Free Twisted (Rogues Shifter Series Book 3) by Gayle Parness Page A

courtesy.”
    “I’m so sor ry.” I interrupted him. “If there was anything that I could do to change what happened, I would. Liam made me feel what it was like for a fae to be bound in iron.” I shuddered at the memory and he looked at me thoughtfully. “ I didn’t know, but that’s not an excuse. The fact that they were locked up should have been reason enough for me to call someone.”
    He shrugged. “You loved your father and did what he ordered you to do. If my father ordered me to imprison a shifter, I would. I cannot easily forgive what you did, but I will treat you with courtesy and not h ostility while we're together in your sister’s home.” He nodded his head the way the fae do and stretched out his hand. “Thank you for breakfast, Bridgett. I’ll take your plate.”
    I smiled shyly when I handed it to him, feeling a thousand percent better than I had an hour ago. The phone rang.
    “This is Bridgett.”
    “Aaron here. I have a message for Garrett. It’s important.”
    “Hold on one sec.” I grabbed a pencil and a pad of paper. “Ok ay, go ahead.”
    “We have a report from the North Forest Pack in a southeastern section of Washington state that there’s been some unusual activity in the area. Two goblins were sighted by wolves out on patrol. There was also a report of a tall man with golden hair appearing behind a copse of spruce trees at a particularly powerful ley line crossroads. These are the exact coordinates.” He read them off to me and I copied them and then read them back.
    “M embers of the pack had been patrolling their territory when he was sighted. Their names are Johnny Mathews and Derek Geraldi .The pack leader is Craig Haldeman. A human body was found nearby. The young woman was completely drained of blood and several of her organs were missing. It’s obvious he’s dabbling in blood magic.”
    “Blood magic? Like the witch who took Garrett last month?”
    “Yes, he kills to feed a spell or to enhance his power. It’s against all of our laws, even the fae .” Farrell was standing quietly a few feet away. He’d heard everything. He nodded in agreement. Kennet was breaking the laws laid down by his own people.
    “Is there anything else I should tell him?”
    “Tell him I’m heading there with Catherine. We’ll help track the goblins and keep an eye out for Kennett. Franklin will continue to keep in communication with the other packs in the area.”
    “I’ll get the message to Garrett right away.“
    “He’s resting now. “
    “He can wake up to get messages and give orders. Then he crashes out again. Plus there’s Liam.”
    “Seems like he’s left things in good hands.“
    “Thanks Aaron.” I was pleased to hear the complement.
    “Get to work.” He hung up. I dialed Garrett’s cell. He answered in two rings and didn’t even sound sleepy. I gav e him all the information and heard him writing everything down as I spoke. I hung up after I’d finished so he could do what he needed to do.
    Farrell had a glazed expression which turned clear again after a few seconds. “I communicated the message to Liam, Brina, Aedus and Lord Caelen.”
    “Cool: a fae conference call.” I saw the corners of his mouth twitch but he quickly resumed a neutral expression. He was dressed in jeans and a button down shirt, not exactly fae apparel, but I supposed he wanted to fit in with the rest of us. His dark lavender eyes were sparkling with excitement. He might be enjoying the effort to capture Kennett.
    “Were any of those f ae prisoners your friends or your family?”
    He almost turned away, but then changed his mind. “My lover.” There was real pain in his voice.
    “Oh.” I didn’t know what to say.
    “Her name is Ashlyn. She is the one who spoke for the group because she was there the longest. Yet , she agreed that you should be spared.”
    “I remember her. She looked like an angel.” I could see her standing there telling Jackie that I wouldn’t have to die.