Southern Shifters: Pryde and Precious (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Heather Long Read Free Book Online Page B

retrieve Arianna went beyond routine. “Sir, I understand you want to keep her isolated, but they want a chance to question her directly.”
    Folding his arms, John studied each of them. Unlike majority of the clan, he didn’t prefer company to solitude. At least the four they’d sent had the wisdom to only discuss what they’d come for and not push him. “I already told you, the Psi stays with me. For the time being, she is under my protection.”
    Confusion sparked in Carter’s eyes. “Your protection? She’s the enemy.”
    “The Psi are not our enemies.” They were simply another clan—a clan who had the right to protect themselves as he and their kind had the right to protect theirs. “She is a scientist and, from the sounds of it, not one who had anything to do with this project prior to two days ago. I will question her. I will determine what she knows or doesn’t.”
    Daniel slanted a look at Carter then at him. While John had a passing familiarity with most of them, he knew Daniel best. The cat liked power. He also liked games of dominance. “John, no matter what you think, this isn’t your call. The council wants her. The council gets her. You should turn her over and return to your duties.”
    Amusement curved through him. The other cat had no business giving him orders, much less thinking he could get away with exerting his strength. Locking gazes, John let his cat take a long look at the other. Claws flexed inside his soul, and Daniel bared his teeth. He took a step forward, but Carter stopped him with a raised hand. Yes, Daniel might think he had the power, but he couldn’t stand up to Carter. Carter definitely had no sway where John was concerned.
    “John, we can’t go back empty handed.”
    “Then don’t. Go after Inferon. Find out what they know and what they are doing. If they have a piece of the formula, they may not even understand what it is…that’s fine. We can have a virus implanted in their system, one which can corrupt their data.” He’d already considered their options.
    “How do you expect us to do that?” Of course, Daniel challenged the suggestion.
    Sparing him a half-smile, John almost hoped that the cat would go for him. It had been a long time since he’d been able to unsheathe his claws. “You’re the bright one. Figure it out.”
    Daniel snarled, but Carter shook his head. “We can check with the council, but Inferon has more than humans for us to deal with…”
    “Of course it does, that’s the point. Use our assets in the field.” The four ranged out, but despite Daniel’s tension the others remained relaxed. “Until I’m done with my interrogation, Miss Ferrars remains here. If you want to challenge my authority, feel free to try.”
    Had Daniel been alone, the jaguar likely would have given it a shot. “No one wants to challenge you, sir,” Carter answered. The panther had served a military assignment as well, though he never rose above the rank of lieutenant. “Please understand, sir, you identified the threat. We were sent to deal with it.”
    “Then deal with the threat. None of you will touch her. She is as much a victim of the project as the clan will be if someone makes it work.” Despite her reluctance to answer his questions, she’d not lied to him. If anything, her focus on her plants told him more about her than her lack of knowledge about the scent formula. Her focus was not on scent…was that why the council had selected her? Dammit. “You need to go.” He scanned the perimeter. “Now.”
    The former lieutenant frowned. “What is it?”
    “I think she was the bait, and I stepped into the trap. Go…we’re not on clan lands. They can and may have already dispatched a team to retrieve her.” If he was right, they hadn’t been after the formula but the intelligence apparatus his clan had in place. Best case scenario, he’d walked right into it and would only have to defend her from her own kind. Worst—someone else set the