Page 52 of Tamed

“The Citadel was founded to protect conduits,” Arcon added. “But many felt safer in the shadows.”

Kendra shivered as the final scene of her vision echoed through her mind. “I think I would have been one of them.” A moment of tense silence followed as all three absorbed the implications of the current situation. “Do we try to rescue the conduits, or are they considered traitors now?”

“It’s complicated,” Zevon admitted. “The conduits might well be victims, but their mates are doubtlessly loyal to Verbet. Breaking a soul bond is dangerous, and we cannot allow them to roam free as long as they’re connected to traitors.”

Kendra shook her head. “That’s so unfair. Jessie chose to work for Verbet but the others were kidnapped and coerced.”

“They were all kidnapped,” Zevon pointed out. “We don’t know what choice the others made or if they were even offered one. That’s why I said this is complicated.”

She nodded as she reviewed the identities of the other involved conduits. Jessie and Heather were best friends. Wherever Jessie went, Heather followed. Unfortunately, the other four were followers too. They never spoke up and were easily talked into accepting new situations. Their upbringing had conditioned them to obey without question.

“Did you see anything else?” Zevon asked after a long pause.

She shook her head. “The vision just faded after Jessie’s claiming.”

“So Verbet has, or soon will have, a small army of power triads,” Arcon concluded.

“He has six unskilled, possibly unwilling, power triads,” Zevon clarified. “All that means is that we have to end this conflict before that changes.”

“Are the rebels ready to act?” she asked.

“They’ll have to be,” Zevon said firmly. “Soro seemed hesitant when he learned that Verbet was in control, but the rebels are still committed to change. Movu and the Wraiths will back whatever we decide to do. Their real interest in this alliance is the conduits.”

“The Torretians outnumber us, but our triads are fully trained and battle tested,” Kendra mused. “Do we have any other advantages?”

“One feisty little seer who keeps providing us with valuable intel,” Arcon pointed out with a grin.

Kendra stilled. She’d been flirting with the idea of letting them claim her for the past few days and her conversation with Provost Nadis edged her even closer to the decision.

And then there was Zevon’s unexpected apology. His emotional rigidity had always bothered her, made her wonder if he was capable of compromising. I’m sorry. Those two simple words had demonstrated that he could change and left her aching for the intimacy of a soul bond.

“It’s time,” she said softly, looking at one and then the other. “I think I’m finally ready,”

The males looked at each other as excitement pulsed across the transfer link.

“You can’t ‘think’ you’re ready, pet,” Zevon told her. “You have to know for sure.”

“What changed your mind?” Arcon asked.

“There were several things,” she admitted. “I finally allowed myself to admit that I love you both like crazy.”

“That’s a good start.” Zevon flashed a pleased smile, then encouraged, “What else?”

“Trying to use my abilities is incredibly frustrating because I’m not designed to control them.”

“Damn right. That’s my job.”

Zevon pulled her onto his lap and kissed her, but Kendra wasn’t finished with her list. She held out her hand to Arcon, inviting him to come closer. “I’ve been working with Provost Nadis and she insists that your abilities are very much like mine. Is she right? Do you have visions and prophetic dreams?”

Arcon tensed, dread replacing the excitement in his eyes. “I don’t advertise the fact, but yes, most consider me a seer.”

“It’s not ‘advertising’ anything to share it with your mate,” she objected. “Why would you keep this from me?”

“Habit,” he said with a heavy sigh. He lifted her feet to his lap and stroked her calf, his touch light, almost unconscious. “My mother was murdered because of her abilities.”

“Oh, my God.” She reached over and took his hand. “Why? What happened?”

For just a moment, a surge of emotion inundated her mind, then he shielded his end of the transfer link. Clearly the events were still painful. “My father was a long-distance trader. Often his trips would take him months, even years, so my mother and I traveled with him. We stopped on Korlis, a primitive, notoriously superstitious planet. We were preparing to leave when my mother had a vision. A child not more than five or six had fallen into an animal trap and was badly injured. Without immediate assistance, it was obvious that the little girl would die.”