Free Smoke and Fire: Part 4 by Donna Grant Page A

hard look. “You’re seriously asking me that?”
    “I had to ask. Then that leaves one option. The Druid is powerful enough to be linked so deep inside Kinsey’s and Esther’s minds that she knew what was going on.”
    “As soon as Esther gave up the name and Kinsey saw me doing the search, the Druid knew. Then she triggered Kinsey.”
    Con lifted one shoulder. “Then how did Esther get triggered?”
    “Maybe all her training somehow kicked in? We may never know.”
    “No, I doubt we ever will.”
    *   *   *
    Kinsey was so tired of running. It didn’t matter how far she went, she wasn’t getting anywhere. Memories rushed by her in a blur, but there was no way out.
    She was going to be trapped in her mind. After all her fighting the unknown force, after finding Ryder again, she was going to lose it all.
    “No!” she yelled.
    She’d come too far to have it slip from her hands so easily. Kinsey wasn’t going to give up. She’d run as far and as fast as needed until she reached wherever she was going.
    Out of nowhere two doors appeared before her. She skidded to a halt to stop from running into them. One door was white, the other black.
    “Not another representation of good and bad,” she said with a twist of her lips.
    If there were two doors, that meant only one would take her back to Ryder. The other … it didn’t matter what the other did because she wouldn’t be with Ryder.
    The darkness earlier had blinded her, keeping her nearly in one spot. The magic used on her took her hearing and held her down.
    The white had allowed her to see, or did it? The magic used pressed her down, making her weary and exhausted.
    Neither was better than the other.
    Kinsey tried to walk around them, but she couldn’t go anywhere. Her only choice was to pick a door and hope it was the right one.
    She went to the white door and put her hand on the knob. Right before she turned it, she drew her hand back as something deep inside her shouted, “No!”
    Kinsey stepped back and looked at the black door. It reminded her of the three years she’d lived in a kind of obscurity after Ryder left.
    It was only when he entered her life once more that she saw the world anew.
    “Only light comes out of darkness,” she whispered.
    Kinsey grasped the knob on the black door and opened it.

Chapter Forty-five
    Ryder didn’t want to talk anymore. He just wanted Kinsey to wake up.
    “If Esther came out of it, so will Kinsey,” Con said. “She’s a strong one.”
    That made Ryder look at Con anew. “You’ve something nice to say about her after all of this?”
    “It’s the truth. If you also consider it polite, then so be it. Though I’ll admit I think she’s a good match for you. In every way.”
    Ryder was so taken aback that he could only stare at Con. He knew how hard Con had tried to dissuade both Kings and mates from being together, and yet he was giving his approval now?
    “Doona look at me as if I’m dim-witted,” Con grumbled. “I’ve come to know Kinsey in the time she’s been here. I’ve seen her with you and the others. Despite her initial fear, she’s accepted you and this way of life.”
    Ryder opened his mouth to respond when Kinsey gasped, her back bowing off the granite as her eyes flew open. He held her as she gripped him tightly, her gaze locked with his.
    She was panting, her chest heaving as she touched his face. “Is it really you?”
    “It’s me,” he said with a smile. “You found your way out of your mind.”
    Her eyes slid closed as she buried her head against his chest and cried. “No. I found my way back to you.”
    Ryder held her as he saw Con slip quietly from the chamber. He smoothed his hand down her hair and rejoiced in having her with him.
    “I didn’t do anything,” Kinsey said, her head snapping up. “I never betrayed you or anyone here.”
    “I know.” Ryder hurried to calm her.
    She shook her head. “No, don’t just say that. I need you to know that it wasn’t