Free Primal Law by J.D. Tyler Page B

there was no chain. Curiously, only his wrists were bound in irons, and his hands were encased in some sort of silvery mesh gloves.
    He was stunning.
    And absolutely despondent. He’d not been fed, had no clothes, and no bedding to keep him warm. Outrage left her breathless. Who was supposed to be caring for these poor creatures? Why were they even here, locked away like death-row inmates?
    “Oh, God,” she breathed. Were they scheduled to die?
    Across the way, the opposite cells held an array of different creatures, both lovely and, well, homely. Some were snarling and pissed at the world, some as sad as the winged man. One looked like a small gremlin covered in brown fur, wide mouth showing a double set of razorsharp teeth as it maniacally chewed on the chain around its ankle. It was easy to see why some prisoners like the feral wolf and the little gremlin would be detained, but what of the others?
    Shaking in anger, she backed away. Hit the exit and spun—
    And ran straight into a solid male chest.
    “What the hell are you doing in a restricted area, sugar britches?” the man rumbled, grabbing her arm.
    Tilting her head back, she found herself staring into Aric’s light green eyes. Annoyance was stamped on his handsome face, and she wondered if he was capable of expressing happiness. Dark auburn hair trailed over one shoulder and tickled her nose. So did his scent, potent and male. Almost as good as Jaxon’s.
    She attempted to wrench her arm free. “I didn’t know it was off-limits, seeing as how there’s no sign.”
    “There is a sign, down there.” He pointed to the end of the corridor. “You must’ve missed it.”
    “Sorry. Now let go.”
    “Not until you answer my question—what were you doing?”
    “Looking for the dining room. Obviously I got lost.”
    His gorgeous eyes narrowed and he jerked his head in the direction from which she’d come. “See anything interesting in there?”
    “Plenty,” she hissed, seething. Damn, he was impossible to budge. “Why are those poor creatures locked away like criminals? What are you planning to do with them?”
    His laugh was not a nice one. “Darlin’, any one of those poor creatures will gladly rip off your face if given the chance. And I’m not planning to do anything with them. We just bring in the rogue paranormals that are causing havoc in whatever part of the world we’re sent. We subdue and rehabilitate them if we can. If not, we terminate them.”
    “What?” she cried, gaping at him. “That’s not fair! What kind of monsters are you all to play judge and jury over creatures that aren’t even human? They can’t possibly understand what’s happening to them! They’re probably confused and frightened! I’d try to rip off your face too if I was running around lost in a strange world and you came at me with a weapon—hell, I want to now!”
    He stared at her for about two seconds before he burst out laughing. Infuriating man! Egotistical SOB.
    “Ease up, wildcat. If you were in charge, what would you do differently, hmm?” His thumb brushed over her lower lip in an intimate caress.
    Far too intimate for her liking. She jerked her head back, breaking contact and glaring up at him. “The opposite of whatever’s being done now, I can tell you that. I think they need someone to show them some compassion, to see that someone cares. If any of them can be sent home—wherever that might be—we should make it happen. If we can’t, they need a purpose. Jobs, anything to make them feel useful. Important.”
    “Wow, a real Pollyanna.” From his lips, it didn’t sound like a compliment, the words tinged with bitterness. “Spread a little love and the whole universe will hold hands and be healed. How about you start practicing right here?”
    Before she processed the challenge, he cupped her face, dipped his head, and took her mouth in a searing kiss. Caught by surprise—and insanely curious—she went with it. His lips were full and firm,