TherianPromise by Cyndi Friberg Page A

pushed back from
the table and stood. “No wonder Osric can’t resist you. You’re adorable.”
    Osric didn’t think she was adorable, he thought she was weak
and convenient. And each time he took her, ambition devoured another part of
her soul. “If you take me with you, I’ll find out everything Devon knows.” She
tried to make the offer sound playful, but she wanted nothing more. She wanted
to go back to being a respected scientist who was largely ignored by men.
    “You’re right where we need you. For now. Make sure Osric
has no reason to doubt you.”
    She nodded, silently accepting her fate while inside she was
screaming.
    * * * * *
    “And all that time you had no idea where you were?” Jake
didn’t sound accusatory. He sounded concerned, so Ava tried to relax. Reviewing
the bizarre events hadn’t been fun, but he’d listened without interruption,
allowing her to move quickly through the sequence. She still had so many unanswered
questions and a nagging sense that the danger hadn’t passed. Who had dispatched
the guards? And most importantly, was Kyle going to be okay?
    “The only thing we were worried about in the beginning was
whether or not we were being followed.” She pushed aside her empty plate,
amazed that she’d devoured the entire steak dinner. She’d thought she was too
anxious to eat. Despite his gruff exterior, Jake had managed to put her at
ease. “And once we were sure we were on our own, Kyle pointed the Jeep downhill
and we hoped for the best.”
    “Not a bad strategy when you’re shooting from the hip.” Jake
fiddled with one of the forks laid out on his side of the table, obviously lost
in thought. “I presume you’ve never teleported before.”
    “No…or yes. I’ve never teleported before.” Ava stirred the
ice in her water glass with her straw then took a sip. She still felt dazed, as
if she’d been relaying a chapter from someone else’s life. “Kyle thinks it was
a reflex, part of my survival instincts.”
    “That makes sense, but it still seems really random and not
very helpful. Therian abilities, even in their infancy, tend to be more
accurate than that.”
    Ron or Steve—the tall, stern-faced blond didn’t say a word,
so Ava wasn’t sure which one he was—walked into the restaurant and handed Jake
a plastic bag containing everything they’d recovered from the Jeep. Jake
thanked him, and the guy walked away without ever making eye contact with Ava.
    “Is he always so friendly?”
    Jake lounged in the booth across from her, obviously at home
in his domain. “He has other, more valuable skills.” He opened the bag and
looked inside. “Kyle’s phone should be in here. Do you still want to talk to
your sister?”
    “Of course I do.” He continued rummaging through the bag as
she asked, “Is it safe to call her cell? I don’t want to reveal her location.”
    “Osric knows where she is, but…” He looked up, hesitating
over what he’d been about to say.
    “Quinn claimed her so she’s no use to Osric?”
    “Basically.” He found the phone and handed it to her. “I’m
not saying she’s no longer in danger. Allowing ourselves to believe that is
foolish.”
    “He’s just more interested in me now?”
    “He’s always been more interested in you.” Jake set the bag
aside and returned his gaze to her face. “Carissa’s definition just widened the
gap.”
    Rather than ask him to explain the strange claim, she
activated the phone and entered Carissa’s number. Still, the comment buzzed
around in the back of her mind. They were fraternal twins. Why would Osric care
more about her than he did about Carissa?
    “Hello.” Carissa’s voice sounded hushed and thin.
    “It’s me, Car. I’m fine. Are you okay?”
    “Thank God I answered. I didn’t recognize the number, but
Quinn thought it might be Kyle.”
    Ava smiled, soothed by the familiar cadence of her sister’s
voice. “I guess that means you’re all right.”
    “I’m wonderful.” She