Shadow drew her attention. “A human nurse was assigned to Fury after he was shot in an assassination attempt by other humans against his mate. The drug she exposed him to made him aggressive and violent.” He looked at Jaded. “Was it the same drug?”

“Not according to the sniff test. It’s something else that appears far worse than the symptoms Fury suffered. Moon is completely violent and unresponsive to anyone or anything. He’s either in so much pain he is beyond thought or they damaged his mind so extensively that his personality has devolved to basic survival of his animal genetics. That’s what we’re assessing right now but it’s early. There’s always hope the drug will wear off the way it did in Fury’s case. We’ve sent for specialists. They will be arriving within the next few hours.”

Guilt ate at Beauty. “Why couldn’t he have just died?”

Jaded’s green eyes flashed anger. “Moon is my friend. I hate to see him this way but I’m grateful he survived.”

“I meant the bastard. Not your friend.” She suddenly wished she were alone with Shadow. “He got sick and he’s old. That’s what I meant. This would be over if he had died. He wouldn’t be around to come after me or hurt our people.”

She didn’t mention aloud that she wouldn’t be alive either if he had died while she’d been his prisoner. The guards wouldn’t have had anyone to stop them from hurting her any way they wished. They would have destroyed the evidence and burned her body to ash, the way she’d overheard them plotting at times.

“I understand.” Jaded calmed. “Some humans wish to hurt us anyway. They are afraid of us or refuse to accept what we are. Don’t take this personally. If it wasn’t Douglas Miller, it would be someone else.”

He spoke to Shadow next. “I’ll leave now. I wanted you informed of all we know so far. We’ll have more solid facts by the time you reach Homeland to meet with Justice.” Catlike eyes turned to Beauty. “I meant what I said. This isn’t your fault. We’re different and sometimes that’s reason enough to draw hatred from others. You are in no way responsible for Douglas Miller or his actions.”

She was left alone with Shadow. Tears threatened to spill but she fought them back. “I do feel guilty.”

“You shouldn’t.” He brushed his fingertips over her arm, caressing lightly.

“You and Breeze were hurt protecting me. Other Species were hurt. I saw all those men out there in need of medical help.”

“Most of the injured were mercenaries.” He smiled in an attempt at humor.

The effort didn’t work. “Don’t make light of this. Please?” She reached out, his chest warm and firm under her palm. It soothed her, just touching any part of his body. “You seemed to already know his name. How?”

“Douglas Miller?”

She nodded.

“I had to review all the files when I was assigned to the task force. He is a fugitive, one of the many we plan to hunt down and capture. I reviewed the files of humans we’d retrieved Gift Females from after you told me your story. The task force doesn’t put the names of victims in those files but the clues you gave were enough to pinpoint him and the details of the operation that rescued you. That’s how I know what happened with Fury and Ellie as well. They keep the team up to speed on unclosed cases. The human nurse had outside help and we were still tracking down some of her known associates from Mercile.”

“Fury was not permanently damaged by the drug. I see him all the time with Ellie. He’d never hurt her.” It made her feel hope for Moon. “Their love is beautiful.”

Shadow glanced at the clock. “We need to go, love. The helicopter will leave soon.”

“Okay.”

“It will be fine.”

She hoped so.

Chapter Nineteen

Beauty’s worst-case scenario happened. She wished a hole would open up under her and make her disappear when they reached the helicopter landing area. The tall task force member she spotted spoke to another one but then Shane turned his head. Recognition flared across his features as he smiled.

No, she silently begged, dropping her gaze. Don’t try to talk to me. Please!

She glanced at the ground, her hands, even her shirt. Shadow had gone to speak to the pilot, leaving her standing alone. Military boots approached until they stopped about four feet away. She knew it was Shane. Her heart did a panicked number inside her chest.

“Beauty? Wow! You look fantastic. Well, except for the bruise on your face.”

She had to look up but dreaded it. The lump inside her throat felt large but she had to speak. Otherwise he’d probably pity her after the trauma she’d suffered. It was important to show him that she wasn’t the terrified, frail woman he’d helped save. Her gaze lifted to stare up at a face she’d wished to never see again.

“Hello, Shane.”

“You remembered my name?” Color flushed his cheeks. “That means a lot to me. We always hope it’s a two-way street but it’s so traumatic when we go in. We kind of figure we’re just a blur of memory.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You know, every Species we free is a triumph to us. Giving someone their life back makes this job worth all the bad stuff we deal with. We remember every one but we aren’t sure if the ones rescued remember us.”

She wished she could forget at least one part of that awful night. “It’s something we always remember too.”