"Back to work," she muttered, turning away from him before she let her wayward emotions get her into trouble.
Hadn't she learned better more than once?
Shaking her head, she turned back to the job at hand, shining the light
deep into the opening that led farther into the land. The light beam caught on a piece of folded paper, tucked beneath the outcropping of a rock. Moving into the tunnel, she bent and pulled it free before aiming the light on it. The computer-printed schedule was damning.
Fields, Megan. Patrol Schedule. Her fingers rubbed over the paper as hatred poured from it. Personal hatred. This wasn't the impersonal evil of the Coyote Breeds. It was closer. Familiar. She knew the feeling, the psychic imprint left by all creatures once they touched something. She bit her lip, frowning down at the paper as she continued to rub her fingers over it. The emotion was faint, but vicious. Whoever had printed out this schedule had known what awaited her. Known and enjoyed the feeling of power that came from the knowledge.
"What is it?'
Megan jumped in startled awareness as she heard , Braden's voice at her ear, only then realizing how easily he had slipped up on her.
"This is from the computers at the sheriff's office. " She frowned down at the locator numbers at the top of the printout. "The printer automatically sets the locator numbers to display the location of the office printing it . "
"Are they printed out often?" Braden reached out, lifting the paper from her hand as she turned to face him.
Megan shrugged. "Not that often. I get a copy and Lance has his copy. Unless someone prints out more. But you need the password to get into the system. "
"It's still not a foolproof system. " He shook his head slowly, staring down at the paper a moment longer before refolding it and txcking it into his pocket. ''I'll send it to the labs and see if they can pick up any prints from it. Though I doubt any but those of the Coyote who ca
rried it show up after all this time. "
"From what I've heard of the Council, they don't go after high-profile or well-guarded women," she said then, remembering the reports she had watched over the years. "They kidnap runaways. or women who are destitute, with no family. And they don't just mark one for death. Why change their routine now?"
She wasn't stupid. There had to be something more that they were after.
"You're right. " He reached up, pushing back the fringes of hair that fell over her face, his golden eyes narrowing as she stared back at him.
"There is something more they want. Unfortunately, I have no idea what it is. Until I learn, we'll fight together. No going off alone. Megan. Trust me to let you fight and to live. "
Her lips parted at his statement while her heart began to race at his nearness. She should be excited about the opportunity to fight, not about the chance to be a part of this man's life.
His lips quirked, a soft smile softening the features of his face. "You're surprised?"
"A bit," she admitted, aware that his hand now cupped the side of her neck, his thumb smoothing over the tender flesh just beneath her ear. The intimacy that wrapped around them seemed to invade every cell of her body.
"Why?" He tilted his head.
She shrugged, uncertain within the morass of arousal and emotions she could feel building within her. Braden, as maddening as he could be, drew her to him in ways she found impossible to fight. She wanted his arms around her, wanted his touch and his kiss; but even more, she wanted the man.
"Why have you stayed here?' he asked her then. "I see the wildness in your eyes, Megan, the need to run free, to fight and to dance within the flames of life. You let Lance give you a Wounder rather than a weapon, and allow yourself to be smothered in this corner you exist within. Why?"
A frown snapped between her brows as the shame of her failure to fight and control her Empathy filled her once again. "This is my home," She tried to shake off his touch.
"This isn't your life. " He spoke the words that she shied away from daily.
"This isn't your business. " She stepped away from him, ignoring the instant chill to her body as she lost his warmth.
"This is a lot of my business," he assured her, still blocking the exit of the tunnel. "I see a very strong woman. One with enough fire to warm the coldest nights or to fight the bloodiest battle. Yet you're here, sedated, bored out of your mind. "
His voice was gentle, comforting, and yet at the same time the dark, rich baritone had her blood pressure rising to a heated pitch of arousal. She would have been amused if it didn't scare her silly. She could love this man, even knowing he couldn't stay.
"Bored?" She arched her brow mockingly. "Now, Braden, how could you consider this little comer of the desert boring? Surely you aren't ready to head back to battle so soon?"
He was hitting too close to the mark, bringing to the surface too many things that had been tormenting her with each passing year.
''I found a battle here," he responded softly. Crowding her closer to the stone wall at the side of the tunnel. "Now I just have to figure out why there's a battle to begin with. Why would a beautiful, seemingly normal young woman suddenly be targeted for death by a Council that shouldn't give a fuck about her one way or the other. What did you do, Megan?