Three Kings for Sarah Read Free Page B

She’s always
telling us stories about you. Tell her I think she’s right. Santa’s great but I
like you guys better.” She put one hand around her mouth and whispered. “He’s
not as good looking as you are but don’t tell him I said so.” Raising her voice
again, she continued, clearly excited. “I have a fantastic idea! You could come
again next year and bring Santa with you too!” With a loud, smacking sound, she
kissed the air and waved before she disappeared into her room.
    “It seems as if you’re going to have to play the role of the
three wise men for all these children—not just Sarah,” said Sam slowly,
touching the damp trail left on his cheek.
    Duncan frowned. Had his man been crying? He followed Sam’s
gaze through the long hallway with its sixteen open doors, where every now and
then, a child’s short hair appeared in the doorway, reminding the men nobody
had forgotten their presence.
    “I hope you brought enough toys for everybody,” Sam added.
    Xiu nodded, staring straight forward with an expressionless
face. “Who’s this Sarah person?”
    “It’s strange but it’s almost as if she isn’t a person. The
kids see her as real, although, when I touch inside the kids’ minds this Sarah feels more like…a ghost.” Gedeon’s voice came out low, thoughtful.
    “A ghost?” Sam glanced at Xiu with wide eyes.
    “Yes. I’ve checked some of the other kids too. Everyone
knows and loves her, although, the feeling I get concerning her is always the
same—ethereal…as if she isn’t physically here with them.”
    Sam shuddered visibly at the shadow-walker’s words. Duncan
could understand the reaction.
    “There’s something else.” Gedeon seemed hesitant. “All of
them assume Sarah is on the top floor.”

Chapter Two
     
    The children’s joyful laughs sounded behind Duncan, making
him feel good and tense at the same time. Ged and Xiu were in the room with two
boys, giving them their gifts. Duncan stood at Sam’s side, checking the hallway
for any possible danger. He wouldn’t have minded being inside with Ged and Xiu
but Duncan was too worried something terrible could happen to the kids because
of their negligence. As Xiu was the one with the presents and Ged had the
skills to read the boys’ and girls’ deepest wishes, there was no question about
who should stand guard while they made the little imps happy. Although the
kids’ security wasn’t Duncan’s sole concern. For a moment, he took the luxury
to shut his eyes and remember the conversation he had only moments ago with his
evasive mate.
    Duncan? Is everything all right? the sweet voice had
asked as a calm, warm feeling embraced him from the inside.
    Hey, babe! he’d greeted her, elated but
surprised—although she’d spoken to him numerous times in the past, she usually
only made herself present in his dreams. She was the one controlling when and
how she contacted him. He could do nothing about it. It was a one-way street;
however, he couldn’t complain. Werewolf mates had the ability to communicate
telepathically only once they were truly mated or, in his case, as alpha, if
they were already part of his pack. He hadn’t met her yet. Hell, he didn’t even
know her name! They’d played a game, of sorts, ever since she’d appeared in his
dreams three months ago. He did his best to convince her to give him her name
and the means to locate her, and she flirted and laughed her way out of
answering him. He really wanted—no, he needed to find her and claim her
as his mate—although he couldn’t deny how he was enjoying each second of this
long, strange courtship. Only on rare occasions—when she’d sensed he was very
distressed—had she made the effort to talk to him during his wakefulness. Doing
so seemed to take an enormous toll on her, considering these contacts usually
were quite short and her voice seemed to grow weaker and weaker with each
passing moment. Maybe if he was a telepath, as some vampires such as