Blood Trinity Read Free Page A

next step’s gonna take some trust. You willing to link with us so we’ll have your full power and night vision?”
    Not if Quinn could overpower her mind.
    “Evalle, I sense hesitation on your part after learning I have the capability to take control of your mind.” Quinn’s voice was smooth, as though he’d lifted her thoughts. Could he? “But do realize that I could have already done so and locked onto your vision if I’d so chosen.”
    He was right.
    She considered her dwindling options and had no choice but to relent. “Linking is our only chance, but first I want an agreement from both of you.”
    “On what?” Suspicion filtered into Tzader’s commanding voice.
    “That no matter what we have to do to get out of here you vow that we keep any secrets shared between us. You swear on the life of our goddess Macha.”
    “You get a head injury when they caught you, woman?” Quinn lashed back, not sounding quite so cultured, as if he hid a less-than-polished background behind that suave voice. “Swearing on Macha’s life’s a good way to see the last of yours.”
    “You think that’s any crazier than me making a leapof faith with you two after one of our tribe tricked me?”
    “
Our
tribe?” Quinn asked.
    “Yes.” Evalle was tired of always being doubted. “I swore the same oath you did. I’ve put my life on the line many times for other Beladors, even though—” She bit off her last words, stopping before she finished with
even though I’m treated like some mutt with tainted blood.
Never let them know how much their biased stares and constant spying slid under her defenses.
    Beladors might tolerate an Alterant, but any trust she’d received in the past had been an uneasy alliance in tense times. She’d admit that the tribe had reason to be suspicious of Alterants after the last male who’d shifted two months ago had killed nine Beladors trying to contain him. But she’d proven herself for five hard years and deserved respect.
    Too bad they didn’t see things the way she did.
    “No deal.” Tzader’s unmerciful gaze arrowed through the dark in her direction with the intensity of a lightning bolt.
    “I think not as well,” Quinn concurred.
    Now what was she going to do?
    The stretch of curved wall on her left that ran between her and Tzader began to fade.
    Evalle tensed. She had no offensive edge. Not until she either linked with the two men or was released from the shackles so that she could shift. Both options twisted her stomach into a sick knot of terror.
    When the rock disappeared, leaving a hole big enough to drive a small automobile through, a diminutive Medb figure wearing a pale gray robe entered. Light glowed from inside the hood. Where were the four brutes who had hauled Tzader into this chamber?
    “You shouldn’t be here.” Quinn’s soft voice was full of tender feelings.
    Evalle glanced at him. Was he talking to that warlock?
    The person in the robe moved toward Quinn as though floating across the floor. Evalle debated the risk of linking with Quinn and had just about talked herself into helping him when the hood fell away from the Medb’s head. Not a warlock but a stunning witch, with hair so bright it had to be the color of a flame in natural lighting.
    Angling her chin at him, the witch stood a head shorter than Quinn. Without saying a word first, she lifted up on her toes and cupped his face with her hands, then kissed him sweetly on the mouth. Quinn didn’t just let her kiss him: he joined in until she finally pulled away. “When my men described the three Beladors they’d caught I didn’t want to believe what I heard. I had to see for myself. What are you doing here?”
    “Protecting my tribe.” Quinn’s heavy sigh bulged with regret. “Leave before your men find you here.”
    “I don’t know how to help you,” she whispered desperately.
    “You can’t. If you do, they’ll kill you for treason, regardless of your being a priestess.”
    “You shouldn’t