Free Marked for Danger by Jennifer Leeland Page B

at her, his focus on the green-eyed woman. A jumble of memories slammed into her. Like she knew he was furious, even though his body seemed relaxed. It had something to do with the tilt of his head, the set of his mouth. How did she know that?
    She couldn't escape the reality. She knew this man, had known him. The marks showed they'd had some kind of sexual encounter. It was frustrating to run into a wall about herself, her childhood, her life. Her head pounded, and she rubbed her temples.
    The green-eyed woman handed her a flight suit with a strange insignia. Carina struggled into the thing, still dizzy.
    Xandros's voice was calm. “I assume you have a com."
    Atlana nodded. “I do.” She revealed a hidden compartment in the floor of the hut.
    Xandros knelt and reached for the dials. But before he touched them, he froze. “You're an Ardasian. You can read thoughts.” He glanced up at Atlana. “Can you help her?"
    Atlana's green eyes softened. “No. I can't. It takes specialized equipment to reverse a mind wipe. Would you give up your chance for escape to regain her memories?"
    His gaze slid back to the dials. “To give her back to herself? Yes."
    Carina stared at him. From the things he'd said earlier, she knew the priests would kill him, but she'd probably live if they were captured. But he was willing to risk it. To give her back her memories, her life.
    Atlana shot Carina an inquiring look. “Perhaps she doesn't want to remember."
    Xandros's head snapped up. “She would want to remember.” His blue eyes swerved to narrow in on her. “It probably frustrates her not to remember, not to know."
    Slowly, she nodded. “You're sure about that?"
    His attention was back on the com. “I know."
    Carina waited for him to elaborate, but he didn't. He flicked buttons, and a voice came over the com.
    "Where the hell are you?” A male voice, harsh and low, filled the hut.
    Xandros smiled. “Did you miss me, Fenway?"
    "Yes. But right now, I'm pissed at you.” There was something intimate, almost sexual in the way the two men spoke to each other. Carina's gaze narrowed on Xandros's face. He claimed to be her mate, yet she sensed something between him and this mystery man Fenway.
    "You don't have time to be pissed at me. We're on Nariad. The Brotherhood will find us any minute."
    "Right. You know what I need you to do, Xandros,” the voice said in an authoritative tone that made Carina shiver.
    Xandros's lips tightened. “Shaun—"
    "Do it, you stubborn bastard!” The man sounded worried, not angry. Carina raised her eyebrows.
    Her mate sighed. “All right. If you get here fast enough, I won't have to."
    "Don't risk it."
    The com clicked off, and Xandros straightened. Carina studied him. “What does he want you to do?"
    He sighed and took out a small capsule from a small pocket in his pants. He popped it in his mouth. “It's a tracking device.” His lips twisted. “I don't like tracking devices."
    She raised an eyebrow. “Is it permanent?"
    He shook his head. “It only works for forty-eight hours, but it may give Shaun time to find me if the Brotherhood finds us."
    "Do you think they will?"
    A huge explosion rocked the hut, and all three of them were thrown to the floor. Xandros rolled over to where she'd fallen from the chair. He put his hand over her mouth. “I think they have."
    Xandros glanced back at Atlana who'd picked herself up off the floor. “They'll kill you. You sense it, don't you?” The Brotherhood's hatred of the Ardasians was well-known.
    Atlana's nostrils flared. “Yes."
    "I'll cover for you. Get out of here."
    For a moment, those eerie green eyes held his. Then she crept toward the back of the house. Xandros rose, using his bulk to fill the front door. Carina tried to yank him back into the house.
    What he saw shocked him. The Brotherhood had sent four priests, not Primarian soldiers. That was a mistake. The villagers surrounded the four men who seemed to have no idea they were outnumbered.