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  “We’re a team,” Rone said. “And if Kate can tell me where to start looking, I’ll have a much better chance of catching the scent.”

  “Well, all right…” Thrace shook his head and looked at Commander Sylvan. “I’m glad you have someone with such excellent credentials working on this but to be honest, I still don’t understand why I’m here. I mean, I’m not even Kindred.”

  “No, but you’re the only one who’s seen the girl we’re looking for,” Commander Sylvan said.

  “Only in a vision given to me by Two—that sick bastard,” Thrace growled. The Dark Kindred who had finally been killed by his own scion was still a sore point with him. Because of him, Thrace had nearly lost Trin completely and he would never forget or forgive that.

  “Yes, but that might be enough to give Kate’s gift room to work,” Rone said. “If you could just let her touch you—”

  “I already did that with Commander Sylvan’s kin—the priestess, Nadiah,” Thrace objected. And he’d been reluctant to do it then. There were memories in his past, secrets he didn’t want anyone seeing. Trin was the only one who knew and she loved him anyway. But as far as Thrace was concerned, no one else needed to see what he’d survived.

  The tiny Earth girl seemed to understand his concern.

  “Don’t worry,” she said soothingly. “I’m not interested in looking at your past—just the vision you saw. I won’t go rooting around in your head, honest.”

  “Well…” Thrace frowned. “I’m not even sure what you could see.”

  She shrugged her slim shoulders.

  “Maybe nothing. But maybe I’ll get a flash of where the girl is and be able to lead Rone to her. It’s worth a try, don’t you think?”

  “There is no obligation, of course,” Commander Sylvan said. “But we would greatly appreciate it if you would try to help Rone and his mate find the girl. You know as well as we do what she faces if the Verrak assassin takes her.”

  Thrace sighed. The Verrak were cold and utterly ruthless. Death was the best the girl could hope for if the assassin got to her before they could. Most Verrak killed their target and left them in plain sight—a message to whoever had wanted them dead in the first place. But there were tales of some who took their prey to another location and played with them cruelly before finally taking their lives. He wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

  “Yes, I know. Very well…” He looked at Rone’s petite mate. “I’ll touch hands with you—that’s all. But not in public—not here in the Council Chambers.”

  “Of course not,” Commander Sylvan said swiftly. “Completely understandable. Please feel free to step into the antechamber outside.”

  “Agreed.” Thrace nodded shortly and left the chamber, followed closely by Rone and his mate.

  Once outside with the doors closed, he turned to face them.

  “Well then, let’s get this over with.”

  Silently, Kate held out her hand. It was tiny, even smaller than Trin’s and it was swallowed completely when Thrace took it in his own. She closed her eyes and Thrace watched her warily, waiting to feel her in his brain. But there was nothing—just the feel of her cool, smooth hand in his and the rapid, light beat of her pulse in the tiny, bird-like wrist.

  Gods, he couldn’t help wondering how Rone was able to love her without breaking her. She was so tiny—so delicate looking with her mass of red and gold curls and her pale skin. Was he concerned when they were together that he might hurt her?

  Finally she opened her eyes and looked up at Thrace.

  “Two things—first, I’m tougher than I look.”

  Thrace pulled his hand away quickly.

  “You never said anything about reading thoughts!”

  “I didn’t and I can’t. But sometimes when I touch someone I get a sense of what they’re thinking or feeling. So I appreciate your concern for me but I assure you, Rone is very, very gentle.”

  Thrace was convinced that her mate would be angry but Rone only sighed and shook his head.

  “Worried about you was he? With a big, hulking male like me?”

  Kate nodded.

  “Well, you have to admit you’re a scary looking guy.” She grinned at him and he smiled back.

  “Forgive me,” Thrace said. “I never meant…”

  “It’s all right.” Rone shook his head. “We get that a lot—especially when people find out I’m Wulven.”

  Thrace shook his head.

  “I don’t understand. I’m Havoc myself, not Kindred. And honestly, I’d never heard of Wulven Kindred until now.”

  “We have a double nature,” Rone explained. Much like the Rai’ku Kindred.”

  “Now them I have heard of. My mate’s friend has what the humans call a brother-in-law who is Rai’ku Kindred. ” Thrace frowned. “Don’t they have a ravenous beast within which comes out and devours females?”

  “That’s right.” Rone nodded easily, his blue eyes gleaming.

  “So you’re the same?” Thrace stared at him. It would certainly explain the strange animalistic air of the other male.

  “In a way. Of course, our beast isn’t the same as the Rai’kus’ but it can be deadly to the wrong person.”

  “Which is anyone but the female who tames it.” Kate’s voice held a hint of pride. Clearly she had accomplished this task and had no fear of her mate’s beast.

  “But enough about us,” Rone looked at his mate. “Did you get anything?”

  “Sure did—she’s in Southeast US. Or she was in the past twenty-four hours.”

  “And you know this for sure?” Thrace asked.

  She nodded. “Positive. Where exactly is a little harder to say—maybe the Northern part? Anyway, it helps narrow things down a bit. And I got a visual—if I see it, I’ll know it.”

  “Well then, let’s go,” Rone said. “We can take a shuttle down to the nearest HKR and start looking right away.”

  “You go get the shuttle ready, honey.” Kate spoke to her husband but she was looking at Thrace. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

  Rone gave her an unreadable look but then nodded briefly and left the antechamber.

  Thrace frowned. “I’d better go too. I’m sure my mate—”

  “Trin,” Kate said. “Trin is waiting for you and she doesn’t even know the difficult choice you’re trying to make.”

  “What?” Thrace growled, frowning. “Just how far inside my head did you get?”

  “Farther than I do with a lot of people.” Kate sounded interested. “Not sure why that is. I just wanted to tell you—what you want to do is the right thing. I know it’s tough but you’ll be glad you did it.”

  “I know it’s the right thing.” Thrace was, in an odd way, relieved to be talking to someone about what had been weighing on his mind. “I made up my mind to do it long ago. It’s my mate, Trin—I’m afraid she’ll object.”

  “She may at first.” Kate nodded thoughtfully. “But you need to persist. You want to protect her and the Knowing tells me she’s going to need that protection in the very near future.”

  “Thank you.” Thrace nodded. “Hearing that…brings me peace. I didn’t know if I should bring it up to her or not.”

  “Do it.” Kate nodded decisively. “You’ll be glad you did. Okay, well…” She clapped her hands together. “Rone and I have a girl to go find.”

  “Did you know about him when you first met him?” Thrace asked, unable to help his curiosity. “About his beast, I mean?” It was an intrusive question but since she seemed to know his private business, he had no qualms about questioning hers.

  Kate looked thoughtful.

  “I knew he was dangerous—the most dangerous man I’d ever met. But I just couldn’t keep away—isn’t that funny?”

  “The Goddess works in strange ways sometimes,” Thrace murmured, thinking of his own situation with Trin. “Very strange.”

  “That’s certainly true.” She smiled and nodded at him. “Well, thanks for your help. And good luck with your other