Page 26

Tara fidgeted in her seat, then pushed back from the table and cleared the dishes. Anxious energy made it impossible to sit still. She really wanted to do this. She needed to feel useful, like she was doing something to get her friends back.

Isaac’s expression refocused and he looked at Tara. “Zion has given you a reluctant approval, so you’ll need to make the most of the opportunity. I’m not sure how long he’ll allow it.”

“I can do that.” Her pulse kicked up a notch and she fought back a smile. She was going to interrogate a prisoner. It wasn’t an appropriate occasion for levity.

“I’ll be nearby scanning while you talk to him,” Isaac went on. “Even if he won’t tell you his secrets, you might be able to draw them closer to the surface.”

Tara nodded. “Have his keepers fed him yet? That’s the most believable excuse for why I’d be allowed near him.”

“We’re in luck,” Isaac said as they moved toward the door. “He hasn’t had anything to eat since last night.”

How often were the prisoners fed? Elias was a murderous piece of shit, but no one deserved to starve to death. She didn’t bother asking. Care of the prisoners wasn’t her mates’ responsibility. They were interrogators and spies.

Responding to her expression or a surge in her emotions, Kyle explained, “Screwing with a prisoner’s schedule is a common technique for wearing them down. They’re often fed at odd intervals and not allowed to sleep until they lose track of time.”

Tara’s only response was a nod as she moved to the door and started putting her outerwear on.

Her mates helped her bundle up as they prepared to brave the cold.

Winter had officially arrived on Rydaria, and it was promising to be a miserable one.

They tromped through knee-deep snow as they zigzagged up the hill toward the lodge.

Tara’s breath puffed out in visible clouds as she struggled for footing.

Life in the village was challenging enough. She couldn’t even imagine what her life would have been like if the humans hadn’t worked out an alliance with the lion hybrids. No, that wasn’t true. Life would have been short and tragic, because there was no way they would have survived.

They reached the lodge and Tara shook off the snow, then stomped her feet to dislodge even more. She unwrapped her scarf and dragged the stocking cap off her head. There was no one in the main room, but someone had to be about. A fire burned in the massive fireplace.

“Detention cells are in the basement,” Kyle explained as Isaac ducked into the kitchen to retrieve a tray of food.

She hung her coat up on the large rack by the door then walked over to the fireplace. The warmth was welcome even after their short hike up the hill.

Isaac returned a few minutes later with a tray filled with simple food. There were chunks of crusty bread and slices of meat. Plump pinotta fruits still on the vine and a large mug filled with an unfamiliar liquid.

“That’s ienter juice,” Kyle provided when he noticed the direction of her stare. “It’s a little tart for my taste, but it’s good at preventing dehydration.”

“We’ll come downstairs with you,” Isaac explained, motioning toward the door across the room. “But we’ll go to the security booth. If Elias sees us together, he’ll know you’re our mate.”

They started across the room as Kyle went on, “We’ll be able to see and hear everything that’s happening. If things go south for any reason, we can be inside that room in about three seconds.”

She just nodded as they made their way down the stairs. She was glad Isaac was still carrying the tray. The stairs were steep, the stairwell dim.

When they reached the bottom, Isaac nodded toward the three doors across from them.

Each of the doors was flanked by guards.

“The two outer rooms contain a row of cells. The middle room is the security booth. Elias is on the right side, Babcock on the left. We didn’t want one to hear what the other said. ”

“Makes sense.” She took a deep breath and accepted the tray as Isaac handed it to her.

“Set the tray on the floor and slide it into the cell with your foot. There’s a small break in the bars near the floor designed for that purpose. You’ll see what I’m talking about when you get in there. It’s obvious.”

She straightened her shoulders and did her best to smile. “Wish me luck.”

Isaac leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. “You don’t need luck. It will work or it won’t. I’m sure you’ll be amazing.”

Kyle blew her a kiss as she turned and headed toward the room on the right. One of the guards quickly opened the door for her and she shivered as she stepped inside. The entire basement was cool compared to upstairs, but this room was downright cold.

“I should have left my coat on,” she grumbled as she moved toward the middle cell. “It’s freezing in here.”

“You won’t be here long enough to worry about it,” Elias growled out. He’d been lounging on the cot, but sat up as she moved closer. “They can’t tempt me with one of their fuck toys.”

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” She arched her brow. “I guess you’ve never heard the adage.”

His eyes narrowed, the golden flecks in his irises gleaming. “Who are you?”

“The woman they asked to bring you a lunch tray.” She indicated her burden as she bent and set it on the floor just out of reach. “Now apologize for the rude comment or I’ll walk out and leave it right there.”

Elias stood and ambled closer to the front of his cage.

She hadn’t been sure what to expect. The containment cells could have been anything from solar-powered force fields to literal cages.

The three identical spaces were somewhere in the middle.

The outer walls were solid wood, but the dividers were made of stout wooden poles.

The front wall had poles also, but the subtle hiss and wavering distortion warned of some sort of energy barrier.

“I wasn’t expecting a woman, and a damn attractive one at that.”

Tara smiled. “Better, but it wasn’t an apology.”

“I’m sorry I called you a fuck toy. Starvation makes me cranky.”

Using the toe of her boot, she slid the tray halfway through the barrier. “When’s the last time they fed you?”

He yanked the tray toward him and sat cross-legged on the floor as he quickly devoured the food. “Two days.”

That’s not what her mates had been told. Was Elias lying or had the guards lied to Isaac? “No one listens to me,” she told him, “but I’ll let the Shadow Master know that you’re not being fed on a regular basis.”

His strange gold/green eyes shifted to her face. “Who are you?” he asked again. “Why’d they send you down here?”

She shrugged. “I work in the kitchen, and I know better than to ask questions. Women are little better than slaves in this delightful village or hadn’t you heard.”

He paused with the mug halfway to his mouth. “Were you claimed by a coalition?”

“Of course. Being mated is mandatory. If we want to eat, we have to agree to share our bodies with three hybrid males.” She let bitterness fill her voice, making it sound brittle and cold.

He scoffed just loud enough for her to hear. “In our village it’s only two.”

She glared at him. “We weren’t invited into your village.

You were too busy stealing our supplies.

” She put her hands on her hips and moved closer to the bars.

“If it weren’t for your raids, we would have been able to take care of ourselves.

If it weren’t for the brutality of your pack, I wouldn’t have to…

” She made an angry gesture and pivoted toward the door.

She took one angry step, and he said, “Please, stay. I’m sorry I upset you.”

Pausing with her back to him, Tara took a moment to compose herself.

She was already developing intense feelings for her mates, but everything else she’d said was true.

Elias was partially responsible for the plight of the human females.

Even if the wolves hadn’t stolen their supplies and massacred their men, they would have frozen to death.

The leaders back on Earth set them up to fail.

They wanted the scientists to be left at the mercy of their victims so they dumped them on the planet without the tools needed to survive such a harsh environment.

Tara slowly turned around, looking at Elias warily. She wasn’t here to flirt with the wolf. This was an interrogation. “I can’t stay long or my boss will tell my mates and they will punish me.”

“Who are your mates?” Cunning flashed in his eyes as he casually asked the question.

She shrugged. “No one important, if that’s what you’re hoping. One’s a perimeter guard. Another is a carpenter. Our coalition leader works in the lumber mill.”

“Then how did they end up with someone as beautiful as you?”

He was the one flirting now. She had never been uncomfortable with her appearance, but she wasn’t the sort of woman who turned heads when she walked into a room.

She dropped her lashes and fought back a smile.

“They had to fight off my other suitors and Carl is huge.” The lie sounded believable, but she had no way of knowing if he accepted what she said or if he was trying to manipulate her.

“The females are awarded through combat? That’s just stupid. Why not let the women choose?”

She licked her lips and slowly raised her gaze. “The wolves would have let me choose?”

He shook his head as he stood up. “Why do you think none of the females we’ve captured have tried to run away? We treat women a whole lot better than the fucking cats.”

“I don’t believe you,” She made her voice soft and tremulous. “I saw what you did to Claire’s brother. He was only twenty-four years old, and your wolves literally ripped him apart.”

Elias crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. “Have you ever watched one of those nature shows that study a pride of lions, or a pack of wolves?”

The question surprised her. Was he simply avoiding the massacre by changing the subject? “What does that have to do with anything?”

“If a male lion wants to take over a pride, what’s the first thing he does?”

She tensed, suddenly seeing where his questions led. “He kills anyone who might become competition.”

“Even adorable little lion cubs,” he persisted, challenge sharpening his tone.

She shuddered. “I hate those shows.”

“You hate them because they reveal how brutal nature truly is. Anyone who wants to survive must be willing to kill.”

“We are not animals living in the wild,” she objected.

“Aren’t we?” He paused, waiting for the implication to sink in. “We’re predators fighting for territory and fighting over mates. How do we differ from any apex predator on Earth’s game reserves?”

He’d set her up perfectly for an emotional outburst, a strategic outburst. “Your beta took my best friend. She’s been gone for two weeks now.

Is she still alive? The hunters can’t find her.

Where did your beta take her? What’s happening to her?

” She infused her words with emotion and let tears gather in her eyes.

His eyes narrowed and his lips pressed together. For a moment she thought he wouldn’t respond, and then he asked, “What’s her name?”

“Claire.” She blinked and tears spilled onto her cheeks. She hadn’t done it intentionally, but the timing was perfect.

Elias sighed and stared past her, his expression going lax. Holy shit. Was he contacting his beta? Did Zion know Elias was capable of this?

“Claire is unharmed, as are the others. My beta is not giving anyone access to the women while the situation is so volatile.” His expression hardened, growing fierce again. “Despite what the cats love to claim, we do not abuse women.”

Explain that to Akari. It was all Tara could do not to throw the comeback in his face.

End the conversation , Isaac urged. I’ve got what I need.

“I’ve been down here too long,” she told the wolf, even managing to sound regretful. “I have to go.”

“Will you come tomorrow, or the next time they allow me food?”

Again, the question surprised her. Was he really that desperate for conversation? Of course he was. Isolation wore down anyone. “I will if they’ll let me.” She started to leave then looked back at him. “You’re not what I expected.”

His gaze bore into hers for a moment, but the wolf said nothing more.