by Shari Dare
Don’t let them do this to me, she pleaded, the voice booming in his head.
It took everything in him to not react. Sure, he had been told that he had special powers, but no one had prepared him for what they might be. He knew he could change into a wolf but it had only happened once. Being able to hear another’s thoughts, now that was something totally new and unimaginable. Again, he willed himself not to react at all, pressing his new-found gift further within himself.
“Connor,” snarled Kill, “get back into the shadows. You don’t want Father to know you were out here.”
Confused, he turned to him. “I ‑‑ why are you doing this?” he questioned. This was the first time he had ever questioned his brother. Many who did so did not live to tell the tale.
“It’s none of your affair. Just do what you’re told.” Kill shoved him out of his way. “If you don’t watch it, you’ll be caged like the animal you are.”
Connor, more confused than ever, slunk back into the shadows and watched. This was not the time to try and best his brother. Not knowing if he would succeed, he tried to contact the woman. I’m sorry, I can’t help you. Although he was deep in the shadows, her head pivoted his way, and as if realizing her mistake, looked in another direction.
Who are you?
The voice was loud and clear. There was no mistaking that he had a telepathic link to this woman. More confused than ever, he shook his head. My name is Connor Logan Angus.
But you can’t be one of them.
I am a member of the Beta clan. I am the third son.
That can’t be.
And why not?
Can you link with them like you are with me?
I don’t know. I’ve never tried.
Whether you know it or not, I do.
How?
Only those of the same clan or family members can link. I’m an Elite. So what does that make you?
Connor sank back into the shadows even more. That sick feeling he had been having recently floated to the top again. That’s impossible. There’s no way I can be part of your clan. I don’t understand any of this.
That makes two of us.
* * * * *
The rescue had been a success. How they had survived a trip through time was beyond Clarity. Even more astounding was the fact that Lucas had altered time for them and moved their mating forward. Tom had taken her home right away to be healed. She was lucky to have remembered the capac root. Now she was mated and they were preparing to leave on their honeymoon. But there was something she needed to do first.
“Clarity, we really need to get ready to leave. We just had our mating ceremony last night, for heaven’s sake.” Tom tucked the blanket more tightly around her as he snuggled closer.
Smiling at the man she loved, she couldn’t help but remember a similar gesture when she had first arrived home. Clarity had been shivering intensely when she first got back and the chill in her bones seemed to take hours to go away. Even though she appeared unconscious, she had actually been in a state somewhere in-between. Thank God, Tom had been there. She knew now he was truly the only one who could warm her heart and soul.
“I’ve got to do this, Tom. I can’t explain it. I don’t have a choice. I have to see my father before we leave on our honeymoon. Please.” She hoped that she put on her most pleading look. She knew she would do it with or without his permission and she forced herself to grow stronger by the minute so he wouldn’t question her mental health. When she had returned from the future, she wouldn’t tell him initially what was on her mind. She knew he would fear she would have a mental breakdown because what she had learned had changed her whole world. Once he did find out, he had helped her work through the details. Still, it didn’t negate the fact she needed to talk to her father.
Tom sighed. “All right, but you have to promise to make it quick. I still don’t think you’re all that well yet…you seem different. Promise?” He looked down at her, love filling his eyes.
“I promise. Just be there with me. I’m not sure he’s going to like what I have to say.” She reached for his arm.
“I’ll never leave your side again. You get into too much trouble without me.” He smiled down at her and gently caressed the side of her face.
Satisfied, she snuggled up against him, determined to rest a moment before leaving to confront her father. Before she knew it, Tom shook her gently to rouse her. Sitting up, she realized she still had some aches that would take more than a good sleep to heal. Maybe Tom was right, maybe she wasn’t as strong as she thought.
“We can wait till we get back,” Tom stated quietly.
“This can’t wait. We need to go to Langford & Langford and talk to my father.”
“I can’t stop you, can I?”
“No…this needs to be done now,” she said, frowning.
“All right, let’s get dressed and down there quickly. I was hoping for a shower together before we leave. You sure your father will be there? It’s awfully early.”
“Absolutely. He’s a workaholic. Especially with what has happened in the last few days.” Kissing him gently, she hovered over him for a moment before getting up. “I’m sure we’ll have time for that shower before we go.”
Once out of the somewhat leisurely shower, they dressed quickly and it was only a matter of minutes before Clarity climbed out of the limo and headed for the back door of Langford & Langford. Thank God for the hour; most of the employees would still be at home in bed.
Heading for the private elevator, she was again thankful Tom was by her side. Sighing, she wondered if he wasn’t right. Maybe she didn’t have the strength to do this now; maybe she did need to talk to him more, giving things time to settle, as he kept insisting she do. Right now, though, all she wanted was to get this over. The doors slid open and her chance to back out had passed. Mustering all her strength, she stood straight and walked out of the elevator, Tom kept pace.
Looking to her right, she saw her father’s ever-faithful secretary, Cordelia, at her desk. The woman had been with her father what had seemed like a lifetime, though Clari knew it couldn’t be as the woman was barely over forty. “Little early isn’t it, Cordy?”
Surprise was evident on her face. That one look spoke volumes. Just how much did she know about her father?
“Clarity. We didn’t expect you here this morning. Aren’t you supposed to leave on your honeymoon today?”
“Yes, I’m supposed to be leaving. I’m sorry if I’ve put a kink in your timetable, Cordy. Why? Is it going to be a problem?”
“He’s having a meeting with the council.”
“Good, they need to hear this too.” She walked to the door and was about to open it.
“Clarity, I can’t let you go in there. It’s supposed to be a private meeting.” Cordy had stepped up behind her.
“Too bad. Tom, restrain her if you have to, please.” Receiving a slight nod from her mate as he grabbed the woman’s arms, she pushed open the doors and turned right into the conference room.
All eyes turned her way. “Hello, Father.”
“Clarity, you should be getting ready for your honeymoon. This isn’t the place for you right now,” her father stated flatly from his chair across the conference table. .
“I beg to differ.”
Charles Langford tugged on his beard, a sign that Clarity knew meant he was agitated. “What is so damn important that you had to come here instead of getting on that plane to leave? We are trying to figure out what our next move should be. We cannot let this kidnapping go unnoticed even though they took a beating in a fair fight. They’ll be back.”
Clarity took a deep breath. “Why the hell didn’t you tell us we had a brother?”
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