Bonded to the Rakian Berserker (Rakian Warrior Mates #3) - Elin Wyn Page 0,59
technical knowledge that would help him in his mad quest to spark those gifts in the Elite.”
Jormoi shook his head. “But Jadar was a historian, not a technician. Certainly not a geneticist.”
Larson nodded sadly. “His only knowledge about such atrocities was where they eventually lead to. Which was why he left.”
The pull in Gavin’s chest had been growing steadily stronger, until it could no longer be ignored.
“This is all important, I know,” Gavin said. “And what that asshole is doing needs to be stopped. But to do that, we need to find him.”
And find Esme, his blood demanded.
“He’s down here somewhere, but my access to the other floors was cut off years ago,” Larson answered. “And I’ve never been to Braydon’s lab itself. He knew from the beginning what my thoughts were.”
“We’re not locked out of anything anymore,” said Coracle. “I’ve made a few modifications of my own. Give me time, and I’ll find where Esme and her family are being kept.”
“I’m pretty sure I can find her on my own,” Gavin answered, rubbing at his chest. The ache was getting stronger by the minute.
Jormoi raised an eyebrow, but all he said was “Let’s go.”
28
“I remember the room,” Esme told Nettie in a low voice. “And the chair, something put over my head.”
“There’s one that’s like a metal bowl that they strap on under your chin,” Roddy said. “Another one with tendrils that hang down and sticks to you.”
Sasha raised her hand to the side of her head, and unconsciously Esme mirrored her movements, and with a jolt realized the other woman must have a scar very similar to Esme’s own.
Perhaps all of the captives did.
“There’s always three of them in the room,” Nettie whispered. “You’ll be able to use that.”
“What?” Esme whispered.
“You want as many of them in there with you as possible,” Nettie said, staring at the open door. “You can take them all.”
Whispers came up and down the rows of cages.
Tiny little pieces of information that helped Esme build a map of the room in her mind, knowing their enemy a bit better.
“Sometimes the chair doesn’t work, Braden yells and another man comes,” offered one hidden voice.
Another added “Together they take part of the wall off. I’ve never seen any more.”
“The other men change often, they act like it’s a privilege to be in the room, but they never stay long,” yet another unseen speaker.
“Braydon always acts like a man who’s been promised a treat, but it’s always out of reach.”
“Sometimes I think I hear something under the room.”
More and more pieces, adding to something that might almost be called a plan.
“You have to push yourself. There is no good and evil here,” Nettie said. “Not anymore. You have to remember that. You have to push through it.”
Esme closed her eyes, willing the scene from the nightmare to return.
Her heart raced in her chest and panic wrapped her in a smothering blanket, but she struggled free.
Braydon’s unscarred face in her mind told her this was memory, not vision.
But either way it wasn’t real.
And she couldn’t afford panic now.
She pushed it aside, soothed the emotion down.
Once upon a time, she’d been brought into that room. Had seen it with her own eyes.
This time when Braydon came for her she wasn’t afraid.
His lip curled as his eyes raked over her. “That monstrosity you were with won’t be able to rescue you.”
Anger sparked in her belly at the insult to Gavin. She let that stay, let its warmth run through her, but stayed silent, chin high.
“My men killed both of them.”
A lie.
She knew it was a lie, could feel the bond between herself and Gavin, strong and getting stronger.
And with just as much certainty, she knew he was aware of the lie.
Braydon didn’t know what had happened after he’d taken her. He just enjoyed being cruel.
Unlocking the door to her cage, he reached for her, but she brushed him away, climbed out on her own.
His eyes narrowed.
This was unexpected. Softly, gently she let her mind take advantage of his momentary confusion to weave through his emotional landscape, seeing what could be used.
Pride, arrogance. Impatience.
“Aren’t you ready?” She stepped in front of him, and he immediately seized her upper arm, squeezing it tightly as he dragged her behind him.
“Don’t think you can try anything foolish. You’re not getting away this time.”
Everyone in the cages was silent as they passed. She could feel their energy, their hopes and their wills pushing into her, lending her their strength.