Free Captive's Kiss by Sharon Kay

count for something that I’m bringing in a Watcher? The strongest of the strong? He’ll draw huge crowds.”
    The Viper cast her a slit-eyed glance. “You’re not in a position to bargain or advocate for yourself, female. I suggest you stop talking.”
    Tanner’s boots scuffed the path behind her, kicking a stray pebble forward to roll between her feet. She wasn’t alone. She had no idea how he thought he’d get them all out, but she trusted him. He had a team. He had a plan.
    Gods, he had the entire Watcher army at his back, probably, if needed.
    Trust him. She took a deep breath and walked silently in step with the Viper, not talking until they reached the compound.
    It was only when they stepped inside, and two Vipers grabbed Tanner’s arms while two others removed his weapons, that her resolve faltered. And gods, he had a lot of weapons, most hidden in places she didn’t know you could hide them. He remained staring straight ahead as if this were something he went through every day, but somehow she detected the undercurrent of his anger.
    How? She had no clue, other than to chalk it up to common sense. He was letting an enemy make him vulnerable. Of course he’d be pissed.
    But the tension in the air thickened to sword-slicing levels when the guards moved to pat her down. Saige did her best to look bored and unconcerned, praying that Tanner wouldn’t react to the Vipers touching her. She caught his eyes which flared with a low, menacing light. He clenched his teeth. Please , she willed her thoughts to him, as if that would somehow help. Act like you don’t care.
    Eyes locked, she endured the frisking while he stared, frozen, as if any little move would make him explode.
    Finally the guards finished and directed them down the dank stairs to the cells. Entering the corridor, she was met with the usual barrage of threats to choke, dismember, or violate her. She steeled herself, praying this would be the last time she made this walk.
    But a low growl escaped Tanner’s throat. Oh no. Please keep up the charade. She hunched her shoulders, embarrassed that he had to hear this. Just going into the cell, having his fire power and strength sapped, would be bad enough.
    They reached an empty cell. Yeah, the Serus demon she’d brought in yesterday had occupied the last available cell-but that was yesterday. Someone else had died in the ring last night, freeing up a spot for a new prisoner.
    The guard slid open the bars.
    “You need to go in there,” Saige told Tanner calmly, though her every nerve was screaming for him not to.
    Tanner obeyed, walking in and turning to face her. The bars slammed shut. He lunged forward, clutching the metal, staring at her, eyes on fire with an expression she couldn’t name.
    Saige held his gaze and backed away, full of mixed feelings. Trust him.
    He was her only hope.
    And if he hadn’t calculated right, he could die here.
    Tears pricked her eyes and she hurried away. She focused on getting to her room, on the gray door with no lock, and ignored the heinous words lobbed at her from the men.
    She flung the door open and ducked inside, slamming it behind her. “Logan.”
    He dropped the book he’d been reading and got off his bed, meeting her in two steps. “Are you okay? Let’s get you sitting down.”
    “No, I’ll be okay. I won’t black out. Logan, oh my gods.” She led him into the tiny bathroom. They’d searched the room for bugs and hadn’t found any, but still, she didn’t want to have this conversation right by the door. “I met a Watcher today.”
    “Whoa.” Logan’s eyes widened. “And you brought him here?”
    She nodded.
    “So he’s locked up like all the rest? How…wait. You didn’t use your power to get him here?”
    “No. He’s going to help us.” She recounted all of the day’s events as Logan studied her, hope in his eyes. “I don’t know what they have planned, but…I trust him.”
    “You smell like him,” Logan said, not judging her but