Already Freakn' Mated by Eve Langlais Read Free Book Online Page B

moved from one RCMP office to another, Sheng and Jiao moved with her, using the change of scenery as another chance to further muddy their trail with a new name and life. However, despite the fact they appeared safe, Sheng knew with a certainty that often woke him with sweating, heart pounding nightmares, that Kaleb would never let them go. He’d never give up looking, not when Sheng and Jiao were so valuable as the last two of their kind, shifter kind at any rate.
    Their pretend marriage kept them safe. Or so Patricia thought. Kaleb was looking for a brother and sister, not a married couple. By sticking together they protected each other. At least that was the plan, however, only an idiot wouldn’t notice his little sister chafed at their false marriage. Truthfully, Sheng chafed too.
    As a man, it wasn’t easy to take care of his sexual needs when he had to do so in a manner that wouldn’t come back to bite him. Playing the role of married man meant acting the part, and not getting caught cheating. It sucked. A lot. What Sheng wouldn’t give to be able to have a real girlfriend that he could see on a regular basis. One night stands, all he could indulge in for the moment, left him feeling more alone sometimes, and dirty. What did those poor women think when he never called them back?
    But despite how he felt, Sheng would do anything to keep Jiao safe. He’d promised his father, and he would keep his word.
    “Lee! No! ” his mother’s cry of panic almost had Sheng dropping his sister as they practiced their routine on the practice rope strung only two feet from the ground. Without speaking a word, Sheng and Jiao raced out of the gymnasium to the courtyard. The harsh sobs of their mother slowed their steps, but it was the coppery stench of blood which halted Sheng. Not so Jiao.
    With a cry she flew to their mother and dropped to her knees, her tears falling as freely as her sobs. Throat tight, Sheng clenched his fists at his side, warring with an urge to run away, to deny what happened in front of him. But his father didn’t raise a coward.
    Stiff legged, his back ramrod straight, he stalked to the huddled group, ignoring the indifferent gazes of the guards milling around. Show no weakness , he could almost hear his father’s say the words . He’d heard them so often, he knew better than to display any emotion. He wouldn’t give the guards or Kaleb the satisfaction. But damn , it was hard.
    His mother and sister made room for him as he arrived. The shock of seeing his father’s face, pale and covered in blood, obviously dying, sent Sheng to his knees.
    “No.” He whispered the word, tried to deny the evidence of his father’s im pending mortality.
    Hearing him, his father turned his head, and caught his gaze. A wan smile crossed his face. “ My s on.”
    “What happened? I thought you were out leading a hunt. Did someone mistake you for the prey?”
    “ No mistake. I was the prey. My punishment for getting old.”
    Shock sent Sheng rocking back on his heels. “Kaleb did this to you?”
    “In a sense. But it’s not important. I’m dying, Sheng.” The words made his mother and sister wail louder. His father winced and beckoned him closer. Sheng bent down to hear.
    “Promise me. Promise me you will take care of your sister and mother. Do not let Kaleb hurt them. Find a way to escape. Find the courage I lost to regain your freedom.”
    “But how? He’s too strong. I need your help. You’ll heal. You always do. ”
    A cough wracked his father’s body, a violent spasm that once completed left his father’s lips sprinkled with bright red. “ They used silver buckshot . I won’t be healing. Once I die – ”
    “No. You can’t die! ”
    “ Too late ,” his father stated, his certainty firm , sending Sheng’s mother into hysterics. “You need to escape. Have to. You’re smarter than I, Sheng. You’ll find a way. You must. Promise me.”
    Death lingered close by, the chill of the grave already