Page 20 of Beautiful Soul

She had lived in the city all of her life and knew the dangers to women, to blands. But she did not have a clue about the dangers that might face her as a supernatural being of pure light.

Rising, he hurried after her, but by the time he stepped out the café’s front door, she was out of sight. At least it was still early enough that people were still out and about, driving and walking. She should be safe heading home. And he would change and get to her place so she would not walk back here alone.

In the meantime, he needed to come up with an argument for her to give up her apartment, her life, and her independence, so she could move in with him.

Loving her probably wasn’t good enough reason, even though he did.

That realization had him stopping in his tracks.

He loved her. This intense, heart full of warmth and light could only be love.

He loved an angel.

Well, there could be worse things.

****

Lena was about to cross the street to her apartment building when the biggest SUV she had ever seen squealed to a stop directly in front of her. Two large men jumped out, picked her up, and shoved her through the back door.

It happened so fast, she didn’t have time to scream, much less fight back. She was shoved against another large body who slammed a fist against her temple, disorienting her. He then pulled a hood over her head and after jerking her arms behind her back, wrapped something tight around her wrists.

Her ankles received the same wrap treatment a moment later, before he patted her down. He pulled her cell phone from her back pocket then she was lifted and manhandled over the seat. She landed on her side, with her head and right shoulder, and chest taking the brunt of the abuse. Her breath whooshed out and she had to concentrate to push down the panic long enough to fill her lungs again. Two car doors slammed and the SUV began moving. The kidnapping took less than thirty seconds from start to finish.

Not sure why anyone would want to snatch her off the street, Lena tried to fight down the panic that threatened, but was unsuccessful. The cloth over her head muffled sounds, but she did hear the men talking in yet another language she did not understand. This sounded almost Germanic with its hard and guttural sounds.

She really needed to expand her language recognition skills.

Kingsley, help me! she screamed in her mind, hoping the physical connection might extend to some sort of telepathic one, as she had read about in books.

Chapter Twelve

The pain that flashed through Kingsley’s head and right side was followed by Lena’s voice ringing through his mind demanding help. He froze then followed the voice and realized it came from somewhere near Lena’s apartment.

Not sure exactly what was going on, he reached out mentally. Lena? What’s wrong?

Somebody kidnapped me, was the immediate answer.

Who?

I have no idea, except they were big, muscular, and drive the biggest SUV I’ve ever seen.

Demons.

But why would demons snatch Lena? The demons lived in the warehouse district on the edge of city and had never been interested in supernatural politics before. Why now?

Pulling out his phone, he texted Livingston, Jefferson, and Dickinson. Depending on what he heard from the demons, and from the reaction of the other supernaturals that morning, they might need to consider postponing the signing.

Big Wolf: What can we do to help?

KJ: Need to get Lena back. Where would they take her?

VPrince: Depends on who took her and whether it was sanctioned or not.

KJ: How do we find out?

Instead of another text, his phone rang and he saw it was a group call. Answering immediately, he lifted the phone to his ear.

“Where was she taken from?” Livingston asked. “I’ll see if some of my sentries can get down there and track the vehicle.”

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