Read Online Captive's Kiss by Sharon Kay - Free Book Online Page B

keep their conversation private, but he wasn’t taking chances. “I’m making that call.”
    Confusion furrowed her brows and she opened her mouth as if to speak.
    He gave a slight shake of his head. “No talking. I’m going to ask you questions and I want you to whisper or mouth your answers. I’ll read your lips. What’s the Vipers’ location?”
    “You-” she gaped at him, but followed his instructions. “You can’t. They’ll put you in the ring as soo-”
    “I can and I will. You’re out of time, and there’s no way I’m letting you go back in there alone.”
     

     
    Saige stared at Tanner, dread building in her belly. She didn’t want him anywhere near the Vipers. But he was calm, he projected safety and, right now, he was in some kind of warrior mode. Yeah, he was still sweet, but a new determination poured from him.
    “Saige. Location.” His urgent, hushed words jarred her from her internal debate. His gaze was fixed on her, though she heard a male voice speaking through his phone.
    She rattled off the location of the warehouse and he repeated it to the other male.
    Tanner’s green eyes locked on her. “Saige, how many Vipers and how many prisoners?”
    “Um.” She’d never counted the prisoners, torn by guilt that would accompany the knowledge of just how many lives she’d destroyed. And she honestly had a hard time telling the green-skinned Vipers apart. Nerves swept through her at the knowledge they were being watched and every second counted. She needed to guess, fast. “I think…at least twenty of each. But I’m not positive. There could be more.”
    He relayed the information and ended the call. “Let’s do this.”
    “I don’t want to use my power on you,” she whispered. “Can you, um, pretend?”
    “I can do anything.” His words weren’t cocky, just all-business. “What are the rules?”
    “Okay, like I said in the park, don’t ask questions. Don’t speak unless spoken to. Act kind of zoned out. Follow me as if you don’t know where we’re going. Don’t use your weapons. You have to go along with it, like you’re just another male I brought in.”
    “What happens when we get there?”
    “They’ll take your weapons, phone, any amulets, and put you in a cell. I’ll have to walk you there with a guard, but then, I have to try to make it back to my room before I black out.”
    “Except you won’t black out today.”
    “I don’t want you to go in there, Tanner.” The words formed silently on her lips as hope and apprehension collided in her chest. A strange need bloomed, to keep him away from harm. Him. A big bad Watcher. What the heck?
    “I know. But there’s no way in hell I’ll let you be alone with those assholes again. Let me fight for you, Saige.”
    Warmth shone through the tactical calculations in his eyes, and she realized she trusted him. For the first time in months, a flicker of light glimmered in her heart. “Okay.” She squared her shoulders. “Follow me.”
    They descended the library steps and walked onto the path. The Vipers flowed out from the trees, two moving behind Tanner but keeping a distance of ten feet. The third Viper walked beside her. “Took you long enough, you dumb bitch. And you let that other Lash get away? We’ll see how you like being whipped for your insubordination.”
    Fear flared, but she tried to tamp it down. How could she spin this? “I was going to take the first male, but then this one showed up. A Watcher.” She dared a glance at the angry Viper. “He’s so much stronger than the other one. And you know I can only control one predator at a time.”
    “Hmm, true. You lucked out. This time. I don’t want to see you let Lash demons get away again. And I don’t like you sneaking into the library. Effective now, it’s off limits.”
    Saige gulped. “What if I need to go in to get a male?”
    “Find another. We need to keep eyes on you.”
    Through her fear, a frisson of anger bloomed. “Doesn’t it