15 Targeted by Evangeline Anderson Read Free Book Online Page B

even get up, he was standing right in front of her. To her surprise, he held out a hand to help her up.
    Hesitantly she reached for it but the moment their hands touched, a strange shiver of sensation ran through her. It was like the waves of heat that had been consuming her lately but different…more intense.
    “God!” Emily gasped as her nipples hardened into tight points and the place between her legs went suddenly liquid with desire. What the hell? She snatched her hand back in fright and huddled into herself. “What…what did you do to me?” She looked up at the big Kindred mistrustfully.
    “Nothing.” He frowned, his hand still outstretched. “I simply wished to assist you.”
    “Assist me to what? To feel…to feel…” But Emily had no name for the strange rush of emotions and sensations that simple touch had made her feel. She’d had no sexual desires at all since the rape back in college. None since that fateful night when the other and the strange heat waves had pushed her relentlessly to find a man…and then deserted her when she finally had found one. Emily had believed that part of her was dead—buried by the trauma of the rape. And now, years later, to have such a strong wave of desire rush over her so suddenly for no apparent reason…
    No, there is a reason, she told herself, looking up at the Kindred. He’s the reason. But how the hell did he do that? And why?
    “ Khalla?” He was still looking at her expectantly, clearly puzzled by her reaction. So whatever he’d done, he hadn’t done it on purpose. Had he?
    “I told you, that’s not my name.” Emily kept her distance from his still outstretched hand.
    “Forgive me, Emily.” He bowed to her in an oddly formal way. “I am Rivin Tragar of the Verrak but you may know me simply as Tragar . I had forgotten you don’t have any knowledge of me, though I have been watching you for days.”
    “You have?” She felt even more uneasy.
    “Of course,” he said patiently. “I told you, you have been targeted for termination. I was sent to kill you.”
    This again.
    “Great.” She began to edge away from him, wondering if she could possibly hop up and somehow get inside the house before he could grab her. But her purse was somewhere on the grass out by her car. How could she—?
    “I am not going to kill you now, of course.”
    “You’re not?” Emily stopped her edging and looked at him uncertainly. Was he lying to throw her off her guard?
    “Of course not. That would be tantamount to defiling a precious piece of art—desecrating a treasure of incalculable worth,” he said gravely. “A Khalla must be protected at all costs, which is why I must ask you to come with me.”
    “Ask me to what?” Emily began scooting again in a hurry. “Come with you where?”
    “Back to my ship. First I must endeavor to get the contract I was given to kill you revoked. Then we must be certain that no one else is attempting to assassinate you. Once I am sure of your safety, I’ll take you back to Rageron.”
    “Rageron? You mean the Kindred home world?”
    “It is one of them.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “I assume you don’t wish to stay here while going through your Tenrah. You need to go back home where there are suitable males to choose from.”
    “Back home? You mean you think that Rageron is my home?” Emily shook her head, not understanding him.
    “Of course.” He frowned. “You are clearly Khalla— your scent proclaims it as do the changes in your eyes and hair when your Kit’tara comes forward.”
    “Wait a minute—you know about that?” Emily sat up straighter and stared at him. “You know about my eyes? And the…what did you call it? The thing coming forward?”
    “The Kit’tara— your secret or second self.” He frowned. “Do you truly not know about these things? How can you be so ignorant of your rightful heritage?”
    “I don’t have any ‘heritage’,” Emily protested. “Other than being a Floridian. I