Free Piece of Tail by Celia Kyle Page B

Soon, the others joined her. Meg took the wheel while Ben slid into the passenger seat and Ryan crowded her in the back. Before she knew it, she'd plastered herself to Ryan's chest, bawling her eyes out like some newly abandoned kitten that missed her momma.
    Wave after wave of sobs shook her body. Nobody spoke. No one said a word. Big, dangerous Ryan cradled her in his arms and tucked her close while Meg put the car into gear and eased into traffic. She felt Daniel and Patrick's gaze on her within the car, but she never turned around. It just hurt too much. Before long, Meg pulled the car alongside the curb in front of Half-were House.
    "Gi?"
    She sniffled and wiped her eyes. “Yeah, I'm going."
    Ryan spoke, whispering against the top of her head. “We can come in with you, talk to Tash if you want. This isn't—"
    She cut him off. “It is though. I got so pissed at that mutt that I lost control in public, on a city street and managed to get my picture taken by some Marauder who sold it to the papers. I'll deal with the punishment. Whatever it is."
    Not wanting to hear anyone else's offer of help, she bolted from the car and jogged up the steps to the front door of the townhouse. Tasheka met her there, eyes burning bright with anger and… Something else.
    " Inside. "
    Gina nodded. Didn't look like she'd get much of a reprieve. Not like she deserved one anyway.
    * * *
    Two days. Two days and fifteen hours to be exact. Daniel paced. Back and forth across the waiting room, he strode. Nervous energy burned through him while he and Patrick waited for their audience. The security they'd had to go through to get to this opulent sitting room had taken half a day.
    Strings. Lots and lots and lots of strings had been pulled so that they could get this appointment. Between the ache in his gut due to the time lost to the hole in his heart that still hadn't healed, he hurt.
    "Sit down, Daniel."
    "How can you be so calm?” He glared at the other man. “Our…"
    "Mate. The word you're looking for is mate."
    "Fine.” Daniel bit out. “Our mate disappeared two days ago. No one is telling us where she went. I don't even think Meg or Blaze know. And our only chance lies on the other side of that door and by all accounts, Sekhmet isn't the nicest or most reasonable woman in the world."
    Patrick stood and opened his arms to Daniel. “Come here. We'll get through this, because we have each other. We'll find her, because we won't ever stop searching.” Patrick wrapped his arms around his waist and Daniel dropped his head to his lover's shoulder. “And we'll love her forever, just as soon as we can get our hands on her. It'll be okay, Daniel."
    "Really, it won't.” The hard as diamonds, cold as ice voice stole through him and he knew without being told that it belonged to Sekhmet. His heart beat double-time and he stepped out of Patrick's hold. The two of them stood side by side as they faced their adversary.
    "We won't stop looking.” Daniel spoke for them both.
    "You should. If the prides don't want her found, she won't be. We take care of our mistakes, boys. Rest assured that Gina was one of them."
    His heart slowed almost to the point of stopping while the meaning behind her words seeped into his mind. Was.
    Deadly calm washed through him. “I'll kill you.” And he would. If it took a thousand years, he'd find a way. “She wasn't a mistake. She was a person, a beautiful, caring, energetic woman and if anything's happened to her… I. Will. Kill. You."
    The woman laughed and he supposed to some, it could have been thought of as seductive. To him, it was nails scratching on a chalkboard. “Human, you couldn't kill me if you tried. No one can. I am the beginning and end of this race. Save your weak threats for someone who may take heed."
    Patrick stepped forward. “We want her back."
    "Why? Why do you want someone who is only half of what she was meant to be? Who you,” she pointed at Daniel, “worked to have exposed to the