Broods Of Fenrir - By Coral Moore Page 0,33

the basement a long time ago. It leads to a garage on the adjoining property. He never got over the torch and pitchfork days.” Her lips twitched in a weak smile. “I was about halfway here, when he faded out. There"s nothing. I can"t feel him at all.” Panic shook her voice, as if saying the words somehow made it more real.

“Take it easy.” He put a hand on her knee. “You"d know if he was dead without any doubt.” She nodded, but she didn"t look convinced. “I"ve never felt anything like this. The link is there, but where he should be there"s nothing.”

Alice said, “He"s drugged. It has to be a dissociative anesthetic, like ketamine, and a big dose at that. Otherwise, she"d feel his wolf.”

He turned to Alice. “How many places around here would have doses that big?”

She shrugged. “Veterinary clinics, zoos, lots of places.” That wasn"t any help at all. He returned his attention to Bera. “Okay, I"m going to assume that Lucas told whoever has him where you live. Who else might be in danger?” Bera"s eyes flicked back and forth a few times.

“Gunnarr is the only male he"s close to. The two of them spend a lot of time at Kick.”

Brand stood and crossed the room to pick up his cel phone. While grinding his teeth, he punched in Kick"s number.

When a female voice that wasn"t Sigga"s answered, he said, “Let me talk to Sigga.”

She came on a minute later. “Hey, I was just going to call you. These guys came in here tonight, and I remembered I"d seen them with Lucas before he disappeared. They"re human, which is why I forgot. Gunni"s here with them now.” 92

After a brief commotion on the other end of the line, she said,

“Oh, they"re leaving. Gunni looks blasted. I don"t think he had more than one drink.” Her voice grew distant. “Gunni"s in trouble, isn"t he?”

His fingers tightened around the phone. He tried to head off whatever impetuous idea had occurred to her. “Sigga, I want you to go home right now.”

“I"m following them. Track me.” She hung up.

“Fuck. She"s going after whoever has Erik.” He pocketed his phone and moved to the closet. “Of all the ridiculous, harebrained ideas I"ve ever heard…”

“You forgot brave,” Bera said from behind him.

“They took Erik, and Gunni is nearly as strong. Sigga isn"t going to stand a chance if they figure out she"s following them. That"s not brave; it"s careless.” He grabbed two knives from the top shelf and clipped them to his belt at the small of his back. Three pairs of eyes were on him when he turned around. “No.” He looked at each of the females in turn. “No fucking way.” Bera grumbled, “You can"t stop me from going after my mate.”

“Do you think he"ll thank me for finding him if anything happens to you?” He reached into the closet and ripped his jacket from the hook.

Alice said, “You"re going to need someone to drive if you"re tracking her.” Always logical and calculating, that one.

“Absolutely not.” The three of them were crazy if they thought he was letting them come along into Loki-knew-what mess he was about to stumble into. He yanked his jacket on while glaring around the room.

“How are you going to stop us?” Dagny asked. He"d felt her in the hallway from the kitchen throughout the conversation, indecision and worry battling inside her.

He would Compel all three of them if he had to. He opened his mouth to say as much, and then stopped. Even if he could make himself do it, which wasn"t at all certain, what 93

would happen if whoever hunted them showed up here? With an order like „Stay in the house," they"d be unable to leave even if the place became a deathtrap.

He looked from Bera to Alice and finally to Dagny.

“Come here.”

Dagny came forward, stopping in front of him.

He stared down at her, indecision gnawing at his gut.

“If I say so, you will take the two of them and leave without the slightest hesitation. Do you understand me?” Both of the other females started to protest. With a glare he said, “Alternatively, you can all stay the fuck here.” When they quieted down, he returned his attention to Dagny and waited for her answer.

She searched his face. After a moment, she nodded.

Brand shook his head. “Not good enough.”

“I"ll do it, Brand. I promise I"ll take them away if you tell me to.”

“I"m counting on you.” He drew her into a