Free Alpha Hunter by Cyndi Friberg

“I didn’t have many options. This look is hard to pull off, even in Las Vegas.”
    Drakkin motioned his mate to his side. “How did you two meet?”
    “Angie’s sister, Tori, was the set designer for Star-Crossed .” Aria sat in the chair beside Drakkin. “Angie often assisted her with the project.”
    “I was Tori’s errand girl,” Angie muttered. “But it gave me an excuse to go backstage and the entire cast of Star-Crossed was hot.”
    The women laughed, but possessiveness crawled through Blayne, making him feel edgy. One kiss and he was ready to fight any man who looked at Angie? He inwardly shook his head. Lust was counterproductive to his purpose. They were here to get rid of her metaphysical bug, not start a family.
    Family . The word echoed through his being, hollow and hard. He’d given up on the concept a long time ago.
    “What are you doing on Bilarri?” Aria asked.
    “It’s a long story.” Angie sighed and returned to her chair.
    Drakkin quickly told Aria about the Shadow Assassins. “They’ve aligned themselves with a Rodyte who is helping them find mates on Earth, with or without human cooperation.”
    “Be cause of Angie’s Ontarian blood, Nazerel has focused on her,” Blayne added.
    “Is someone guarding Tori?” Aria reached over and squeezed Drakkin’s arm. “ If all this is true, she has Ontarian blood too. Maybe you should go get her.”
    “The Mystic Militia is protecting Tori,” Drakkin assured. “She has soul bonded with Lor.”
    “Soul bonded?” Angie’s gaze snapped toward Blayne. “They said they were lovers. Somehow I don’t think that’s the same as ‘soul bonded’.”
    He hadn’t detailed Tori’s situation, so how had Drakkin … It shouldn’t surprise Blayne. Drakkin could effortlessly read minds, scan memories and even dreams. He instinctively perceived things with little or no information. No one knew the full scope of Drakkin’s abilities, because he never felt the need to brag about them, but everyone who met the enigmatic Bilarrian was amazed by his effortless command of magic.
    “Is soul bonded as permanent as it sounds?” Angie persisted.
    “It is, which is why Tori sidestepped the issue,” Blayne explained. “She didn’t want to upset you.”
    “I’m not upset, exactly, just surprised. They couldn’t have known each other for more than a week or so.”
    “Things progress a lot faster when one can look into the heart and mind of one’s lover,” Aria sounded sort of dreamy and her hand lingered on Drakkin’s arm. “Humans must rely on what they’re told or what they see. Actions and attitudes can be faked. With a soul bond, all artifice and deception falls away. We’re able to experience each other on a level humans will never understand.”
    How nice for you . Rather than speak the grumbling thought, Angie offered Aria a tight smile.
    Fear and frustration propelled the thought into Blayne’s mind. His connection with Angie was still active, but he’d constricted his end so only strong emotions passed across the link. “Our primary concern is the possibility that Nazerel can track Angie. During their last interaction, he briefly touched her mind.”
    “Does Nazerel share your gift or did he bug her?” Drakkin wanted to know.
    “He anchored a tracer strand. I don’t think it’s functional, but there were complications when I attempted to sever the link.”
    Drakkin stood and strolled across the room, hands clasped behind his back. His nonchalance was calculated. He was downplaying the importance and the danger. “Will you allow me to take a look?” He smiled at Angie, but she remained tense and suspicious , clearly not buying his casual act.
    “He won’t hurt you,” Aria assured. “He’s very good at this.”
    Drakkin shot his mate a secretive smile and Blayne felt the subtle ripple of telepathic communication. Drakkin was just flirting with his mate, but Blayne didn’t want Angie to misinterpret the exchange. He stood