Page 58 of Tamed
The door opened and two males entered. They were naked to the waist, their gazes gleaming with determination. One was tall and burly, the other lean and surprisingly young.
“I won’t give in,” the conduit vowed.
Her voice was hoarse but familiar. Was this Bristol or Jill?
“I’ll never give in to you, never,” she said with more conviction.
This had to be Jill. Bristol was a timid little thing. She’d be begging for mercy.
Energy surrounded Kendra, insolating her from the sensations. She was still aware of what was happening, but she felt more like an observer than a participant. She exhaled slowly. It made her feel selfish to admit it, but she was glad to be distanced from the suffering.
Can you tell which one this is? Zevon asked.
Kendra knew what he was asking, but how the hell did he know what she was seeing? Are we… sharing this vision?
Triads share everything, Arcon reminded. See what else you can learn.
He was right. They couldn’t waste this opportunity.
It’s Jill, she told them as she sank deeper into the vision.
Jill forced herself to lie still as one of the males drew the bedding downward, exposing her naked body.
“This is not a fight you can win,” one of the males predicted. “Your own body will ensure that we win.”
“You can fuck me until your balls fall off,” she shot back, dark eyes flashing. “I will never allow you to claim me, and I know damn well I have to allow you to anchor the soul bond. Forcing such a link could kill all three of us.”
“Dr. Ganjes has been controlling the level of your arousal,” the burly one told her. “Without his assistance, you would be insane by now. You have two more days with a clear head and then Verbet has decreed that you and Loren are to feel the full effects of your activation. He’s tired of waiting. One way or another, you will be claimed by week’s end.”
Jill pushed up onto her elbows so she could see him better. “Why just me and Loren? What about Kora and Heather? Why didn’t you list them?”
His smile was cruel, obviously meant to provoke her. “Kora submitted to her mates a few hours ago and Heather ended her own life.”
Jill’s shock and grief was echoed by Kendra’s, but it was Jill who asked, “When? How?”
“She grabbed a pulse pistol off one of her guards,” the young one explained. “He has been severely punished.”
“You and Loren are the only hold-outs,” the burly one concluded. “And we’re about to stop being nice.”
The vision released suddenly and Kendra sat up. Her heart thudded wildly and her chest ached.
Poor Heather. She had to have been so frightened, so overwhelmed, to choose death over continuing to fight.
“We have to hurry,” she insisted. “If we leave in the morning, we might be able to save them.” They failed Heather. They simply must rescue Jill and Loren.
The males exchanged doubtful looks and Arcon stroked his hand down her back, trying to soothe her agitation.
“I don’t think an attack can be arranged that quickly,” Zevon admitted, compassion warming his eyes. “I’m sorry.”
Channeling her grief into determination, Kendra refused to give in. “I’m not talking about a full-scale attack. I mean a rescue mission. We’re too late to help the others, but we cannot allow Jill and Loren to be claimed by force.”
Zevon sat up and pivoted to face her. “You’re proposing a raid inside Mercelon Palace. That’s one of the most secure locations in this entire star system.”
“We have power triads and Wraiths on our side. Until Verbet’s captives learn to control their powers, the Torretians have neither.”
“A surgical strike is what the alliance leaders agreed on,” Arcon reminded. “And if we’re going to breach the defenses of Mercelon Palace, there is no reason not to take out Verbet while we’re there.”
“You make it sound so easy,” Zevon grumbled as he pulled Kendra into his arms. “We don’t even have dependable intel. The palace has been chaotic ever since Verbet took command. He makes changes for no reason and can’t depend on the obedience of his guards. Jevara was an evil bastard, but he didn’t tolerate conflict of any kind.”