Free Laura Jo Phillips by The Lobos' Heart Song Page A

He had learned a few things about females and diplomacy over the past months watching his Princes and their Arima, Lariah.
    Saige knew she was going to feel foolish being carried across the spaceport, but she was practical enough to know her own limitations.  “All right, if it makes it easier on everyone,” she replied.
    Dav stepped forward, leaned down and oh-so-very-carefully slid his arms around her, picking her up as easily as she would a baby.  He cradled her against his chest and smiled at her, the expression on his face causing her heart to skip a beat.  For some reason, he looked as though he had been given an enormous treasure and he hardly knew how to express his feelings about it.
    Saige returned his smile shyly, uncertain how to act around men who seemed to be so focused on her in real life.
     She turned to look at the Bearens.  “Thank you Jackson, Clark and Rob.  You did more than save my life.  For that, there should be something to say that's bigger than thank you , but if there is, I don't know it.”
    “It was our honor to come to your aid, Saige Taylor,” Jackson replied.  “You are a brave and forthright woman.  The Lobos are very lucky men.”
    Saige wasn't sure she understood that last part, but she could only smile as they all bowed to her.  She didn’t know how to react to that either, but as Dav chose that moment to turn around and walk out of the office, she didn’t have to worry about it.
     Dav moved quickly down the hall toward the main hub of the spaceport with Rob close by his side, both of them at their most vigilant.  With their precious Arima in Dav’s arms, they now had more to guard than they ever had before.
     
    The younger Bearen brothers left the office to carry Willy and Frank out to the ground-car, giving Jackson and Faron a moment alone to talk. 
    Faron waited silently for Jackson to tell him what he needed to know.  When Jackson took a long deep breath, Faron knew it would be bad and braced himself.
    “She was bound in a crate for, at a guess, three days,” Jackson said, his voice low and even.  “The bruises on her face are from the gag that was tied on her.”  Jackson paused a moment, frowning.  “It did not seem so tight that it would cause that much bruising, but then, I was not wearing it.  Perhaps the length of time it was on her contributed, or perhaps she bruises easily.”  He shook his head and continued.  “It took time for the circulation to return to her limbs, and of course that was painful, though she did not make a fuss about it.  Frankly, I’m surprised at how quickly she appears to be recovering from that.  Even so, I think she will have some soreness from that for several days, and probably more bruising as well unless Riata heals her.”
    Jackson paused again and Faron's eyes narrowed.  There was something more, something Jackson did not want to tell.  “Please, my friend,” Faron said softly.  Jackson nodded reluctantly. 
    “When she came out of the shower, I noticed that her eyes were swollen as from crying, and I asked her if she had been injured further.  She indicated that she had and I asked, or I tried to ask…but she said no, it wasn't that.  She was not raped.”
    Faron heaved a huge sigh of relief.  Such a thing could, and often did, destroy women.  He had seen it happen.  He felt something inside of him loosen to know that she had not suffered that cruelty.
    “She said that she had some bruising, and she said it in such a way that I knew the bruising was in a private area of her body.  I also noticed that she was sitting with her arms crossed protectively in front of her breasts.”
    Faron had thought himself prepared for hearing whatever Jackson was going to tell him.  But the rage rose in him so quickly, so unexpectedly, that he had no chance to withstand it.  He thought only to find and kill those who had harmed his Arima, and he would begin with the two human males. 
    “Faron, your Arima needs