Unconditional Read Free

hungry?”
    “Gage Garrity from Clan Owen sent me to ask for your assistance. My best friend was taken from her apartment by mages yesterday. There were signs of a struggle. I followed what little bit of a trail I could find up here. You guys are great trackers. I need your help.”
    Mages. Great. He poked his head out of his office, speaking to his assistant. “Can you get us some coffee and sandwiches?”
    “I don’t need to eat. I need to find Allie.”
    He sat next to her on the couch she perched upon, and she edged away a little, pressing against the arm to keep her distance.
    “This is dangerous. More dangerous than you probably know. Of course I’ll help. I need the facts first so we can figure out what’s happening. You’re a witch. You never told me?”
    “You weren’t around to tell. And I know it’s dangerous. That’s why I’m so worried.”
    “I need to explain. About leaving Roseburg, and you.”
    “Don’t bother. That’s long past. Very ancient history and all that jazz. You moved on. Looks like to a far better life. I’m not here for that anyway.”
    He didn’t want her to think it was about her. He hated that part. He’d left for his sanity, for the safety and security of those around him. He’d left to step into a new life and he didn’t regret that part. Still, it agitated him that she was upset in any way. And she was. She could say all the right words, but he could feel it in the tension of her body, hear it in the tone of her voice. Could scent the acrid burn of her emotions.
    “I was bitten my first semester of school. It’s…difficult to be changed when you’re a nineteen-year-old. I didn’t know how to handle it. The wolf who changed me was out of control and his Alpha came to find me. They brought me back to their pack house. It took a year to learn how to handle the wolf. I couldn’t go back to Roseburg. That part of my life was done. We weren’t out then. What was I going to tell you? You were still in high school.” He’d had to leave everything and everyone behind. And in the end, it had been the right choice.
    She let out a long sigh and he had to force himself not to push.
    He changed the subject. “Tell me about your friend. Were the police called? Why are you here instead of the local coven people? Why isn’t Gage here? You’re part of their territory. This is big deal, big bad stuff. You could get hurt. Or worse.”
    “I am the police. I’ve been a cop for seven years now. And from what I understand, Owen is doing all it can with all the disappearances. Gage sent me here but said to remain in touch and that they’d send help when they could.”
    Oh.
    The food arrived, and he found himself sort of shocked at the bone-deep need to be sure she ate it.
    “How did you know it was mages?” He indicated the food. “You should eat. If we’re going out tracking, you’ll need the energy.”
    She frowned slightly, but took a bite and then several more.
    “I knew it was mages because Owen did these classes, taught the people in our coven how to detect their energy. Once you see it, the mage energy, you can’t mistake it for anything else.” She shuddered. “Allie—you might remember her—Allison Packer? She’s been my best friend since third grade. Her mother got a call from a neighbor. She went over to Allie’s place, saw the mess and called me.”
    “Tell me about what you found at the scene.”
    “Tell me why you’re so bossy about it.”
    He wasn’t the only one who’d changed over the years. This Michelle was firmly in charge of herself. So sexy. He shouldn’t be thinking about that. But he couldn’t stop.
    “I’m the Enforcer here. I’m a sort of cop too. These mages are a way bigger issue than you know.” He scrubbed his hands over his face, trying to work out how to send her away from the danger.
    “You are so not going to convince me to go home like a good little girl.”
    “You always could read my mind.”
    She could mainly because