Charity Received by Madelyn Ford Page A

though Jet still made her skin crawl with his glares, her mouth got the better of her brain.
    “And you really think that would have solved everything, do you? Just kill Charity, and Kash is as good as new? Well, I hate to break it to you, you dumb bastard, but it doesn’t work that way.”
    Jet met Faith’s gaze, and she felt frozen on the spot. She had never met anyone who was so dead inside that when you looked into his or her eyes, you saw nothing. No emotion whatsoever. He emanated a coldness that threatened to wrap around her heart and squeeze all the love from her. Faith shivered and moved closer to Bale.
    “And how does it work, then?”
    “If they don’t complete the bonding, both will continue to deteriorate, and eventually Charity will die. Where will that leave Kash? You tell me, because I was under the impression it was a one-way ticket to Hell.”
    Jet gave her a sardonic smile. “Obviously not. You sit in a room full of males who survived. You sit in the spot of a dead woman.”
    Faith gasped. Jet’s words were like a knife in the chest. Bale’s first wife, the human Thea, was still a sore subject with her. That her mate had loved another was her greatest source of insecurity.
    Bale’s growl was filled with rage. He blinked across the room and caged Jet in his chair, a beefy arm lodged against the other male’s throat. “I suggest you take care, Jetrel. I allow the snide remarks from Penny because I understand from where her source of hatred stems. But I will drop you where you stand the next time you insult my mate.” Bale studied his brother. “Have I made myself clear?”
    “Perfectly,” Jet mumbled before Bale released him. Faith thought she saw something that looked suspiciously like regret flash in the other male’s eyes, but it passed so quickly, she knew she must have been imagining it. Jet had been nothing but hostile to her from the very beginning. And she didn’t expect that to ever change.
    Bale returned to Faith’s side, pulled her into his arms, and kissed the top of her head. She let the warmth of his body soothe her, wrapping her in comfort.
    “I think that is enough for tonight. Faith, you see about those guns. The rest of you have your assignments. And be careful.” Remy paused as he swept his gaze around the room. Jet was the first to rise to his feet, and Remy pinned him with a glare.
    “You, remain behind. I’d like a word with you.”
    Jet fell back into his chair with a provoking snort. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned that Remy was watching him with a look of barely contained rage. And Faith wasn’t about to stay for the fireworks. She was the first to reach the door and kept moving at a quick pace. She was in a hurry to see Kash, anyway.
    * * *
    Across the bailey, Kash was exiting the gatehouse, an oddly shaped wooden box under his arm and a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He paused when he spotted her and appeared to visibly tense. Faith approached cautiously, not wanting to upset him or, if he really was connected to Charity, the shifter either.
     
    “Where have you been?” she asked nonchalantly.
    “Hope dropped me off at the gate. I got some of Charity’s things. She’ll need clothing.”
    Faith nodded. Kash was already attending to Charity’s needs. She saw this as confirmation of her beliefs. Looking away for a moment, she nibbled her lip as she tried to come up with a way to broach the subject with him.
    “Faith, did you want something? I would like to drop this stuff off, then head out.”
    Faith continued to chew on her bottom lip as she hesitated, understanding his need to resume the search for Charity, and she didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. If they were mates, he would feel compelled to do so until they were reunited.
    “I was speaking with my bartender last night. Charity is very dear to Prue, and she was concerned.” Faith paused, swallowing uncomfortably before continuing.
    “Anyway, Prue seems to believe the