Free Trace's Temptation (RARE Series, #3) by Dawn Sullivan

sight of Jade standing in front of him.  “You’re here,” he whispered huskily.  “You’re really here.”  Slowly he collapsed to the ground, dragging Jade down with him. 
    Releasing a tortured sob, Jade ran her hands over Trace’s head, then lightly down his sunken cheeks while placing small, gentle kisses on his dried, cracked lips.  “I’m here,” she told him as she nuzzled his neck, stiffening when her body came into contact with the thick chains surrounding him.  Leaning back, she turned to Jinx and growled, “Get them off.”
    “Guard the stairs, Flame,” Jinx ordered, the commanding tone of his voice leaving no room for argument.  “No one gets down them, understood?”  Flame gave a quick nod and moved to the bottom of the stairs, her weapon drawn and ready.
    Kneeling down next to them, Jinx quickly started to unwrap the heavy chain from Trace’s left arm.  “This is going to hurt like a bitch, man,” he murmured.  “Your cat is going to try and take over, but you have to fight through the pain and stop him.  He just wants to protect you, but he could hurt someone on accident.”
    Trace groaned as Jinx got his left arm unwrapped and moved to work on his right arm.  Sweat beaded up on Trace’s forehead and a growl escaped when Jinx started removing the chain from his chest.  “Breathe through the pain, Trace,” Jinx snarled when Trace’s fangs punched through his gums and he let out a roar of agony.  “Block it out.”
    “What’s going on,” Jade demanded, the fear evident in her voice. 
    “The chains have been constricting him for months, Jade.  Now that I am removing them, the pain feels like it is crushing him.  But I have to get them off.  We can’t get him out of here like this.”  After finally unraveling the last of the chains, Jinx paused and placed a hand firmly on Trace’s shoulder.  “Look at me, Trace,” he commanded. 
    Trace raised his head, his dark eyes flashing, and roared again.  He struggled to hold his body tightly in check, fighting his cat.  Jade gently stroked a hand down his arm trying to help calm him.  “Look at me,” Jinx demanded again forcefully.  When Trace’s eyes met his, Jinx grabbed hold of his shoulders and growled, “You will stand down.  You will get yourself under control.  I will not allow you to hurt Jade.”  Trace seemed to freeze at the mention of his mate.
    As Jade watched, Trace fought valiantly for control.  With Jinx’s help, he finally won several long agonizing minutes later.  Sagging under the pain and exhaustion, Trace laid down on the hard floor, his head in Jade’s lap.  She gently continued to run her hands over his body, trying to soothe him with her touch.  Jade bent down to kiss Trace softly on his cheek, once again nuzzling his neck.  She cried softly as Trace shuddered, pain racing through his body.
    “Trace,” Jade heard a tentative female voice call out weakly.  “Trace, where are you?” Jade lifted her head as she heard movement in one of the cells.  “Don’t hurt him, you bastards.  Don’t you hurt him anymore,” the voice cried out.
    “Gypsy,” Jade whispered as Trace fought to sit up and respond.  Jinx leaned over and helped Jade pull Trace into a sitting position before standing and moving toward the woman.  She continued to yell and threaten them as she tried to pull herself up using the bars on her cage.  Jade’s heart went out to the woman that fought to help Trace.  Her tremendous courage, in spite of the situation, was amazing.  Just hours before Jade had been extremely jealous of Gypsy, but seeing her now, all she felt was empathy for her. 
    Jinx stopped in front of Gypsy and lightly touched her hand that was closed tightly around the steel bar.  “Calm down, little one.  You are safe now.  No one will harm you again.  You are going home.”
    Tears fell down Gypsy’s filthy cheeks as she watched Jinx, her face full of hope.  Her voice quivered as she