Read Online Emergence (The Primogenitor Chronicles Book 1) by Siana Wineland - Free Book Online
Authors: Siana Wineland
Ads: Link
the quarry.”
They crossed the last bit of parking lot and swept into the mall, pausing just inside the entrance. Nickolas watched Beta team secure the doors then turned to the leader of Delta. “Danny, take your team and search the north side of the complex, we’ll take the south.”
Nodding, Danny led his people off at a brisk pace, taking a left at the main corridor. “Flynn, you and Jules start here. Chris and I will go find the ATM she tried to use.”
“Right,” Flynn said. The two quickly disappeared into the nearest shop.
Nickolas paced down the corridor with Christoff. He regulated his breathing, letting the fear the shoppers projected pass through him. His brother was already suspicious. He didn’t need Chris gaining more ammo from his reactions and then feel the need to inform Ian. This recovery mission kept throwing surprises in his path. I have to figure out what is going on. Why am I suddenly having outside feelings shoved down my throat? And what does Jessica Reuther have to do with it?
He strengthened his stride and focused on trying not to show his internal struggle. So he looked for a distraction.
“You know, Chris? I really hate feeling like a leper. Look at them recoil from us. It’s not like we’re going to eat them or something.”
“They recognize a recovery team, that’s all, Nick. And when two Hunters are obviously involved, they really don’t want to get in the way. It scares them, not knowing who we’ve come for. Not knowing if they’ll be next.”
“I know.” He sighed, scanning the crowd. “But I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the fear, the avoidance.” He ignored the hushed conversations around him. The tide of humanity parted before the two Valkyries. They walked into the food court atrium, side by side. Across the room, Nickolas spotted the ATM next to the doors. “There it is. I’ll go check it out. You take her picture around to the vendors.”
“Right, sounds good.”
He dismissed Chris from his thoughts, his attention immediately zeroing in on the cash machine. A tight knot formed in his gut as he crossed the atrium.
He stared at the ATM. A pattern of events settled in his mind. Each time the visions had come upon him unawares. This time he knew he courted them.
He really didn’t want to touch the ATM. He braced himself then slowly reached out and placed his palm on the keypad of the machine. Similar to the episode in her bedroom, only not nearly as strong, he received a wave of feeling. His fingers smoothed over the keys.
The spike of fear was first. That must be when she realized we’d closed down access to her accounts. This time Nickolas made an attempt to control what he received. Closing his eyes, he concentrated and was rewarded with a jumbled vision to supplement the wash of feelings. Opening his eyes, Nickolas removed his hand. “Well that didn’t help much.”
“What didn’t help?” Christoff asked as he walked up. “I believe this is the only ATM in the mall, so it has to be the one she used. The food vendors I showed her picture to all recognized her of course, since she works here, but none of them had seen her today.”
“Oh she was definitely here. Just not long enough for me to get a fix on where she went after trying to get money out of the machine. Why don’t we show her picture some more and ask the shopkeepers between here and the door where her bike was parked.”
“Tracing her scent from such a brief encounter was chancy at best, you know that, Nick.”
Nickolas shrugged his shoulders and started to walk back the way they’d come. He caught Christoff’s shrewd gaze assessing him. His eyes full of questions that Nickolas didn’t want to deal with. I guess I didn’t hide it as well as I’d hoped.
The arrival of Flynn and Jules served as a good distraction. He waved them over and said quietly to his brother, “I’ll find out what they’ve discovered, Chris. You start with the vendors on the aisle. I’ll
They crossed the last bit of parking lot and swept into the mall, pausing just inside the entrance. Nickolas watched Beta team secure the doors then turned to the leader of Delta. “Danny, take your team and search the north side of the complex, we’ll take the south.”
Nodding, Danny led his people off at a brisk pace, taking a left at the main corridor. “Flynn, you and Jules start here. Chris and I will go find the ATM she tried to use.”
“Right,” Flynn said. The two quickly disappeared into the nearest shop.
Nickolas paced down the corridor with Christoff. He regulated his breathing, letting the fear the shoppers projected pass through him. His brother was already suspicious. He didn’t need Chris gaining more ammo from his reactions and then feel the need to inform Ian. This recovery mission kept throwing surprises in his path. I have to figure out what is going on. Why am I suddenly having outside feelings shoved down my throat? And what does Jessica Reuther have to do with it?
He strengthened his stride and focused on trying not to show his internal struggle. So he looked for a distraction.
“You know, Chris? I really hate feeling like a leper. Look at them recoil from us. It’s not like we’re going to eat them or something.”
“They recognize a recovery team, that’s all, Nick. And when two Hunters are obviously involved, they really don’t want to get in the way. It scares them, not knowing who we’ve come for. Not knowing if they’ll be next.”
“I know.” He sighed, scanning the crowd. “But I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the fear, the avoidance.” He ignored the hushed conversations around him. The tide of humanity parted before the two Valkyries. They walked into the food court atrium, side by side. Across the room, Nickolas spotted the ATM next to the doors. “There it is. I’ll go check it out. You take her picture around to the vendors.”
“Right, sounds good.”
He dismissed Chris from his thoughts, his attention immediately zeroing in on the cash machine. A tight knot formed in his gut as he crossed the atrium.
He stared at the ATM. A pattern of events settled in his mind. Each time the visions had come upon him unawares. This time he knew he courted them.
He really didn’t want to touch the ATM. He braced himself then slowly reached out and placed his palm on the keypad of the machine. Similar to the episode in her bedroom, only not nearly as strong, he received a wave of feeling. His fingers smoothed over the keys.
The spike of fear was first. That must be when she realized we’d closed down access to her accounts. This time Nickolas made an attempt to control what he received. Closing his eyes, he concentrated and was rewarded with a jumbled vision to supplement the wash of feelings. Opening his eyes, Nickolas removed his hand. “Well that didn’t help much.”
“What didn’t help?” Christoff asked as he walked up. “I believe this is the only ATM in the mall, so it has to be the one she used. The food vendors I showed her picture to all recognized her of course, since she works here, but none of them had seen her today.”
“Oh she was definitely here. Just not long enough for me to get a fix on where she went after trying to get money out of the machine. Why don’t we show her picture some more and ask the shopkeepers between here and the door where her bike was parked.”
“Tracing her scent from such a brief encounter was chancy at best, you know that, Nick.”
Nickolas shrugged his shoulders and started to walk back the way they’d come. He caught Christoff’s shrewd gaze assessing him. His eyes full of questions that Nickolas didn’t want to deal with. I guess I didn’t hide it as well as I’d hoped.
The arrival of Flynn and Jules served as a good distraction. He waved them over and said quietly to his brother, “I’ll find out what they’ve discovered, Chris. You start with the vendors on the aisle. I’ll
Similar Books
