Free Belonging by K.L. Kreig Page A

Now.” He didn’t have to explain a fucking thing to him.
    “Aster.”
    Her full name was as beautiful as she was. “Did she put a previous address on her job application?”
    “I’ll have to check.”
    Silence.
    “You’d better be doing it now, human.” His firestarter abilities itched to be used; he was ready to turn Frankie into a nice crispy piece of bacon if he didn’t hurry up.
    “Y-yes, my lord. Please give me a minute.”
    “You have less than thirty seconds.”
    “Yes, my lord. fifty-three forty-one Wyoming Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.”
    The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Eau Claire? Lots of women were from Eau Claire, right? It didn’t necessarily mean anything.
    But his gut screamed differently.
    “Don’t expect Analise at work tomorrow. I’ll let you know when she will return.” Which would be never.
    He hung up.
    “T, I need you to do something for me.”
    “Yes, my lord.”
    “Check into an Analise Aster. fifty-three forty-one Wyoming Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Find out every single thing you can about her. I want to know her parents’ names, if she has siblings, what her favorite food is, her bank account balance, where she went to school, her favorite music, her friends’ names. Everything. Also, I want you to physically go to her house and look around. Bring me anything of importance. This is your only priority until I tell you otherwise.”
    “Of course, my lord.”
    Analise seemed like a very private person. If she found out what he was doing, she’d have his nuts in a guillotine. They may be medieval death-wielding devices, but he had no doubt his mate would move heaven and earth to track one down, making Thing one and Thing two her first stop. And he was pretty attached to his things , so he would make sure to keep this his little secret.
    At that moment, Rom sauntered in. He looked pretty damn sated.
    “Did you enjoy Angel?”
    “Very much.” That’s all he’d get from Rom except he surprised him asking about Analise. “And how is your mate, Damian? Did all check out well?”
    He nodded. “Bump on the head, but she’ll be fine. Although she thinks she has a concussion. She’s in one of the shelter bedrooms sleeping. After tonight, I’ll be moving her over here with me until I return to Boston. Then she’ll be coming with me. But she thinks she’s only staying here for tonight. I’ll figure out the rest tomorrow.”
    Rom laughed.
    “She is a conundrum, though. And a hothead.” And magnificent and sexy as hell, he added silently.
    Rom silently raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like you two are made for each other.”
    “Go ahead, yuck it up man. I won’t forget this when you find your Moira. Then I’ll be the one in the wings laughing my ass off. You’re bound to get one that will give you a run for your money.”
    Rom was thoughtful for a moment. “I’m not sure a mate is part of my destiny.”
    Rom was one of the oldest vampires Damian knew, but even Rom wouldn’t reveal exactly how old he was. Was he imagining it or did Damian detect wistfulness in Rom’s response? No…this was stoic Romaric Dietrich standing in front of him. He’d always been convinced Rom was missing an emotional gene. He’d never seen the guy get worked up or lose his cool. Ever. His emotions were like a flat line, never edging up or down. It was eerily creepy, actually. Rom certainly didn’t seem lonely, but maybe he’d been wrong.
    “I don’t know, Rom. Until tonight I’d actually never thought much about finding mine. Both Devon and I found ours within a short time of each other. I think you’re the next to fall, my friend.”
    Rom chose not to respond to his last comment, changing subjects instead.
    “Do we have any further information this evening?”
    Damian couldn’t help but smile. “No. I need to follow up with Giselle and see if she’s connected with the detective yet. I’ve temporarily reassigned T to another, more pressing matter.”
    Rom raised