Free Darkness Awakened by Katie Reus

we’re going to start hitting up addresses of newly rented vacation homes along the beach. There are a lot.”
    She blinked as she digested his words. “Of course. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.” She shook her head, her self-disgust clear.
    Reaching out, he tugged on one of her hips, pulling her close. To his surprise, she leaned into him, her piercing gaze on his. “That’s good, but what about unused places? If someone is trying to hide my daughter they might just use a home closed up for the winter, not rent a place.”
    He nodded at her reasoning, something he’d already thought of himself. The truth was, whoever had taken her daughter could even own a home, which would make searching that much more difficult. But he had to narrow down search zones somehow until he had a better lead. “It won’t be just you and me hunting for her. My Guardian will be helping us and so will four of my warriors. The tracker will be trying to hunt down any scents from the bomb, but—”
    “You told your packmates about my daughter?” She tried to step back, but he held firm.
    She could have shoved him off if she’d truly wanted to, but she stilled, which told him all he needed to know. She was welcoming his touch even if she was angry. His other hand searched out her other hip. “I just texted them with orders to meet me to form a hunting party. Gabriel and I will divide the addresses when they arrive. My warriors didn’t know about this meeting if that’s what you’re worried about.”
    At his words she relaxed a fraction. “So what are you telling them?”
    “The truth. That an old friend needs help finding her kidnapped daughter and my pack will be providing all the services she needs. And, that no one else is privy to this information.”
    “You trust these warriors?” Her voice was hesitant.
    He nodded. “With my life. They supported me before I defeated my uncle.”
    She swallowed hard and nodded. “Okay. If you trust them, I trust them.” Placing her palms gently against his chest, her fingers dug into him for a moment.
    The feel of her set him on fire. He hated the circumstances, but having Lyra this close was making his wolf crazy. Making him crazy with a hunger he just couldn’t contain anymore.
    She continued. “Thank you for doing this. You don’t owe me anything and—”
    Taking himself by surprise, he bent his head and crushed his mouth over hers. They’d have less than sixty seconds before his men arrived, but he didn’t care. He didn’t want her gratitude, he just wanted her. Had from the moment he’d spotted her in that bar all those years ago. Right now he also wanted to make her suffering stop. To give her just a few seconds of peace. Her hands fisted the front of his shirt, twisting it tightly as his tongue stroked hers, hungry and urgent. She met him stroke for stroke, her tongue flicking against his in a way that reminded him of raw fucking.
    Her taste was addicting.
    Erotic.
    And everything he’d been missing for seventeen years.
    Abruptly he pulled back, breathing hard and trying to will his body under control. His erection pressed painfully against his zipper and he wished they were anywhere else under any other circumstances. Not one where she was worried out of her mind for her daughter. Finding Vega, giving Lyra peace, that he could do. Hell, he’d tear this damn city apart to find her daughter. Yeah, because it was the right thing to do, but also because this was Lyra. He would do anything for this female. “I’m sorry,” he said tightly, stepping back from her.
    She looked as if she might respond, but at the sound of vehicles approaching they both paused and looked around the corner of the warehouse. “Is that your pack?”
    “Yeah.” Once the headlights turned off, he clearly recognized all six vehicles.
    Seconds later four warriors, one tracker, and Gabriel and Victoria got out of their respective vehicles. Gabriel must have asked Victoria to follow so he’d