Free Karac: Kaldar Warriors #1 by T.J. Yelden Page B

beyond a scent of his mate.  The two warriors that had circled the building came back into sight and each shook their head.  Karac sighed.  He knew it wouldn’t be that easy. 
    “You two, stay out here.  Mike and Carol, show me your daughter’s room.”  Karac thought he probably should have added please.  That was one thing he noticed about the humans was their requisite to be polite.  But it wasn’t in him to ask politely for anything when he was searching for his mate.  Mike glared in Karac’s general direction.  Whether it was directed at Karac or the warriors behind him, Karac didn’t ask.  Mike ushered Carol in the building ahead of him and Karac followed close behind.  The house was well built and lovingly decorated.  Karac could imagine his mate growing up within these walls a happy youth. 
    The couple led the way through the kitchen and dining room before making their way to the stairs.  Two of Karac’s warriors were on the first floor, taking images of things for later analysis.  Karac followed Ashley’s parents up the stairs and they went in the first room on the left.  The room itself seemed to be left alone for quite a few years.  Mementos from his mate’s younger years covered the walls.  She even had fake, soft looking animals in one corner that he knew from his research young human children liked.  Karac stepped further in the room and took a deep breath.  One trait the Kaldarhns’ possessed unknown to the humans was their sense of smell.  Kaldarhns could sort scents and track if necessary.  He could smell his mate in the room, but it was weak and he needed something more to reinforce the scent of her.  He turned back to Ashley’s parents.
    “You may return downstairs.  I need a moment alone.”  Karac used his commanding voice and neither Mike nor Carol tried to argue.  They did give him a parting glare before leaving the room.  With both of them headed downstairs, Karac took a closer look at the room.  It hadn’t been lived in for a while now.  Months at least.  But there was one clear scent out of all those in the room, and it called to his soul.  That had to be his mate’s scent.  Following the trail, he walked over to the closet and found older clothes hanging there.  He picked up a shirt and brought it to his nose.  Sweet, and utterly intoxicating.  This was his mate, he was sure of it.  While having her scent would help over distances, he only needed to be within range to track her down.  Better odds than before he came to the house.  He fisted the shirt and walked out of the room.
    “Let’s go.”  He knew three of the warriors were upstairs with him but he had what they needed.  They followed him downstairs just as the other two finished taking images of things around the house.  Karac turned to the older couple by the kitchen window.  Michael must have entered the home at one point because he stood off to the side as well.
    “If your daughter contacts you at any point, you are required to report it to local law enforcement who will then report it to us.”  Karac didn’t feel the need to let them know that any communication they made with anyone had been and would be monitored directly by his warriors.  Better chance of finding out more information if they didn’t know. 
    “So you aren’t searching for her anymore?” Carol asked, a little too hopeful in his opinion. 
    “We will continue the search until she is found.”  He watched as his warriors filed out of the house.  He noticed Calzen and Darrok waited behind him to watch his back.  There wasn’t a threat in the house, but he understood it was more out of habit than anything. 
    “But how will you know where to look?”  Carol questioned.  Darrok was the one to answer. 
    “We identified any known connection to your family and are currently searching those places.  Finding Karac’s mate is the top priority and we will not stop until she is located.”
    “How do you