“What does he look like?”
He glanced back, clearly surprised by the question. “Tall and burly, dark hair and eyes. Why do you ask?”
“I dreamed about her last night.” It was more or less true. “She was with a dark-haired man. He looked sort of like a lumberjack.” He’d looked more like someone who would have been featured on the lumberjack edition of the hunk-of-the-month calendar, but that was beside the point.
Kyle chuckled and turned back to the mountain. “Lumberjack fits Quinn as well as anything, but don’t worry. He isn’t nearly as mean as he looks.”
Kyle hadn’t seemed at all surprised that she’d dreamed about her sister. Were psychic powers common among Therians? “Where did Quinn take her? How do you know they’re safe?”
“Last I heard they were out at the sanctuary, which is where I’ll eventually take you. We have electrified fences and video surveillance, as well as physical guards.”
She wasn’t sure if his list made her feel more or less secure. “Why do you need all that security? Are kidnappings common among your people?”
“You need to stop saying ‘your’ people.” Another chuckle rumbled in his chest, but this time he didn’t turn around. “We’re the same, sunshine. My people are your people. We’re both part of the Therian nation.”
* * * * *
Nehema ushered “Team Leader” into her neat suburban two-story and directed him toward the living room. Masquerading as a soccer mom had worked remarkably well as she gradually allowed her appearance to mature, but circumstances had changed. Too many in the Front Range knew too much. It was time for a new strategy.
“The cats captured Gage,” she told her companion. He crossed the room with three long strides and sat in the middle of the flower-print sofa, each movement illustrating his impatience.
“I heard.” Though he was dressed in jeans and a pullover shirt, his bearing was unmistakably militant.
The illusion of anonymity amused Nehema so she allowed it to continue. In truth, she’d learned his name and much of his background hours after their “chance” encounter in 1979. And their relationship hadn’t changed much in all the years that followed. Similar goals kept them on parallel paths, yet they both knew they weren’t actually working together. She kept hoping he’d trust her enough to tell her his true identity. Instead, he hid behind a nameless mask and treated her like a fool.
He tapped his thumb against his thigh as his expression turned thoughtful. “Anything Gage knew is compromised. A mind sweep from any of the cats and that coward will piss his pants.”
“I was never overly confident in Gage, so he knows very little.” She waved away his concerns and sat in the armchair facing him.
“He knows your name.”
She shrugged. “If the cats don’t know my name by now, I’ve given them far more credit than they deserve. What Gage has done is focus attention on me and I can’t tolerate that.”
“I’m not sure I understand.” He scooted to the edge of the sofa, blue gaze searching hers. “If the shifters know who you are and what you’re trying to accomplish, why don’t they just shut you down?”
“Because—up until now—they haven’t known where to find me.”
“Gage knows where you live?” One of his gray brows arched, accenting the question.
She rolled her eyes. Was he going out of his way to annoy her today? “Would we be sitting here if he did?”
“But he knows enough to predict your next attack?”
“I don’t attack. I liberate. I save helpless females from the demonic nature forced upon them by ruthless men! The females are innocent and the evil practices of the Therian elders must be abolished.”
“Their practices become pointless if I find a cure.” Though he didn’t raise his voice, there was steel in the statement. “I haven’t given up on my program.”
“I’m less convinced that a chemical can permanently bind their demons, but I’m still willing to let you try.” She pushed to her feet and motioned toward the stairs. “That’s why I asked you here today.”
He looked a bit leery, but he followed her up the stairs and to the second bedroom down the hallway. She pushed the door open but didn’t enter. Warning him to remain quiet, she nodded toward the bed across the room. Three female Therians rested side by side, sleeping soundly, thanks to a strong sedative. She wasn’t sure if they were sisters, but similar features and coloring identified them with a common clan. The youngest was perhaps eight the oldest in her late teens or early twenties.