Free Divine Savior by Kathi S. Barton Page B

How he had hurt his mate with the mistrust and hate he had felt.
    “ I have to find her, Sara.”
    “ We will, Colin. I promise you, we will.” She answered him back. He hoped she was right.
    Colin thought about Aaron and Sara. Their love was so powerful, so strong. He thought the way they seemed to continually touch one another, or pass a look...had thought it was silly and unnecessary. But now, now that he had touched her, he wanted more of the same thing. Much, much more.
    If Colin and his mate could have but half of what Sara and Aaron had as a mated couple, he could count himself very lucky.

~ CHAPTER SEVEN~
    “I would like you all to meet Dominic Marshall. I’ve asked him to come here from another master’s realm to help us track Colin’s mate. He’s agreed to help us out. His record for recovery is excellent.” Aaron looked around the room. He had already spoken to Sara about this even before he had asked for the help from another master.
    A vampire in Aaron’s position did not ask for help; it just wasn’t done. It not only made one look as if he could not make things work in his own realm, but it also made one beholden to the other master. In this case, however, the other master owed Aaron a favor and was more than glad to have the debt repaid without any effort or cost to him or the realm. Aaron hated the arrogant bastard, too.
    Dominic didn’t look like the others, in dress or in manner. He was tall and fit like them, but that’s where the resemblance ended. Dominic had been a boxer in his previous life and continued with it still, though he didn’t make a living as one. His long hair was dark; almost a blue-black, and he had a widow’s peak deep in the front of his forehead. Dominic’s skin was a light tan in color; his cheek bones where prominent, probably inherited from some Cherokee Indian in his blood line. Dominic had not worn a suit once since he had been old enough to need one. And he didn’t now. His shirt was a very loud print of cockatoos and palm trees. His pants were light-colored khakis and he wore white tennis shoes most of the time. He was so different than the others in the room that Aaron thought he would feel uncomfortable. But he didn’t seem to be.
    Looking for the girl had become a lesson in futility. When she used her magic, which was not often, it was sparingly. Also, by the time they got a fix on her location, she was gone, leaving only her scent to tease at Colin. Phillip was giddy with excitement in tracking her. Colin was ready to brain him. Aaron could see a mighty fight coming between the two beings if Colin didn’t find his mate soon.
    Aaron had begun to worry about Colin over the past few days. He hadn’t been resting well, nor feeding well either. If he didn’t take better care of himself, Aaron, as his master, would have to step in and put him into the deep sleep of his kind to help him regenerate. Aaron didn’t want to do that. But his friend’s health was much more important than Colin being pissed off at him.
    “Aaron, what have you done? What have you promised to have him brought here? It couldn’t have been cheap. I’ll pay. Whatever the price, I’ll pay.” Aaron looked at his best friend. He had hoped that Colin would be too worried to think about trades of help and prices, but apparently not.
    “I was owed a debt and it is now paid. As for the payment that Dominic wants, it’s to become a subject of mine. I can grant this, provided he does as he is asked and causes me no grief.” Aaron looked at Dominic again and thought he would cause grief; the question was how much.
    At the interview, Aaron hadn’t liked the younger vamp, but after talking with the man’s master, Aaron could understand Dominic’s arrogance. Aaron had made a deal with Dominic. Aaron would ask for his freedom, but only after the job was complete.
    The previous master to Aaron’s realm had been the same sort of monster that Dominic was subject to. Aaron decided to do