Rinnaas voice reached him through the anger simmering in his gut.

aAnd your life mate is going to die or go insane unless you let us help you,a she said.

He felt as though shead punched him in the chest.

aNo!a he gasped.

He saw Rinnaas gaze had shifted from him to the hallway. With a feeling of dread, he turned so he could see what she was looking at.

It was Kenna, standing there, white-faced, her hand on the wall to steady herself.

When she saw head discovered her, she fixed her gaze on him. aIf you care for me, let them help me, please.a aCare for you?a Rushing to her, he gathered her close.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE.

THE PLEADING LOOK on Kennaas face almost ripped his heart out.

Lifting her into his arms, he carried her to a big leather chair and sat down, cradling her against himself.

Since head clashed with his father and left the family home, head been making decisions for himself. The right decisions. In this situation, he was utterly lost. When he looked up and saw the others watching him with sympathy, he wanted to take out his frustration on them. But he had come around to the opinion that they were his best hope.

Bending toward Kenna, he whispered, aWeall figure it out.a aIam going to need help,a Rinna said. aFrom the other life mates. A lot of them have powers.a aAre they from the other universe?a Talon asked.

aNo. They come from this one. But they were born with talents most people here donat have.a She looked at Ross. aCan you call Renata and Antonia, Jacobas and Grantas life mates?a she asked. aTheyare the closest. And also Sara, if she can get here in time. Renata is the reincarnation of a G.o.ddess,a Rinna added in a hushed voice.

aOh yeah?a Talon asked.

aA G.o.ddess!a Kenna breathed. aAnd sheas willing to help me?a aSheas mortala"now,a Rinna said. aAnd of course sheas willing to help you. Youare Talonas life mate.a aHis what?a Talon gave Rinna a fierce scowl. It wasnat for her to give Kenna that piece of information. That should be his privilege.

She caught the expression on his face. aYou havenat talked about that?a aNo,a he snapped.

aIam sorry. I should have . . .a aItas okay,a he said, wondering what head gotten himself into.

Ross gave him a direct look. aTheyall come with their werewolf life mates. Is that okay with you?a aYouare asking permission?a aYeah.a He thought about it for a few seconds, wondering how he was going to stand so many of his cousins in one place. But he knew he was going to have to do it, because he had no choice. Still, there was something else he had to say.

aThat money I found in the woods. Iam pretty sure the guy who buried it tried to burn down the lodge today. Thereas some danger in being here.a aWith extra werewolves patrolling the area, he shouldnat be a problem.a aLetas hope.a Kenna turned toward Ross. aThank you.a He nodded and stood, pulling his cell phone from its holster. aIall go make those calls.a aAnd check the guyas license number while youare at it.a Talon gave the tag number to Ross, who wrote it down and stepped outside.

Rinna stood and walked toward Kenna. aI think I can help you sleep. That might be the best thing for you now.a aYes.a aLetas go back to the bedroom.a Talon stood with Kenna in his arms and carried her down the hall where he laid her down once again.

Then he stepped away and let Rinna take a seat on the bed.

aIam not a healer, but I have some skill with going into another personas mind.a She swallowed. aMy master tried to take that skill away from me.a Kenna was hanging on her words.

aCan you open yourself to me?a aWhat do I have to do?a aDonat resist me.a When Kenna nodded, Rinna pressed her fingers to Kennaas forehead. She closed her eyes, but opened them again after a few moments.

aIam having trouble reaching you.a Kennaas lower lip trembled. aIam sorry.a aI donat think itas your fault, but I canat break through. Not by myself.a Kenna nodded.

aIall have to wait for the others.a aOkay.a WHEN Rinna left, Kenna took her lower lip between her teeth.

aDonat.a Talon slipped onto the bed and gathered her close. aI know this is hard for you.a aAnd you.a When he stroked his lips against her cheek, she felt compelled to warn him, aItas not over. I mean the thing thatas wrong with me.a aI understand.a She wanted to say so much more, but she knew that if she did, the pain would come zinging back.

aWeall fix it,a he said again, but she thought he didnat sound as confident as usual.

aMaybe this will defeat even you.a aWeall do it!a he insisted, and she prayed to the Great Mother that it was true. She had found this man who had become everything to her, but there was no future for the two of them unless . . .

Even that wayward thought sent a dart of pain into her head, and she winced.

He raised his head, looking at her in alarm.

aI just have to keep my thoughts away from . . . my problem,a she whispered.

aYeah.a He pulled her closer, and she snuggled in his arms. She wasnat free yet, but she could see how it would be for the two of them, if Rinna and the others could help her.

The shimmering promise of what the future could be made her want to weep, but she kept from shedding any tears, because she knew that Talon would think she was sad, not happy.

aWhatas a alife matea?a she asked in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

She heard him swallow. aWolves mate for life. So do werewolves. When one of the men in my family finds the right woman, they bond.a He dragged in a breath and let it out in a rush. aI knew it was you, almost as soon as I met you. But I fought it.a aBecause you couldnat trust me,a she managed to say.

aPartly. And partly because I couldnat see myself settling down.a aAnd now you can?a she dared to ask.

aYes. With you.a aIt might not work out.a aWeall make it work,a he said fiercely.

She wanted to spell out her doubts, but she knew that wouldnat help either one of them, so she asked, aAnd one of your cousins has a life mate who . . . who is the reincarnation of a G.o.ddess.a aApparently. I havenat spent much time with my family, so I didnat know about it.a aWhy not?a aBecause of the way things have been for centuries. Thereas only one alpha male in every wolf pack. Each of us has his own pack.a Family had been important to her, and being alone like that sounded sad to her, but she didnat want to say it. Instead, she murmured, aBut it seems like Ross and the others have gotten together.a aThe guys who are mated,a he said.

Was that something she could give hima"a connection with his family? She hardly dared to hope for so much.

She had been without hope for so long that it was impossible to believe in a real future for herself, for the two of them. But for now, it was wonderful to simply lie here in the arms of the man she loved. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but she wasnat free to do it, not yet.

Instead, she shifted against him. aI know how we could . . . distract me. Would you kiss me?a aIf I did, you know where it would lead. I want you too badly for just a kiss.a She nodded against his shoulder. aYou have more will-power than I do.a aIam trying.a She saw his fist clench and knew she shouldnat push him any further.

Determined not to start anything they couldnat finish, she closed her eyes and stroked his arm, amazed that his presence could give her so much comfort.

This was what it was like to belong to someone. Not the way she belonged to her master. To someone who cared about hera"and whom she cared about.

As she lay in his arms, he did what Rinna hadnat been able to accomplish. While he stroked her and murmured rea.s.surances to her, she felt herself relaxing.

Some time later, the sound of voices made her eyes blink open.

Rinna was back with two other women. Two more life mates, she guessed.

aIave brought Antonia and Renata,a she said, gesturing toward the newcomers.

aGood to meet you,a they said.

aYes,a she answered, even as she felt herself blush.

She was an unmarried woman lying on a bed with a man, and there were three other people in the room, watching. In her world, that would be the height of scandal.

Well, maybe one of the women wasnat watching. As Kenna tried to meet Antoniaas eyes, she realized with a start that the other woman was blind.

The knowledge that these people had dropped everything in order to help her was overwhelming.

aThank you for coming,a she said, hearing how thin her voice sounded. aOn such short notice. I know I must be interrupting your lives.a aThis is important,a Renata answered.

Talon sat up. aShould I leave?a Rinna looked toward Renata, and Kenna got the feeling that she was the one who was going to take charge. The G.o.ddess.

She hadnat realized shead spoken aloud until Renata answered. aIam not a G.o.ddess. Iam human. But Iam her reincarnation, which gives me powers I wouldnat ordinarily have.a aI . . .a aPlease . . . just think of me as a friend and . . . your sister-in-law. I didnat even know I had any special powers until a few months ago.a Kenna answered with a tiny nod, overwhelmed at the word asister-in-law.a Renata turned to Talon. aYou should stay,a she said. aYou may be of help.a aWhat should we do?a Antonia asked.

Renata stepped forward. aWe need to find out what the problem is.a Talon moved awkwardly out of the way, and Renata sat down on the bed. aWill you let us connect with your mind?a aIf you can,a Kenna whispered.

Renata looked at Rinna, and she was sure they had talked about what Rinna had tried and failed to do.

Well, why not? She had known this wasnat going to be easy. Maybe getting through the barrier was impossible.

aRelax,a Renata said, reaching out toward her, both with her hand and with her mind.

The other women moved to the far side of the bed and sat down, each of them putting a hand on her. Their touch was rea.s.suring.

aWeare just going to see whatas going on,a Renata murmured.

Kenna felt her mental touch. It was stronga"stronger than Rinnaas had been, and she thought that this woman might have a chance of getting through to her.

She could feel Renata directing the process, feel the probing touch.

aDonat fight me,a she murmured.

aIam not.a Struggling to open herself, she felt some kind of barrier waver, then crack.

When the G.o.ddess sucked in a sharp breath, Kennaas eyes flew open.

aItas not a man. Itas a monster,a Renata whispered.

aYes. Vandar.a When she said his name, she felt a jolt of pain digging into the cells of her brain. Struggling against the pain, she fought to send them a picture of the beast. More than one picture. Vandar in his winged incarnation. Vandar as a man. Vandar feeding.

Her vision had turned black, but she heard more gasps around the room.

aJesus!a That was Talon. He must have somehow picked up the pictures along with the three women. aThatas whatas been holding you captive?a aYes,a she managed to say that much before she felt a blast of hot, blinding pain.

aNo!a she screamed, but she didnat even know if the word pa.s.sed her lips.

From far away, she heard Talon bellow a curse. aWhat the h.e.l.l have you done to her?a aNot us,a Renata answered. aItas the wards inside her head.a That was the last thing she heard before a terrible blackness sucked her down.

For a long moment, she saw nothing, heard nothing. Then the blackness turned to a dim gray light, shrouded in mist. Through the fog, she saw Vandar hovering in front of her. He had his human face, but his dragon body, so that his features were five times the size of a manas.

His mouth opened and a stream of fire shot out, enveloping her whole body in flames. But her flesh did not turn black. Instead, she continued to burn.

aYou think you can defy me?a he asked, his voice rising up in the middle of the flames. aIall show you what happens to mortals who try to escape from me.a She screamed and screamed again. Then, for a moment, she felt a spurt of hope, when the flames diminished a little.

Turning, she started to run, down an endless dark tunnel. At the end, she could see a light, and she knew that if she could reach it, she would be free.

She was almost there when something grabbed her from behind, a huge hand with sharp nails that dug into her flesh.

aNot so fast.a He pulled her back and spun her around, and she saw that he had changed his form again. He was a man, dressed in the black tunic that he wore for his ceremonies.

They were in a cave. Not the cave where she had lived with the other slaves. This was a rounded chamber with rock walls and a shaft of light coming down from the ceiling, shining on a wooden post with a cross bar at the top. The air smelled like rotting flesh, and a roaring sound rose all around her.

Vandar dragged her toward the cross, then clawed at her clothing with his free hand, shredding the shirt and pants she wore.

When she was naked, she tried to cover her b.r.e.a.s.t.s with her hand, but he pulled her arm roughly up, attaching it to the crossbar at the top of the post. He did the same with the other hand, so that she was standing with her arms outstretched and secured above her head.

When she was trussed to his satisfaction, he stepped back looking at her.

aYou and I are going to spend some time here together,a he said in a satisfied voice. aAnd before Iam through with you, youare going to beg me to drain your blood.a

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.

TALON SHOVED THE G.o.ddess aside and grabbed Kenna. She was limp as a rag doll. Her skin had turned the color of porcelain, and her breathing was so shallow that he had to press his hand to her chest to make sure it was rising and falling.

aWhat the h.e.l.l have you done?a he repeated.

aNothing!a aWhat do you mean, nothing? Look at her.a The womanas voice turned hard. aIt wasnat me,a she said, punching out the words. aIt came from within her.a aChrist!a The other two life mates moved to the far side of the bed. All three of them put their hands on Kenna.

aSheas gone deep inside herself,a the one named Antonia whispered.

aBring her back!a He wanted to throttle them for coming here and doing this. He might have leaped at them except that three of his cousins charged into the room. The only one he knew was Logan, the hothead. But the others must be the husbands of the two other women.

aSomething wrong?a Logan asked.

aSomethingas happened to Kenna.a Renata stood and faced the men, putting herself between them and Talon.

aHeas upset,a she said. aKennaas life is in danger. I think we can help him bring her back, but we need to be alone.a aIam not leaving,a Logan said.

One of the other men put a hand on his arm. aCome on,a he said. aRemember how you felt when Rinna was kidnapped?a Logan nodded, but he kept his gaze on Talon. aIf anything happens to Rinna, youall be sorry.a aWeare wasting time,a Renata said. aGo.a Logan turned and marched out of the room. The others followed.

Talon focused on Renata. Head been angry, but he knew deep down that she was his only hope to save his life mate.