Therian Prisoner(11)

“Good. Tell Kyle and Erin that we have Devon. She’s safe and unharmed.”

Devon cringed at the word. Was she unharmed or were her wounds simply not visible?

“That’s wonderful.” Landon paused. “What about Dhane?”

“Dhane needs energy, badly. He needs a she-wolf willing to feed him.”

“I can pass him energy.”

“He needs a she-wolf,” Ian stressed.

“Where did you find him? What’s this—”

“I’ll explain everything when we meet. Head north. If you leave right now we should cross paths somewhere near Ft. Collins.”

He didn’t give Landon the opportunity to argue or ask any more questions. He ended the call and returned his phone to the center console. “You okay?”

She wasn’t sure why he’d asked until she felt a tear roll down her face. Rather than reply, she wrapped her arms around herself and huddled against the seat back. With Dhane on his way to recovery she felt empty and numb. She didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to think, just wanted to absorb the fact that her ordeal was finally over.



Ian watched Devon closely, trying not to think about how good she’d felt in his arms. She was soft and warm and trusting. And a close friend’s little girl. Devon was traumatized and vulnerable, and he could not let himself forget it.

Gradually her body relaxed, her arms slipping to her waist as she swayed with the truck’s gentle motion.

“How’s the wolf?” Payne asked.

“Still pacing.” He kept his voice soft, not wanting to disturb Devon.

“Is she asleep?”

“I think so.”

Do you think she was truthful about what happened tonight? If the wolf forced her she might not want anyone to know.

I don’t know. But the thought made Ian’s stomach clench and his blood boil. She’s definitely hiding something, but I don’t think it has anything to do with Dhane.

There’s an easy way to find out.

Ian shook his head. I never go where I’m not invited unless there’s a damn good reason. When she’s ready she’ll share her story. Though I doubt it will be with me.

Don’t be so sure. I saw the way she was looking at you. You might insist on treating her like a sister, but she doesn’t think of you as a brother.

It doesn’t matter. She’s not for me.

That’s not for you to decide.

For a moment he thought Payne meant Erin and Kyle would decide Devon’s fate, then he saw the challenge in Payne’s eyes. If she were the one, I would have felt the bonding pull a long time ago.

Payne’s smile was slightly mocking. How could you possibly know what you feel when you’ve convinced yourself that she’s forbidden? She’s a direct descendant of the Historians. It makes sense that—

Stop it! She’s little more than a child.

Payne’s laugh was audible as well as telepathic. Are you blind?

Ian didn’t reply, but Payne’s speculation lodged deep in his mind. With a frustrated sigh he felt around on the floor of the truck.

“What are you doing?” Payne’s dark brows drew together over his nose.

“Where’s my shirt?”

“I think she’s lying on it.”

Sure enough. Ian spotted his shirt directly under her pert little ass. He shook his head and turned back around. All Therians either lost or destroyed their clothes when they shifted. No one would think anything of his bare chest. So why was it bothering him?

Was it possible he’d squelched the bonding pull, shut himself off from even the chance that he would finally find his mate? His bloodline had been connected to the Historians for nearly as long as the Historians had chronicled the lives and deeds of the Omni Primes. That was the main reason everyone expected him to mate with Erin. Had he felt no attraction to Erin because she was destined to provide him with a mate rather than be that mate?

It didn’t matter. There was no way he was going to complicate Devon’s recovery with inappropriate attention. He’d hand her over to her family as soon as possible and get on with his life. Only after this trauma was far behind her would he revisit the possibility that he could feel more than familial affection for Devon. It was the only rational choice.

Landon sent a text letting them know he was at a rest stop just off the southbound side of I-25. They arrived a few minutes later and Ian spotted Erin’s red SUV as well as Landon’s Acura. “Looks like the whole gang tagged along.” There were at least three people in the SUV and two in the car. Would Devon be thrilled by the support or overwhelmed by their concern?

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it? If you’re going to run for the hills.”