Free Claiming Trinity by Kali Willows Page B

attractive women together. Redhead, brunette, and a blonde.”
    “The sisters.” Rekkus nodded.
    “What thoughts did she pick up on?” Cemil asked.
    “She didn’t specify, but she said they made her blood boil, and she saw the faces they hid. She would have scrapped with all three of them.” Arawn set his hands on his hips. “I distracted her. I should have asked,” he grumbled.
    “You kept the peace. Nothing about the shape she was in seemed logical.” Kane patted his shoulder. “And the women didn’t do anything specific, or at least anything we noticed. They sat at dinner. Then we took her back to the villa.”
    “There’s more, I’m afraid.” The tall, slender fae knitted her brows. “The death of her uncle…she was there but has absolutely no memory of the death, the night, or the day after.”
    Kane crossed his arms. “Isn’t that normal with trauma?”
    “On a conscious level, yes, but there should be a subconscious recall of some sort.”
    “But I saw the images,” Cemil disputed.
    “When?” Arawn twisted to face him.
    “The last time we met at her office in New York. I picked up on graphic details, brutal images.” Cemil shuddered.
    “How did he die?” Kane whispered.
    “I didn’t see his death, but it was slow, vicious, and painful. I saw the aftermath which haunts her.”
    “I read the same with her mother’s ring for her parents’ deaths,” Cyrus concurred.
    “Look, I can’t explain it,” Trixie said. “But it’s as though she was traumatized by these brutal deaths, and then someone erased the memories completely but left the damage in its wake.”
    Cemil cupped his chin. “I’ll have to take her to the Elysian Fields. She needs at least some closure to resolve her grief.”
    “Not until after we make the talisman,” Sarka spoke up.
    “And after some food and another night of sleep. She’s exhausted on every level, physically, mentally and emotionally,” Cemil finished.
    “So, her treatment and protection is sorted out.” Cyrus stared him down. “Kane, you continue to sit watch while she sleeps. Arawn, take turns on watch.”
    “You got it, boss.” Arawn’s eagerness to get back to their banshee and see for himself she was okay overpowered him.
    “There’s one piece of the puzzle missing that really bothers me.” Rekkus locked gazes with Cyrus. He stepped closer to him.
    “I didn’t think we had enough pieces to form a puzzle,” Sarka sneered. Rekkus glared at her, and she straightened her posture. “What’s missing?”
    “If someone wants to hurt her, we won’t find out whom until we figure out why.”
    “How do you propose we do that?” Cemil tilted his head.
    “I haven’t figured it out yet, but I will.” Rekkus curled his lip.
    “She did mention one thing that seemed odd. She didn’t have much information, though,” Kane spoke up.
    “Go on?” Rekkus nodded.
    “She said her uncle took her and fled Ireland after her parents died, and he refused to raise her among her race.”
    “Did she say why?” Cyrus’s eyes widened.
    “Not much, but she said he felt the sovereign of the banshee is corrupt. From the way she described her childhood, they moved around a lot, and he was pretty anxious about it.”
     

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Trinity tossed and turned. As tired as she felt, she couldn’t sleep any longer. She threw the covers off and stared at the large round bamboo blades of the ceiling fan. The soft whoosh as it slowly spun did little to lull her restlessness. She gazed aimlessly at the dancing shadows from the blades against the plaster swirls of the butter cream ceiling.
    “You okay?” Kane approached the bed, a mug in hand.
    “Yeah, I know Trixie told me to sleep, but I’m not tired anymore.” She propped up against the hard wood of the headboard. “Is this for me?” She licked her dry lips with anticipation.
    “Sure is.” He handed it to her. “I just got up, myself. I debated brewing some coffee but went with this