“Right—a disease that killed everyone with a Y chromosome.” Imani nodded. “I read about that.”
“Exactly,” Sylvan said. “So when they came, the Kindred found only females. And since we are a race of mostly males, it made sense to make a genetic trade with them. Many Kindred males called Nightwalker brides.”
“That sounds like an ideal situation,” Kat remarked.
“It seemed so.” Sylvan frowned. “Until the first children came along. You see, the original Nightwalker males were much different from their females who were kind and sweet-tempered. But as even-tempered as the females were, they still bore the traits in their DNA that made their sons into Nightwalker males.”
“So, what was wrong with that?” Kat asked, frowning. “I thought Kindred genes usually mix well with the genes of other species?”
“In this case, they mixed too well.” Sylvan’s voice was grim. “You see, the original Nightwalker males were about twenty percent smaller than the females. But they were absolutely savage. Once the Kindred genes were added, that savagery was compounded by size, since the children all inherited the Kindred propensity to be extremely large and muscular.”
Imani frowned.
“I read something about that, but I didn’t really understand. Do you mean they’re all crazy or what?”
“No, not exactly.” Sylvan shook his head. “The Nightwalker Kindred are a little like the Wulven Kindred.”
“The ones who change into a beast at the full moon?” Kat’s eyes widened.
“Yes, but the Nightwalkers don’t change—well, their physical appearance doesn’t change much, anyway.” Sylvan leaned forward again. “You see, the Nightwalkers aren’t separate from their beasts—they are the beasts. That savage, wild temperament is always there, just below the surface. It’s said they can go into Rage for any reason—not just to protect a female. And once they are in Rage, it’s very difficult to get out of their feral state.”
“Rage?” Imani frowned.
“It’s a kind of berserker fury a Kindred warrior goes into if he thinks his woman is being threatened,” Kat explained. She looked at Sylvan. “But you’re saying the Nightwalker Kindred are in Rage all the time?”
“If provoked, they can go into a feral state where they are more animal than man,” Sylvan said, nodding. He looked at Imani seriously. “It’s extremely important that you don’t allow your client to become provoked into that state.”
“But what if he gets provoked and she can’t help it?” Kat demanded. “Won’t she be in danger if she has a huge, enraged feral warrior on her hands?”
“Actually, no,” Sylvan said mildly. “Because, like almost all other Kindred, the Nightwalkers won’t harm a female.”
“Which is why we know the charges against my client must be false,” Imani put in.
“You mean the charges that he murdered his Mistress?” Kat asked.
Imani nodded firmly.
“Exactly. Kindred are biologically incapable of harming a female, so the charges must be faked.”
“Is that what you’re going to argue in court?” Kat asked.
“Along with whatever evidence I’m presented with,” Imani said.
“You’ll get it the first night you’re there,” Sylvan promised. “We have an operative there who’ll get you a file you can use during the pleading.”
“How will I know him?” Imani asked.
“You’ll know him,” Sylvan said. “He’ll approach you and say, ‘Excuse me, Mistress—I think you dropped something.’ Take the file he offers you and use it well. We believe that this Nightwalker Kindred—savage and bestial though he may be—is completely innocent.”
“And a Yonnite jail is no place for an innocent man,” Kat remarked.
“That’s certainly true.” Sylvan sounded grim. “With the help of Councilor Lizabeth and her mate, Lone, we were recently able to see that their worst prison, BleakHall, was shut down. But as I understand it, none of their correctional facilities is exactly progressive.”
“That’s putting it mildly. When I think of some of the awful stories we heard about BleakHall…” Kat broke off with a shiver.
“True.” Sylvan nodded. “We don’t want to leave him in that place any longer than is absolutely necessary. Your job, Councilor Williams, is to gain his freedom and bring him back to his home world where he can hopefully live the rest of his days in peace.”
“I’ll do it,” Imani promised. “I’ll get him out, Commander Sylvan.”
“Good.” He nodded. “Then since Kat informs me that you’re all packed, you can leave tonight. You’ll be staying at The Luxx—the finest hotel in Opulex, which is the capital city of Yonnie Six.”
“Oh, you didn’t have to put me up in such an expensive place!” Imani protested.
“Oh, yes we did,” Kat said dryly. “Believe me, status matters to the Yonnites. You have to appear as rich and powerful as they are to get anywhere with them.”
“Kat is absolutely right,” Sylvan remarked mildly. “Don’t worry about the bill. The High Council can afford it and we want to be certain you have the best chance possible to free the Nightwalker.”
“Does this guy have a name?” Kat asked, frowning. “We keep talking about him and referring to the kind of Kindred he is but what is he called?”
Imani had wondered the same thing—Kat had taken the question right out of her mouth.
Sylvan frowned.
“You know, I’m not certain of his name. We got this information from our informant in the first place—a secret transmission out of Yonnie Six that a Nightwalker was about to be executed and he had proof that the accused was innocent of the crime he was charged of.” He shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling. “That’s all we have for now. I’m sorry, Councilor Williams.”
“That’s all right,” Imani said, lifting her chin. “I’m sure I’ll find out the details from the court documents once I get there. You said they’ll be waiting in my hotel?”
“Yes, just ask at the front desk of the Luxx and they’ll give you a packet,” Sylvan promised. “We’re sending you early so you have time to prepare. The prisoner’s hearing is set a week from now.”
“Perfect.” Imani nodded. “Then I’m ready to go.”
“Excellent.” Sylvan rose and offered her his hand. “Good luck on your quest for justice then, Councilor.”
“Thank you.” Imani smiled and shook hands with the big Kindred, who was her new boss—or would be if this case worked out and the High Council decided to hire her permanently. Soon she would be on her way.
She thought again about her big brother. How Rashaad had been stabbed by another inmate over a can of Coke. His promising young life had been snuffed out so early—so senselessly.
I won’t let that happen to my client, she promised herself firmly. It doesn’t matter that I have to dress in crazy clothes and travel halfway across the galaxy. I’ll see that he goes free no matter what I have to do in order to make it happen!
She had no idea how far and to what extremes that particular vow would take her. If she had, she might not have made it. But by the time she stepped into the ship which was to take her to Yonnie Six, it was too late…
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Also by Evangeline Anderson
Below you'll find a list of available and upcoming titles. But depending on when you read this list, new books will have come out by then that are not listed here. Make sure to check my website for the latest releases and better yet, sign up for my newsletter to never miss a new book again.
Brides of the Kindred series
(Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)
CLAIMED (Also Available in Audio)
HUNTED (Also Available in Audio)
SOUGHT (Also Available in Audio)
FOUND (Also Available in Audio)
REVEALED (Also Available in Audio)
PURSUED (Also Available in Audio)
EXILED (Also Available in Audio)
SHADOWED (Also Available in Audio)
CHAINED (Also Available in Audio)
DIVIDED (Also Available in Audio)
DEVOURED (Also Available in Audio)
ENHANCED (Also Available in Audio)
CURSED (Also Available in Audio)
ENSLAVED (Also Available in Audio)
TARGETED (Also Available in Audio)
FORGOTTEN (Also Available in Audio)
SWITCHED (Also Available in Audio)
UNCHARTED
UNBOUND
SURRENDERED
VANISHED
IMPRISONED
TWISTED
DECEIVED
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME ONE
Contains Claimed, Hunted, Sought and Found
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME TWO
Contains Revealed, Pursued and Exiled
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME THREE
Contains Shadowed, Chained and Divided
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FOUR
Contains Devoured, Enhanced and Cursed
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FIVE
Contains Enslaved, Targeted and Forgotten
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SIX
Contains Switched, Uncharted and Unbound
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SEVEN
Contains Surrendered, Vanished, and Imprisoned
All Kindred novels are now available in PRINT.
* * *
Also, all Kindred novels are on their way to Audio, join my Audiobook Newsletter to be notified when they come out.
Kindred Tales
The Kindred Tales are side stories in the Brides of the Kindred series which stand alone outside the main story arc.
These can be read as STAND ALONE novels.
MASTERING THE MISTRESS (Also Available in Audio)
BONDING WITH THE BEAST (Also Available in Audio)
SEEING WITH THE HEART (Also Available in Audio)
FREEING THE PRISONER (Also Available in Audio)
HEALING THE BROKEN (a Kindred Christmas novel) (Also Available in Audio)
TAMING THE GIANT (Also Available in Audio)
BRIDGING THE DISTANCE (Also Available in Audio)
LOVING A STRANGER (Also Available in Audio)
FINDING THE JEWEL (Also Available in Audio)
BONDED BY ACCIDENT (Also Available in Audio)
RELEASING THE DRAGON (Also Available in Audio)
SHARING A MATE (Also Available in Audio)
INSTRUCTING THE NOVICE (Also Available in Audio)
AWAKENED BY THE GIANT (Also Available in Audio)
HITTING THE TARGET (Also Available in Audio)
HANDLING THE HYBRID (Also Available in Audio)
TRAPPED IN TIME (Also Available in Audio)
TIME TO HEAL (Also Available in Audio)
PAIRING WITH THE PROTECTOR (Also Available in Audio)
FALLING FOR KINDRED CLAUS
GUARDING THE GODDESS
STEALING HER HEART
TAMING TWO WARRIORS
THE KINDRED WARRIOR’S CAPTIVE BRIDE
DARK AND LIGHT
PROTECTING HIS MISTRESS
UNLEASHED BY THE DEFENDER
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 1
Contains Mastering the Mistress, Bonding with the Beast and Seeing with the Heart
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 2
Contains Freeing the Prisoner, Healing the Broken and Taming the Giant
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 3
Contains Bridging the Distance, Loving a Stranger and Finding the Jewel
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 4
Contains Bonded by Accident, Releasing the Dragon, and Sharing a Mate
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 5
Contains Instructing the Novice, Awakened by the Giant, and Hitting the Target
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 6
Contains Handling the Hybrid, Trapped in Time, and Time to Heal
Kindle Birthright series
(Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)
The Children of the Kindred series
UNBONDABLE
Born to Darkness series
(Paranormal / Action-Adventure Romance)
CRIMSON DEBT (Also Available in Audio)
SCARLET HEAT (Also Available in Audio)
RUBY SHADOWS (Also Available in Audio)
CARDINAL SINS (coming soon)
DESSERT (short novella following Scarlet Heat)
(Also Available in Audio)
BORN TO DARKNESS BOX SET
Contains Crimson Debt, Scarlet Heat, and Ruby Shadows all in one volume
Alien Mate Index series
(Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)
ABDUCTED (Also Available in Audio)
PROTECTED (Also Available in Audio)
DESCENDED (Also Available in Audio)
SEVERED (Also Available in Audio)
ALIEN MATE INDEX VOLUME ONE
Contains Abducted, Protected, Descended and Severed all in one volume
* * *
All Alien Mate novels are now available in PRINT.
The Cougarville series
(Paranormal / Action-Adventure Romance)
(Older Woman / Younger Man
BUCK NAKED (Also Available in Audio)
COUGAR BAIT (Also Available in Audio)
STONE COLD FOX (Also Available in Audio)
BIG BAD WOLF (coming soon)
The CyBRG Files with Mina Carter
(Sci-Fi / Action-Adventure Romance)
UNIT 77: BROKEN (Also Available in Audio)
UNIT 78: RESCUED (Also Available in Audio)
The Institute series
(Daddy-Dom / Age Play Romance)
THE INSTITUTE: DADDY ISSUES
(Also Available in Audio)
THE INSTITUTE: MISHKA’S SPANKING
The Swann Sister Chronicles
(Contemporary Fairy / Funny / Fantasy Romance)
WISHFUL THINKING (Also Available in Audio)
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR (Also available in Audio)
Nocturne Academy
(Young Adult Paranormal/Action-Adventure/Romance)
LOCK AND KEY (Also Available in Audio)
FANG AND CLAW
STONE AND SECRET (Coming Soon)
Detectives Valenti and O’Brian
(1980s M/M Romance)
THE ASSIGNMENT
I’LL BE HOT FOR CHRISTMAS
FIREWORKS
THE ASSIGNMENT: HEART AND SOUL
Compendiums and Box Sets
ALIEN MATE INDEX VOLUME ONE
Contains Abducted, Protected, Descended and Severed all in one vo
lume
BORN TO DARKNESS BOX SET
Contains Crimson Debt, Scarlet Heat, and Ruby Shadows all in one volume
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME ONE
Contains Claimed, Hunted, Sought and Found
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME TWO
Contains Revealed, Pursued and Exiled
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME THREE
Contains Shadowed, Chained and Divided
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FOUR
Contains Devoured, Enhanced and Cursed
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME FIVE
Contains Enslaved, Targeted and Forgotten
BRIDES OF THE KINDRED VOLUME SIX
Contains Switched, Uncharted and Unbound
HAVE YOURSELF A SEXY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Contains Kidnapped for Christmas, Cougar Christmas and Season’s Spankings
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 1
Contains Mastering the Mistress, Bonding with the Beast and Seeing with the Heart
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 2
Contains Freeing the Prisoner, Healing the Broken and Taming the Giant
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 3
Contains Bridging the Distance, Loving a Stranger and Finding the Jewel
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 4
Contains Bonded by Accident, Releasing the Dragon, and Sharing a Mate
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 5
Contains Instructing the Novice, Awakened by the Giant, and Hitting the Target
KINDRED TALES VOLUME 6
Contains Handling the Hybrid, Trapped in Time, and Time to Heal
NAUGHTY TALES: THE COLLECTION— Volume One
Contains Putting on a Show, Willing Submission, The Institute: Daddy Issues, The Institute: Mishka's Spanking, Confessions of a Lingerie Model, Sin Eater, Speeding Ticket, Stress Relief and When Mr. Black Comes Home.
Protecting His Mistress...Book 24 in the Kindred Tales Series Page 26