Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 128413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Her voice had turned into a near-mumble. “An artefact of evolution, he says. Only those psychometrics who had this ability to nullify their domestic environment surviv…”
She’d fallen asleep in his arms, her hair wrapped up in a silk scarf of a simple gray, and her face soft in rest, but—and despite the pleasure they’d shared—the shadows under her eyes no less deep. He’d known she’d dream of Liberty, would wake with worry for her child’s future heavy on her heart.
He’d held her as he slept himself, confident that Rina would alert him to any threat—and confident, too, in his own instincts. Remi’s leopard would never allow an intruder to get close.
Now he held up a hand, then pointed ahead at a spot in the wall that held a surveillance device. When he made a downward motion, he heard Auden go flat on the ground. They’d discussed this after they’d woken, with Remi having already mapped out their entire route.
It infuriated him that she had to sneak around her own fucking house, but he was willing to play this game to find out why Charisma Wai and her pet doctor wanted a tiny, vulnerable infant enough to impregnate Auden. She hadn’t spelled that out to him, but she hadn’t needed to—he’d figured it out given all the other pieces of information.
These people had stolen even her consent.
They crawled five meters before he gave the signal for Auden to rise, but neither one of them had made a move to get up when he caught the sound of a voice. He held up his hand again, signaling Auden to stay down.
Less noise that way, less chance of attracting attention.
Cocking his head, he tried to pinpoint the source of the sound…and realized it was coming from the partially open door of the room three doors up to the left. No light showed through, and he couldn’t quite hear what was being said, but it appeared Charisma Wai remained where Rina had last spotted her—in her office.
He made a quick decision.
Rising in a smooth motion, he turned and all but lifted Auden up onto her feet, to lessen the chance of extraneous noise. He put a finger to his lips afterward and had her follow him to the other side of the hall and nearer to the door. He could hear parts of the conversation already, but aware that Auden’s hearing was less acute than his, he took them to right beside the door.
A careful glance inside told him why he couldn’t see any light—Charisma Wai was sitting in a chair at her desk, with the desk lamp illuminating only the immediate area.
She wasn’t alone.
Though Remi could only see the back of her companion’s head, it wasn’t hard to identify him from the conversation: the doctor who’d violated Auden. Verhoeven was the person Rina had heard open and close the back door.
“…neurological recovery is remarkable,” he was saying, “and something I’d write a paper on in other circumstances.”
“Will the drug you’ve suggested risk her brain?” Charisma Wai asked.
“No. I’d never permit that. It would nullify the point of the entire project.”
“This brain isn’t the important one,” Charisma said, her tone offhanded. “We need the infant.”
“Have your hunters had any luck locating it? I did look on the PsyNet, but Auden’s entire mind is surrounded by an impenetrable shield, and the child will be within that.”
“No,” Charisma gritted out. “We should’ve embedded a tracker in the infant in utero, as I suggested.”
Remi met Auden’s gaze, saw the rage within, and shook his head. These two would pay, but they couldn’t risk tipping their hand just yet.
Auden squeezed her eyes shut, but stayed in place.
“The risk was too high,” Verhoeven said. “But regardless, we must confirm if the temporary transfer is complete. Have you worked out how we can get Auden to the infirmary for the necessary tests without her bodyguards?”
“No point in subtlety. A strike team is assembling to move in within the hour. Changelings are fast, but bullets and lasers are faster.”
Remi’s claws pricked at his skin, but he shook his head at Auden again when she bared her teeth in a snarl. Not yet. Let the assholes talk.
“Is that wise?” Verhoeven asked. “The death of an alpha changeling will cause political ripples.”
“He’s acting as a bodyguard. He got in the way of an assassination attempt. And it isn’t as if his pack is powerful enough to take on this family.” Charisma’s voice was unconcerned. “As for Auden, I don’t know. She has knowledge she shouldn’t have, but she also responds in ways that aren’t quite right.”
“A partial integration?” the doctor said. “In all honesty, I’m finding it increasingly hard to connect on the other end so I can’t confirm. The psychic fragmentation has picked up speed. If the integration has failed with Auden, we need the child as soon as possible.”