Kara by Scott J. Kramer Read Free Book Online

Kreitan
gritted his teeth. He despised working with her, but she
accomplished what he could not.
    “I need you to capture a human girl by the
name of Kara. She jumped into the River Kilarne and washed
downstream.”
    “A girl?” The voice almost laughed. “She is
the one complicating your plans. Is she a playmate of
Euphoria’s?”
    “Enough!” Kreitan’s temper flared. His fist
slammed down on the chair and snapped its arm off. He gave himself
a moment to compose his temper. “Will you take the assignment?”
    The person on the other side of the
confessional remained quiet. For a second, Kreitan thought his
accomplice had left.
    “I will. Do you have something I can track
her with?”
    He pulled out a small envelope and slid it
through an opening in the grate. “You will find a detailed
description of her and some of her hair pulled from a brush.”
    “So much to work with. And I thought this
would be difficult.”
    Kreitan seethed at the sarcastic, snide tone.
Obviously, he needed to remind her who she was dealing with. One
day, when he got what he wanted, he would show her who was boss.
Then she would show a little more respect. “A human girl in the
Territories should not be difficult to find. Especially for one
with your talents.”
    “Such a charmer.” The seductive tone was
back. With it came an aroma of vanilla and cinnamon.
    Kreitan breathed shallowly through his mouth.
He knew her tricks all too well. “Payment as usual upon
delivery.”
    “And how might I deliver such a package? Just
come up to the palace and drop it off? I work behind the scenes,
remember?”
    “Contact me and I will arrange a pickup.” He
tired of this conversation.
    “And probably arrange an ambush for me as
well. I’ll find the girl for you and then find a way to get her to
you safely on my terms.”
    Kreitan heard the soft click of the door. She
was gone. If he hurried, he could catch a glimpse of her. Even
though they had worked together for years, he had never seen her
face.
    Kreitan quickly made to exit, but found he
was bound to the chair. A thin bond of magic held him there. He
quickly snapped it and flung open the confessional door. Patrons,
who had been trying to eavesdrop, cringed back, apparently seeing
the anger and frustration on the captain’s face. He searched the
remaining patrons and alms givers, but none seemed to be his
accomplice.
    Slamming the confessional door behind him,
Kreitan strode down the aisle. Bringing Kara in for questioning was
imperative. If his ‘business associate’ knew what was good for her,
she had better come through on her end.

Chapter Five

     
    Kara screamed and pushed herself out of the
strange man’s arms.
    “Who are you?”
    Hambone chuckled. And the green glow
tittered. The fox had vanished. Kara backed up a few steps, not
sure why everyone was laughing.
    “I do forget myself sometimes. I am sorry,
young lady.” The strange man apologized. His voice sounded very
familiar.
    “Dante?”
    “The one, the only. Charming, handsome…
Ladies tend to faint dead away in my arms.” Dante bowed
exuberantly. Grace twittered something in response.
    Dante abruptly turned around and addressed
Grace. “It is not because I smell, you silly glow bug!”
    “Enough, you two. “ Hambone shushed his
friends.
    While the two ignored the dwarc, Kara got a
good look at the man. His hair was a cedar color like that of the
talking fox. Facial hair lined his upper lip and a patch of it hung
from his chin. And there were those same eyes she remembered from
the fox.
    “I still don’t get it. This Dante looks
human. Where’s the talking fox named Dante?”
    Hambone smiled. “He’s of the were clan. A
werefox.”
    This bit of information still didn’t resolve
her confusion. “I’m sorry, but what is a werefox?”
    Dante spoke up before Hambone could explain.
“I am of the prodigious clan of shapeshifters. We can change
form—like that.” He snapped his fingers.
    Schunk!
    And there was