Free Sought...Book 3 in the Brides of the Kindred series by Evangeline Anderson

catch in her throat
and she saw Sylvan’s face tighten. The molecular transport beam.
Could it be? “Aunt Abby,” she said. “Could…could you show us
that picture of Lauren again?”
    “Of course.” Their aunt’s image disappeared
to be replaced with the laughing picture of Lauren in the pink
striped bikini top.
    “There,” Olivia said, striding up to the
viewscreen and pointing. “Right there. Do you see it? Between her
breasts?”
    “The star shaped birth mark,” Sophie
breathed. That was what had been bothering her about the
picture. She looked at Liv. “The prophesy,” she whispered, aware
that her aunt could still hear them if they spoke too loud. “The
Scourge prophesy.”
    “Lauren is the one.” Liv’s face was pale and
she was whispering too. “Oh my God, the poor girl!”
    “Should we tell her?”
    Sylvan shook his head. “Not yet,” he
murmured. “Let’s see if we can do anything first.”
    “Sylvan’s right. There’s no point it giving
her news like that until we look into it and make sure,” Baird said
in a low voice.
    Aunt Abby appeared once more. “Well?”
    “We’ll do everything in our power to help
you.” Sylvan put a hand over his heart. “Any kin of our mates is a
priority with us. You can believe that, Ms. Jakes.”
    “Thank you.” Aunt Abby looked like she was
going to cry again. “You can reach me through the HKR building in
Sarasota, Florida. That’s where Lauren was living when she was…was
taken.” The last word turned into a sob and suddenly the viewscreen
went blank.
    “What can we do?” Sophie looked at Sylvan
frantically. “The Scourge have her, Sylvan—I just know it. Oh that
poor girl!” She and Liv both knew first hand what it was like to be
captured and interrogated by the evil AllFather. Sophie wouldn’t
have wished it on her worst enemy.
    Sylvan looked grim. “I don’t know if there’s
anything we can do, short of attacking the Fathership to
take her back by force.”
    “And I don’t think the High Council is gonna
go for that,” Baird rumbled, frowning. “Not unless we get some kind
of incontrovertible proof that they have her and that’s where she’s
being held.”
    “Where else could she be?” Liv demanded.
    “Anywhere.” Baird shook his head. “The
Fathership isn’t the only Scourge stronghold, you know, Lilenta. They have a home planet too. It’s a Deadworld
now—they killed it with their greed and pollution. But they still
have impregnable fortresses there they can go back to in a
pinch.”
    “So you’re saying we just have to leave her there?” Liv was beginning to cry. “Leave her with
that…that monster?”
    “I’m saying let us talk to the Council first
before you go gettin’ all upset.” Baird stroked her shoulders
soothingly. “This news has a bigger impact than just the fact that
your kin has been kidnapped.”
    “Baird is right.” Sylvan nodded. “If the
Scourge have finally found the key to their prophesy, something big
may be about to happen. The Council will want to consider all
complications and repercussions before they act.”
    “Which means she’ll be dead or as good as
dead by the time we get to her,” Liv said dully. “ If we get
to her. Oh, poor Lauren.”
    “Poor Lauren,” Sophie echoed. Putting her
arms around her sister, she held her tight and prayed for the
cousin neither one of them had ever even known they had. Let her
be strong. Let her be able to stand whatever the AllFather throws
at her.
    But she knew from experience how terribly
difficult that could be.

Chapter Eight
     
    Kat woke up feeling weak but rested. She was
glad to find herself alone in bed—and, it seemed, alone in her own
head, at least for awhile. Either Lock and Deep were far away, or
neither of them was having any really strong emotions at the
moment. Whatever the reason, Kat was glad to have some peace and
quiet inside her skull for once.
    Sitting up she stretched and yawned. God,
she was starving! Was there