A Forbidden Taking by Kathi S. Barton Read Free Book Online Page A

name.”
    “Megan Reed. She isn’t going to be
a pushover, you know that, right? No, I can see that you don’t. I plan to have
her here tonight. You, of course, will not be. Here, I mean. I have things I’d
like to find out about her and it will go much better if you and your medieval
thinking weren’t here.”
    Beau sat up straight and was
slammed back against the cushion before he could speak. He tried to break free,
but all that did was tighten the bands around his chest and legs.
    “What’s the meaning of—”
    “Shut up. You seem to think that
this is all a game. Well, I’ve got news for you, bucko, you do not want
to fuck with me. I have more power in my one finger than you could ever hope to
wield. When I tell you we’re going to talk, then we are going to talk.”
    His fangs dropped and before he
could do much more than take a deep breath to shout at the mistress to let him
go he felt the first trickle of fear. Power surged in the room and made it feel
as if it had expanded with it. He looked at the woman who stood before him and
wondered if he was going to live.
    “For now. You’ll listen to me
because if you don’t, then I will go to your own master and demand your head. I’m
in no mood to fuck with you over this. What do you know about Megan?”
    “She’s my mate. I don’t need to
know any—”
    “Don’t,” Sara snapped at him. “I
had the opportunity to search her mind last night. Something you should have
done before you started spouting off rules and regulations like a drill
sergeant.”
    Beau shifted in the seat, as much
as she would allow anyway. He hadn’t done that or anything else. He’d found his
mate and he’d taken. Not that he could think how it was any business of this
woman’s.
    “I make it my business.”
    Beau looked at her. “Would it be
easier for you if I just let you rape my mind and not bother with conversation?
I cannot see how you are treating me any different than my treatment of the
fe…Megan.”
    Sara sat down. “She was turned
against her will. Someone named Alfred took her humanity and made her what she
considers a monster. She lived in her car until a week ago and now she lives in
a cave.” She looked up at Beau with tears in her eyes. “She means to end her
life as soon as she figures out how to do it.”
    Beau struggled against the bonds
that held him. He would find her and make… “If what you say is true then how
will I keep her from succeeding? She will end it whether I am her mate or not,
won’t she?”
    “Yes. I believe she will. She is
clueless as to what she is. I’m not sure how she has survived all this time. I
don’t know what happened to her maker, but he’s dead. Well, at least she thinks
he is. Will you listen to me if I allow you to move?”
    What he wanted to do was storm out
and find his mate, but Sara was right. He did need to know what to do. This was
not turning out the way he’d thought it would. When Sara laughed, he looked up
at her. “I will stay, but I would prefer that we speak our minds, not listen
in. It’s very…uncomfortable when you know all my thoughts.”
    “Very well. But don’t give me a
reason to listen again. Every vampire in Aaron’s realm is precious to us. We’ll
not have one harmed through stupid thoughtless deeds.”
    Beau didn’t say anything, but took
a deep breath as soon as she let him. He didn’t want to admit it, but she had
been right. He would lose his mate if he didn’t listen to this woman. He’d
already formed a bond with Megan and wanted to go and find her and keep her
safe. “Do you know where she is now? You said she was in a cave, do you know
where that might be?”
    “I don’t, but Aaron does. He’s
speaking with the wolf pack now to have them protect her. The alpha, Bradley,
is a very good friend of ours and if anyone can see to her safety, he can.”
    Beau stood, but before he started
to pace, as was his habit, he looked to Sara. At her nod he walked over to the
fireplace