Free 15 Targeted by Evangeline Anderson Page B

her.”
    “That’s where Kate comes in,” the Wulven Kindred said, nodding at the slim female beside him.
    “I brought Rone in to track the Earth girl we’re looking for,” Commander Sylvan said. “But he asked that we allow his mate, Kate to help.”
    “Forgive me but if you’re the tracker, how can your mate help?” Thrace asked, frowning.
    “Kate has a gift. She knows things about people sometimes,” Rone said.
    He drew his mate forward and her long, curly hair glinted under the overhead glows. It was an unusual color, Thrace thought, even for an Earth girl. Not really red but not really blonde either—it was as though someone had mixed strands of both in her hair with the result being a fiery mass of coppery ringlets that surrounded her elfin face. Her eyes were extraordinary too— clear green with gold flecks.
    “The Knowing…that’s what my Mama always called it. It’s a family thing.” Kate was blushing but she held her head high. “It doesn’t always work but I’ve been able to help Rone in the past—especially in cases like this where you don’t even know where to begin.”
    “We’re a team,” Rone said. “And if Kate can tell me where to start looking, I’ll have a much better chance of catching the scent.”
    “Well, all right…” Thrace shook his head and looked at Commander Sylvan. “I’m glad you have someone with such excellent credentials working on this but to be honest, I still don’t understand why I’m here. I mean, I’m not even Kindred.”
    “No, but you’re the only one who’s seen the girl we’re looking for,” Commander Sylvan said.
    “Only in a vision given to me by Two—that sick bastard,” Thrace growled. The Dark Kindred who had finally been killed by his own scion was still a sore point with him. Because of him, Thrace had nearly lost Trin completely and he would never forget or forgive that.
    “Yes, but that might be enough to give Kate’s gift room to work,” Rone said. “If you could just let her touch you—”
    “I already did that with Commander Sylvan’s kin—the priestess, Nadiah,” Thrace objected. And he’d been reluctant to do it then. There were memories in his past, secrets he didn’t want anyone seeing. Trin was the only one who knew and she loved him anyway. But as far as Thrace was concerned, no one else needed to see what he’d survived.
    The tiny Earth girl seemed to understand his concern.
    “Don’t worry,” she said soothingly. “I’m not interested in looking at your past—just the vision you saw. I won’t go rooting around in your head, honest.”
    “Well…” Thrace frowned. “I’m not even sure what you could see.”
    She shrugged her slim shoulders.
    “Maybe nothing. But maybe I’ll get a flash of where the girl is and be able to lead Rone to her. It’s worth a try, don’t you think?”
    “There is no obligation, of course,” Commander Sylvan said. “But we would greatly appreciate it if you would try to help Rone and his mate find the girl. You know as well as we do what she faces if the Verrak assassin takes her.”
    Thrace sighed. The Verrak were cold and utterly ruthless. Death was the best the girl could hope for if the assassin got to her before they could. Most Verrak killed their target and left them in plain sight—a message to whoever had wanted them dead in the first place. But there were tales of some who took their prey to another location and played with them cruelly before finally taking their lives. He wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
    “Yes, I know. Very well…” He looked at Rone’s petite mate. “I’ll touch hands with you—that’s all. But not in public—not here in the Council Chambers.”
    “Of course not,” Commander Sylvan said swiftly. “Completely understandable. Please feel free to step into the antechamber outside.”
    “Agreed.” Thrace nodded shortly and left the chamber, followed closely by Rone and his mate.
    Once outside with the doors closed, he turned