Saving the Beast by Lacey Thorn Read Free Book Online

wouldn’t,” Tah spoke as if reading her mind. “But Zane’s not in charge right now. You’ll be going to meet a full-grown panther. One that may or may not know you’re his mate.”
    “He’ll know his mate no matter what form he’s in,” the Professor stated. “Orsai has assured me of this. She might be the only chance we have of getting Zane back.”
    “Please, Tah,” Diane pleaded. “Let me at least try.”
    “And who are you going to ask to go with you? Whose life are you willing to risk as well?” Tah demanded, making Diane blanch. She didn’t want to risk anyone.
    “We think perhaps someone Zane’s panther wouldn’t find threatening would work best,” the Professor said.
    Tah sighed. “And who do you have in mind then? Just spit it out, Professor. It’s obvious you and Orsai have this all planned out. I should just be grateful you included me before you sent Diane off on her own.”
    The Professor glared. “I wouldn’t do that.”
    Tah snorted.
    “Maybe Clara could go with me,” Diane suggested.
    Tah gave a loud laugh and shook his head. “Logan would kick all our asses for even thinking it. No way he’d go for her heading out with you to confront a panther with feral cat fever running through him.”
    “Not Clara,” the Professor agreed. “But someone just as non-threatening to him.”
    “By non-threatening do you mean female?” Abby asked.
    “Yes,” the Professor said. “He would see a male as a potential challenge for his mate. It could set him off and turn into something we’re hoping to avoid. But if we send the right person. He’ll see her as a protector, not a threat.”
    “She hasn’t come forward, yet,” Tah said, drawing Diane’s eyes to him.
    Tah knew. The Professor had sworn Diane to silence when it came to the blood tests. She wasn’t to share anything with anyone other than the person whose blood she was running. All the shifters had come forward, except one.
    There was a knock at the door. Tah inhaled and sighed, sending a glare toward the Professor.
    “Come in,” he called.
    The door slid open and Kenzie poked her head around. Her gaze clashed with the Professor’s and she stepped in, shutting the door behind her.
    “I’ll go,” she said without preamble.
    “You don’t have to do that,” Tah said softly.
    Kenzie smiled shyly. “You’ve let me keep my secret long enough. It’s time I step forward.”
    “Does anyone else know?” Abby asked.
    “Holt knows. We’ve been friends for a long time. He’s made it his personal mission to watch over me. I’m pretty sure Murphy sensed it, though he never spoke of it. Zane, as well,” she added with a shrug. “He always had my back in the dessert. It’s only right I have his, now.”
    For some reason, Diane got the impression there was more to Kenzie’s desire to help find Zane than what had happened in the dessert. There was something in the glance Kenzie shifted toward Diane when she mentioned Zane.
    “He’s primal. He could hurt you. He could kill you,” Tah told Kenzie.
    Kenzie shook her head. “No. Not Zane. Not me.”
    Diane felt a surge of jealousy. Why was Kenzie so sure she was safe?
    Everyone’s gazes turned to Diane.
    “Sounds like a mate to me,” Abby offered with a huge grin.
    Diane felt her anger grow. Was Abby thinking Kenzie might be Zane’s mate? The thought sent a surge of anger through Diane.
    “What?” she demanded when they all continued to stare at her.
    Kenzie’s gaze was guarded. Abby was still smiling and Tah had his brow lifted in question. The Professor just nodded.
    “You growled,” Abby finally explained.
    “I didn’t mean it that way,” Kenzie said, glancing at Diane. “I just meant, Zane is like a big brother to me.”
    Kenzie was tiny, the smallest among them at five feet two inches. She was definitely not one who would be seen as a threat. But Diane knew Kenzie was a Marine. She’d fought in the desert with Tah, Reno, Logan and the rest of them. She also