Peru, after a driver lost control of his vehicle and plowed onto the sidewalk. It was only a month earlier that he’d finally healed enough to continue his search across rugged terrain.
Judd had offered to teleport Xavier to his destination, as had Kaleb, but Xavier was adamant he had to do this himself.
I have to prove I deserve her.
Understanding the depth of Xavier’s need in a way he wouldn’t have before he’d fallen for Brenna, Judd turned his attention back to the matter at hand. Riaz was nodding at Sienna’s point. “BlackSea must have high-risk people who use Canadian lakes as their primary habitat,” the other lieutenant said. “Miane won’t want to compromise them. On the flip side, it means the water changelings have plenty of eyes and ears in the country if they need them.”
“We take BlackSea’s lead,” Hawke said. “Riaz, Kenji, stay in touch with them, offer our assistance.” He shoved up the sleeves of his shirt. “Lucas also asked that we all keep an ear open for anything related toNaya. Looks like certain Psy in the Net are looking in her direction, and the interest isn’t friendly.” The wolf-blue of Hawke’s eyes had turned frigid as he spoke, the power that came off him a near-palpable force.
There was a reason even Psy were very careful when dealing with strong changeling alphas. At times, Judd wondered how his niece dealt with her mate. Sienna was a power, one honed in brutal circumstances, but she was young . . . and she had challenged Hawke from the instant she set foot in the den, never backing down, even when it would’ve been prudent. It was a reminder that his niece had her own wild streak, wild enough to handle the primal wolf who was her mate.
“Is Lucas okay with my passing on the word to my contacts?” Judd asked, not saying Kaleb’s name though everyone present here knew he and the most dangerous telekinetic in the world were friends. It was old habit to protect the other man’s identity, from the time the two of them—and Xavier—had been rebels working in the shadows.
Hawke gave a short nod. “Use your judgment, speak only to people you trust to look after Naya’s interests.”
Kaleb wasn’t “good” in any ordinary sense of the word, but Judd knew the other man would never harm a DarkRiver child for the simple reason that DarkRiver was important to his mate. And whatever was important to Sahara, Kaleb protected. “I’ll do it now.” Breaking away from the group, he made the call.
It was early in Moscow, but he had a feeling the other man would be up.
He was right.
“I’ll release a tracking program into the Net to listen for mentions of the child,” Kaleb replied after Judd explained the situation.
Understanding as he did the complex amounts of data Kaleb could sieve through at any one instant, Judd thanked his friend.
Kaleb’s response was simple. “DarkRiver protected and nurtured Sahara when she needed it.”
Those words said a great deal about the loyalty of which this deadly man was capable, of the lengths he’d go to, to protect the rare few peoplewho’d earned that loyalty. It also hinted at the other aspect of his personality, of the ruthless vengeance he’d mete out should anyone ever harm Sahara.
Black and white, both existed in Kaleb.
Living in the gray was something he did with ease.
“Have you heard from Xavier?” Judd asked, having long ago accepted the duality of nature that was Kaleb Krychek.
“A week ago,” Kaleb responded. “I offered to ’port to him, but he continues to insist that he needs to walk alone during this time.”
Kaleb never truly betrayed emotion, not even among friends. Likely Sahara alone saw that side of him. But right then, Judd had the feeling the other man was frustrated by Xavier’s intransigence. So was Judd. But some things, no one could force. “He knows he can call on us for help at any point.”
That they would respond at once should that call ever come was an unspoken
Judd had offered to teleport Xavier to his destination, as had Kaleb, but Xavier was adamant he had to do this himself.
I have to prove I deserve her.
Understanding the depth of Xavier’s need in a way he wouldn’t have before he’d fallen for Brenna, Judd turned his attention back to the matter at hand. Riaz was nodding at Sienna’s point. “BlackSea must have high-risk people who use Canadian lakes as their primary habitat,” the other lieutenant said. “Miane won’t want to compromise them. On the flip side, it means the water changelings have plenty of eyes and ears in the country if they need them.”
“We take BlackSea’s lead,” Hawke said. “Riaz, Kenji, stay in touch with them, offer our assistance.” He shoved up the sleeves of his shirt. “Lucas also asked that we all keep an ear open for anything related toNaya. Looks like certain Psy in the Net are looking in her direction, and the interest isn’t friendly.” The wolf-blue of Hawke’s eyes had turned frigid as he spoke, the power that came off him a near-palpable force.
There was a reason even Psy were very careful when dealing with strong changeling alphas. At times, Judd wondered how his niece dealt with her mate. Sienna was a power, one honed in brutal circumstances, but she was young . . . and she had challenged Hawke from the instant she set foot in the den, never backing down, even when it would’ve been prudent. It was a reminder that his niece had her own wild streak, wild enough to handle the primal wolf who was her mate.
“Is Lucas okay with my passing on the word to my contacts?” Judd asked, not saying Kaleb’s name though everyone present here knew he and the most dangerous telekinetic in the world were friends. It was old habit to protect the other man’s identity, from the time the two of them—and Xavier—had been rebels working in the shadows.
Hawke gave a short nod. “Use your judgment, speak only to people you trust to look after Naya’s interests.”
Kaleb wasn’t “good” in any ordinary sense of the word, but Judd knew the other man would never harm a DarkRiver child for the simple reason that DarkRiver was important to his mate. And whatever was important to Sahara, Kaleb protected. “I’ll do it now.” Breaking away from the group, he made the call.
It was early in Moscow, but he had a feeling the other man would be up.
He was right.
“I’ll release a tracking program into the Net to listen for mentions of the child,” Kaleb replied after Judd explained the situation.
Understanding as he did the complex amounts of data Kaleb could sieve through at any one instant, Judd thanked his friend.
Kaleb’s response was simple. “DarkRiver protected and nurtured Sahara when she needed it.”
Those words said a great deal about the loyalty of which this deadly man was capable, of the lengths he’d go to, to protect the rare few peoplewho’d earned that loyalty. It also hinted at the other aspect of his personality, of the ruthless vengeance he’d mete out should anyone ever harm Sahara.
Black and white, both existed in Kaleb.
Living in the gray was something he did with ease.
“Have you heard from Xavier?” Judd asked, having long ago accepted the duality of nature that was Kaleb Krychek.
“A week ago,” Kaleb responded. “I offered to ’port to him, but he continues to insist that he needs to walk alone during this time.”
Kaleb never truly betrayed emotion, not even among friends. Likely Sahara alone saw that side of him. But right then, Judd had the feeling the other man was frustrated by Xavier’s intransigence. So was Judd. But some things, no one could force. “He knows he can call on us for help at any point.”
That they would respond at once should that call ever come was an unspoken
Similar Books
