Page 41 of Sapphire Flame
Talya kept her gaze on the candles. “I have a confession to make. I went to gifted people, goodalters, from each territory, hoping to find someone who could remove my vision ability. Of course, they weren’t all honorable. One warlock with striking gray eyes suggested a good amount of time spent in his bed might take care of the problem. He was a conceited ass. But when I refused his offer, he almost charmed me anyway. And when I still refused, he stopped trying to seduce me and told me his philosophy. I’ve held to it since. I would even say it brought me some peace. Do you want to know what he said?”
“Yes. Please.”
“It wasn’t elegant at all so brace yourself. He said something like, “Only an idiot would refuse a rise in power, especially in our world. Power means survival.”
Natalie sucked in a deep breath. “Oh, God, he’s right. Even Renee said I was in a battle for survival. But why me?”
“Maybe because you can make a difference. You’re one of the goodalters. And you have courage. I can attest to that. As to why you’re suddenly part-wolf, who knows? I will say this, every time I offer a portrait-vision, good things come of it. Just keep being brave.”
Natalie glanced at her. “There’s something I’ve wanted to ask you.”
“Sure. Anything.”
“Why were you in the Graveyard that night? Had those wolves attacked you in Revel then taken you out there? Because I can’t imagine you went out to no-man’s-land on your own.”
“No, I definitely wouldn’t have done that. I believe I was hunted because of my vision-gift and maybe because of my sister and her gifts.”
“The one who died?”
“Yes. I was abducted from my front yard and taken to a gambling house though I have no idea which one.”
“Was it The Sapphire Club?”
She shrugged. “I have no way of knowing. I was kept in a darkened room and I was completely out of it because they’d shot me up with sapphire flame. I’m sure they believed it would enhance any futurist abilities I possessed. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for my very limited skill.
“The wolves got mad and I think they were scared. They kept talking about how the boss wasn’t going to like it that I wouldn’t be able to provide futurist visions for them.
“When the big man himself came in, they all got quiet. The drug had hold of me. I felt like I had lightning in my veins but mud in my muscles. I couldn’t move. I could barely think.
“He told them to get rid of me. They put me in the back of a Jeep and took me to the Graveyard. I thought they’d rape me, instead, their pleasure seemed to be in going wolf and ripping my body to shreds. I don’t know how I survived the attack. I’m having nightmares.”
Natalie could tell the recounting had agitated her. She covered her hand and gave it a squeeze. “That would be normal.”
“I know. Recovery will be a process, but I’m so angry.”
“Who was their boss?”
“Someone named Kryder. He’s an alpha of one of the Savage Packs.”
“I know all about Kryder. He’s the alpha of Grant’s pack.”
Talya glanced at her. “Seriously?”
“Kryder’s a bad man. The worst. Grant says he routinely seduces then rapes the youngest members of the packs, gender being unimportant. That’s just one of his many crimes. Grant’s only goal is to bring Kryder down, to defeat him in a dominance battle and take over the pack.”
“I hope he succeeds.”
“I do, too.”
“So, what do you think you’ll do?” Talya asked.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I think I need to have another talk with Grant.”
Talya cocked her head. “No time like the present.”
Natalie drew a deep, steadying breath. “I’ll do it now.”
She rose to her feet and moved closer to the altar. She stared at the wood and the water-like waves as she accessed her telepathy and sent a message straight to Grant. She sensed he was no longer in Savage or in Revel. The location seemed more like Elegance. She wondered what he was doing there.Grant?
