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toward it. She wanted to laugh in glee. Come here, trouble maker.
She'd never seen it before. Like a bundle of nerves, a glowing mass of magic had somehow
become lodged in Ford's brain stem. God only knew what kind of effect it was having on him,
but she knew without doubt he would never be the same.
 What is it, Kimberlyn? Logan's voice wafted to her mind, floating like a leaf on a
summer day, and she smiled to herself for being so fanciful. How much closer she felt to her
alpha and Andrew now that she'd experienced the ceremony. She felt them, right there with her
inside Ford, giving her strength. Clarity.
She gently urged the mass to break apart, giving each little piece a nudge onward.
Reluctant to leave, she nonetheless pulled herself away and shifted back to human form. Once
more kneeling on the damp floor, she opened her eyes.
 Kimberlyn? Logan's eyes were filled with concern, but something else too. Belief in her.
He trusted her, whether he knew it or not, to make things right.
She smiled and touched his arm.  He's fine. Better than fine. He's 
70 Cassidy Hunter
And at that moment, Ford's eyes shot open, and he dragged in sweet air, his chest rising as
his lungs expanded. He blasted to his feet like a gunshot, ignoring the outstretched hands and the
worried faces around him.
 Oh my God! His scream was enough to send the others toward him, but Kimberlyn only
smiled.
 Ford, are you okay? Andrew asked, grasping the older man's arm.  We thought you were
dead, man!
 I was, Ford said, tears running down his face as he pointed at Kimberlyn.  But she came
in and& 
Logan frowned.  Ford, you're pointing at her. Can you actually 
 I can see her, Ford screamed.  I can fucking see her! He fell to his knees, sobbing,
looking everywhere at once.  I can see everything! I can see you, I can see the walls, I can see
the torchlight. I have to go outside. I have to 
And he fell over, out cold. Kimberlyn stood before him, arms outstretched to keep the
others from running to rouse him.  Leave him be. His mind needs time to accept these things.
The wolves stopped in their tracks, staring at her with awestruck faces, mouths agape.
 You made him see, someone whispered.
 Not just I, she said. She held out her hands to Logan and Andrew.  We did.
They came, her two men, Logan carefully and Andrew eagerly, and took her hands.  I'm
sorry, she told them.  I love that the two of you are together. I was only& afraid. Afraid that I
wouldn't be as important to either of you. I hope you'll forgive me.
 It doesn't matter, Andrew said.  We'll do anything to keep you. Anything. And he
looked at Logan, his eyes soft.
 I'm sorry, Logan told him.
 There is nothing to be sorry about.
Andrew held his hand out to Logan, and this time Logan didn't flinch away. He grasped it
and smiled, then shot a challenging look to his people.
 The ceremony is unfinished. He held Kimberlyn and Andrew's hands high.  We are your
leaders. Do you accept this?
Sanctuary 71
 We do, they said as one.
But one man, standing next to the unsmiling Elena, stepped forward.  I follow you, Logan.
Not  he hesitated long enough to throw a contemptuous look at Kimberlyn and Andrew  a
strange woman and him.
Logan smiled, but his eyes were deathly cold.  If you wish to stay in this pack, John, you
will show respect.
John bowed his head but couldn't keep his lips from curling in a sneering smile.  You're
pack leader. But now you've decided to take on a fag and a bitch in heat, and you expect us to
just 
Logan leaped in a blur of movement; one minute he was beside Kimberlyn and the next he
was standing where John had been standing a second before. John now lay facedown a few feet
away, quiet at last.
 Do any of you wish to leave the pack? If so, you are free to go. Logan clenched his fist,
his eyes shooting sparks of fury. No one moved.  Then we shall continue on with this woefully
interrupted ceremony.
He held his hands out to Kimberlyn and Andrew and speared Elena with a narrowed gaze.
 Elijah. Get rid of him.
Elena looked away from him, and her stare landed on Kimberlyn.
Despite her best intentions, Kimberlyn shivered.
72 Cassidy Hunter
Chapter Thirteen
It had been three days since the ceremony, since she'd had mind-blowing sex with Logan
and Andrew. She lifted her hand and stared at her left palm, rubbing it absentmindedly. Shaped
like a small starflower, the mark looked like a burn but was completely numb. Slightly raised,
the five petals of the flower had a whitish cast, attached to a swirling center. Three of the
twisting petals were tipped with red.
Logan and Andrew had the exact same mark on their palms.
She'd noticed it right after the ceremony.
 Why are three of them tinged with red and two empty? Andrew had mused.
Logan had just shaken his head.  I don't know.
 Do you feel different since the ceremony, Kimberlyn? Andrew asked.
She felt the heat rise in her cheeks.  Well& 
Logan's lovely grin flashed, making him looking ten years younger and so much more
approachable.  He doesn't mean sexually. He lowered his voice, his gaze holding hers.
 Although that is something we might want to explore later.
Andrew laughed.  Definitely.
 How do you feel mentally? Psychically.
 I feel stronger. I feel more connected to you two. Somewhat to the other wolves. She
shook her head, eyebrows raised.  It's amazing. If you or Andrew are reasonably near, I can
somehow feel where you are. It's like I can hear where you are, does that make sense? And
even&  she stopped, blushing again.
 What, Kimber?
She cleared her throat and stared at her shoes.  I can feel your moods. Last night& 
Sanctuary 73
Logan sucked in a breath, but Andrew's laughter floated free and surrounded them,
bringing lightness to a suddenly tense atmosphere.  You should have joined us, Kimber. We
wanted to invite you in, but Logan thought you might need some time to get accustomed to
things&  His voice trailed off, a question in his eyes.
I felt left out. Angry that you two were making love without me. Bastards. She shrugged
and continued to avoid their gazes.  Maybe I do.
Logan stood in front of her. He grasped her chin and tilted her face so her eyes met his.
 As you can feel us, so can we you. We can also read your moods.
Mortified, she stepped back, stumbling in her haste to get away from them. Holy shit! They
knew she was needy, jealous, desperate&
 Kimberlyn. Stop. We aren't reading your mind. Each of us can sense things about the
other, that's all.
 Don't be upset, Kimber. Andrew held his hands toward her.  Come here.
But she hadn't gone to him. She'd run. She'd steered clear of everyone since then, keeping
to her room and herself, trying to come to terms with the strangeness of the her new
circumstances.
She started at the knock on her door, as if her thoughts had brought Logan or Andrew to
check on her. She wasn't sure if she was relieved or disappointed that it was only Roxie, bringing
her dinner.
 Logan says to ask you if you're sure you're not ready to join them downstairs for dinner.
Roxie couldn't have looked less like a typical housekeeper. Upswept, bright red hair listed
precariously atop her head, and her makeup looked like it'd been caked on decades before. Vivid
scarlets, powder blues, and thick false eyelashes adorned her thin face. Long, bright red nails
tipped fingers encircled with diamond rings, in perfect harmony with her tight red leather skirt
and a pink halter top. Hideous and perfect. Balanced expertly on stiletto heels, she handed
Kimberlyn her dinner tray.
 Maybe tomorrow night. Thanks, Roxie.
 Oh, don't mention it, sugar. Do you want to talk? If I was you, I'd be down there on top of
those two gorgeous hunks of manhood. Omigod! I'm so jealous! Everyone is. Those two only [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]