Free The Shadow Wolf by Bonnie Vanak Page B

her big blue eyes. He bit back a rich curse. “I could kill him for hurting you.”
    â€œHe’s not the only one. He just did what every other Draicon wants to do.”
    Disturbing images emerged as he touched his mind to hers. Men leering at her with lust in their eyes, grabbing at her body and thinking they could molest her because she had no rights. Draicon females mocking her ugly dark purple tunic and pants when she longed to wear brightly colored dresses like they did. Even Draicon children jeering and chasing her away from their campfire on the beach.
    â€œI hate how they make me feel,” she said in a low voice.
    Taking a deep breath, he forced the raging wolf down. “Listen to me, chère. Don’t give him that power over you. You’re better than he is, always will be better than those who strike out just because you’re different. Understand?”
    A wobbly smile touched her mouth. “One day, my people will be free. I’ll see to it, Gabriel. I’ll fight for their freedom so the girls won’t ever have to be shamed like that again.”
    He reached over, touched her cheek in a reassuring gesture.
    Soft silk beneath his fingertips. He withdrew his hand as the beast growled to the surface, aroused now by desire.
    Silence fell in the car for a few minutes, interrupted by Jillian’s quivering voice.
    â€œWhy do they hate us so much, Megan? We never would have hurt him, but they always want to hurt us.”
    â€œI don’t know, honey. I honestly don’t know.”
    Anger burned through him as he caught sight of the frightened twins.
    â€œI just wanted to know where Disney’s World was. Was that wrong? Maybe Mickey doesn’t like Shadows, either.” Jenny seemed on the verge of crying.
    â€œI bet Mickey does,” he assured her.
    Gabriel’s chest felt hollow. It wasn’t Jenny’s fault, but his. He should have ensured he and Megan were alone when he had revealed his real identity. He’d been open and honest and now look at them. Their lives at risk because he’d been careless.
    Just like he’d been with Simone and Amelia.
    Now he stood to lose two more innocents and Megan for the same reason.
    Not on my damn watch, he thought in sudden rage.
    â€œIf you see anything suspicious, let me know,” he told her, glancing at the green sign in the distance.
    â€œWhat about the car? He has a description.”
    â€œI cloaked it with my magick.” Gabriel gestured to the side mirror. “Look outside.”
    Instead of a white minivan, their vehicle appeared as a gleaming black Mercedes. Megan glanced at him with respect.
    â€œAre we being followed?” she asked.
    â€œWe will be. Every Enforcer south of Canada will be chasing us now.”
    â€œBecause of the bounty on our heads?”
    â€œBecause of the bounty on mine. You and the twins would bring in only six figures. An Enforcer who turns traitor is worththree times that amount.” His jaw tightened. “And then they get to watch the show.”
    â€œThe show…oh God!”
    He yanked a blind over the sudden mental image of the council’s warden with the castration instrument in his hands. “Sorry,” he said. “I’m not used to someone being inside my head yet.”
    His reassuring smile didn’t ease the strain on her paling face. “Don’t worry, darling, I’ve got a cast iron hide too tough for any of them, and I’m fast. If they ever did catch me, I’d trade them my recipe for Magma Sauce for my jewels. Fair trade, I’d say.”
    â€œHow can you joke about something so serious?” she whispered.
    His guts clenched as he shuttered his mind. Because I can’t afford to let you inside me, and see what I’m really feeling. “I never joke about trading my recipes,” he said mildly.
    From the backseat, Jenny spoke in a small voice. “Gabriel, Megan, I’m sorry.