  “Well, Sylvan does have an old friend he wants to ask but he’s having trouble getting hold of him. Apparently he’s doing some kind of religious retreat back on the original Kindred home world. You know—wearing special clothes, eating special foods, purifying himself. That kind of thing.” Sophie shrugged. “We’re hoping he’ll come but it’s kind of iffy right now. I told Nadiah not to expect too much but she says she’s just happy to be in the ceremony—even if she doesn’t get to kiss a Kindred.”

  “She has a real thing for the Kindred, huh?” Kat smiled.

  “Mmm-hmm.” Sophie nodded. “Especially the Blood Kindred. I think it’s kind of a rebellion thing because her parents are so against them.”

  “Well, she can have her pick here,” Liv said. “Better keep her away from the unmated males area though—that can get kind of hairy.” She shivered and Kat knew she was still remembering her own ‘adventure’ there, back when Baird had first called her.

  “I don’t think she’ll have to look far to find a male—she’s really pretty.” The timer dinged and Sophie jumped up. “Hang on, that’s my second batch of pretzels.”

  Kat groaned. “Another batch? I’m already so full you’re going to have to roll me out of here.”

  “Well, it’s not like you have to go on a diet,” Liv pointed out. “Since Deep and Lock love you in all your curvy glory.”

  “That’s true.” Kat couldn’t help smiling. “After a lifetime of Weight Watchers and Slim Fast it’s nice not to feel horribly guilty if I want a donut now and then. Not that I’m totally letting myself go,” she added hastily. “But now I feel, I don’t know…”

  “Beautiful, just the way you are?” Sophie suggested, smiling from across the room. “Honestly, Kat, that’s what we’ve been telling you all along.”

  “Yeah, but having your best friends tell you is one thing. Having two hot guys panting after you is something else entirely.” Olivia grinned.

  “She’s right.” Kat grinned back and then sighed.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” Sophie asked anxiously. “You look so sad all of a sudden. What are you thinking about?”

  “More like ‘who,’” Liv said. “Is Deep already giving you problems again?”

  “Deep? Oh no, he’s fine. More than fine—incredible, actually.” Kat smiled. “I don’t know exactly what happened to him while he was, uh, gone for those few minutes and he won’t say either. But whatever it was, it really changed him.”

  “Then why the long face, Kat-woman?” Sophie asked, piling hot pretzels onto a platter.

  “