Free Amber Flame (The Flame Series Book 4) by Caris Roane Page A

He knew Dean. He was a good man. He was also frequently blocked by forces outside his control, some emanating from the cartels and others from the Five Bridges Tribunal itself.
    Finally, Fergus asked, “What’s happened since last night, that proof of an illegal weapon won’t reverse Sydon’s status with the Gordion Pack?” Something else had to be going on.
    Dean huffed a heavy wolf sigh that carried a grunt at the end. “The cartels have gotten involved. They’re backing Sydon. You know that there’s a heavy demand for female wolves in the sex clubs, especially when they’ve been dosed with amber flame. Sydon has given the cartels the right to take any woman they want from the Gordion Pack, mated to another wolf or not. My sources tell me at least five are headed to Savage Strip as we speak.”
    “Warren told me Sydon was sending them to the Naked Wolf, but he didn’t know about the cartels. So, what are you saying? Can I expect any help from the council?”
    “No. I’m sorry Fergus. It wouldn’t matter if you produced a thousand ultrasound photos. Though the council has to stand down, I won’t block you if you want to retake your pack. But only a dominance battle will serve. In fact, this phone call never happened. Do you understand?”
    “I do.”
    “Fergus, give him hell and I’m sorry.”
    When Fergus hung up, he turned his phone over and over in his hands. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up at Mary. She wore jeans again, a pair of running shoes, and a couple of tank tops, one over the other like he’d seen some of his wolves do. One of the tanks was white, the other lavender. She looked beautiful with her long blond hair loose around her shoulders and a concerned glint in her light brown eyes.
    He covered her fingers with his palm.
    “Tell me everything,” she said. “Again, I’m supposed to help you, so use me.”
    As he spelled out the atrocities underway at his compound, he watched her jaw grow tighter and tighter. He’d half expected her to break down and weep, maybe even change her mind about joining him in Savage.
    Instead, she dipped her chin. “I’m ready, Fergus. Let’s go kick Sydon’s ass to hell and beyond.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    MARY’S HEART POUNDED as Fergus held his arm wide for her. She stood with him on her back deck, the night sky showing a few stars despite Phoenix’s light pollution.
    She stepped onto his right boot, unable to believe she was actually going to fly with Fergus all the way to Savage.
    His sawdust voice hit her ear and sent chills over her shoulders. “Now, slide your arm around my neck.”
    She felt dizzy as she lifted her arm and did what he told her to do. When he pulled her tight against his body and his wolf heat cascaded over her, she’d never felt more secure. “So, you’re going to take me high into the air?”
    “I won’t go too far up, just enough to escape detection by the average eye.”
    She was close enough to smell his wolf scent, which had the effect of making certain parts of her shiver and ache all over again. Deep within her abdomen, she felt that same strange tug which didn’t make sense to her. It felt sexual, yet not. It felt connected, oddly, to her heart, and she had no idea what it meant.
    But it felt more wolf than fae, part of the sharing of inexplicable alter characteristics with Fergus that she doubted she’d ever comprehend.
    As he rose into the air, she tightened her hold on his neck.
    Fergus switched to telepathy. Don’t choke me now. But she could see that his lips curved.
    Despite how nervous she felt at flying for the first time, she eased back on her grip. He held her firmly around the waist so she knew she was safe.
    She forced herself to relax and take in the view. Over a month ago, when he’d carried her to safety, she’d been unconscious. Now, she could have a good look at the western section of Five Bridges.
    So much of our land, she said, staying mind-to-mind, looks like we’ve been battling with