Winter's Wrath: Sacrifice (Winter's Saga #3) by Karen Luellen Page A

time.
    “That’s exactly what we’re thinking,” Margo added decisively.
    “Are you insane?” Andrews enunciated each word carefully, as though he were speaking to the deaf.
    “Theo, why are you so determined to avoid conflict when it keeps chasing us everywhere we go?  We may as well turn and fight back on our terms,” Margo said pragmatically.
    “I can’t even listen to this,” Andrews stood.  “I’ll be sitting with Cole.”  Theo stomped up the aisle to where his son was sleeping.
    Margo watched Theo walk away.  Worry etched in her brow, but she only said, “We need to give him some time.  He’s not thinking clearly with Cole still so ill.”
    Meg wondered if everyone else understood she said those words trying to convince herself of their truth.  Dr. Andrews was struggling and Meg knew he was inching closer to a path her mother wouldn’t accept. 
    “Are you sure you don’t want me to go talk with him?” Meg asked carefully.
    Margo leaned across to her daughter and squeezed her hand affectionately.  “You need to give yourself a break, Meg.  We need you to help us come up with a plan.”
    “I have an idea,” Farrow spoke up softly, still not sure how this whole family meeting worked.
    All eyes turned to her.  “Meg, Alik told me you tried to locate Creed’s ‘emotional signature’ for hours and were unable to find him.” 
    The brothers tensed protectively toward Meg at the mention of Creed. 
    “Yes.” Meg’s eyes dropped to her lap.
    “I just wondered if you tried to tap into Dr. Williams himself?”
    “Not since the fight at the house.”
    “Well, if something did happen to Creed, Dr. Williams would know about it, wouldn’t he?”
    “I just wondered if having answers would help you.  It would also help to know what he’s planning.”
    “No offense, Farrow, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for Meg to delve into Williams’ mind again—it’s too much for her.” Evan looked worried.
    Farrow looked back and forth between Meg and Evan, then back to Alik.  “I’m sorry; I was just trying to help.  I really don’t have any idea how your gift works.  I wouldn’t want to put you in harm’s way.”
    “I think it’s a great idea,” Meg said defiantly staring at her little brothers, though her face paled considerably.
    “Meg, you know what happened last time you looked into Williams’ emotions.  You just spent your energies bringing Cole back.  If you want to do this, fine, but wait until you’ve had time to recuperate.”  Margo frowned at her daughter.
    “I need to know what happened to Creed, mom,” Meg said simply.  “I’ve gotten better at reading people since that incident back at the house.”
    “Incident?  Is that what you’re calling it?  Meg, we couldn’t pull you back!”  Alik’s usually calm demeanor was inching toward edgy.  “And, just an hour ago, Maze had to tackle you away from Cole to get you to snap out of your empath connection!”
    “Do you remember who saved me from Williams?”  Meg stared hurt daggers at her family.
    That shut everyone up. 
    “Creed saved me,” She said for Farrow’s sake.  “Creed rushed me out of the lab and put me with my Maze.  If he hadn’t thought to do that, I could still be trapped in Williams’ blackness—lost in his depraved emotions.”  Her dander was up.  She couldn’t help her raised voice. 
    Maze whined at her tone and licked her hand with his warm, rough tongue trying to soothe.  Absently, she rubbed his ears. “I’ll agree to waiting until we arrive in Texas, but as soon as we get to where we’re going, I’m doing this.  Creed gave us everything he had.  We owe him.  His story needs to be known.”

Chapter 1 4   A Creed
     
    Excruciating pain ripped the door the hell off Creed’s internal protective turret.  The pain sensors he previously controlled screamed in piercing defiance at having been silenced for too long.  The thought occurred to him that he must