Unleashed by Katie MacAlister Read Free Book Online

drove.
    â€œYou didn’t answer my question earlier,” I reminded Avery.
    â€œI did. I meant it, too. That rug in the other room—”
    â€œThe question of why you’re here in the first place,” I interrupted, wondering for just a moment if he really was serious.
    Quite serious.
    I almost ran the truck into the side of a small bait and ammo shop at the sound of his voice in my head. The truck fishtailed on the thankfully empty gravel parking area as I slammed on the brakes, bringing us to a shuddering halt.
    â€œWhat the hell?” Cora asked as I turned a shocked face at Avery. His eyes were wide with surprise, as well.
    â€œYou talked to me!”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œIn my head, you talked to me like you did when you were a jaguar. But you’re not a cat now. The cat whispering was one thing, but this—this is different.”
    â€œI know.” His expression froze for a moment. “You can’t be.”
    â€œI can’t be what?” I asked, confused and jittery from the blast of adrenaline that roared through me when we spun into the parking lot. Shakily, I turned off the engine, feeling I needed a couple of minutes to gather my wits again.
    â€œA Beloved?”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œYou’re coming on to my sister, aren’t you?” Cora demanded, giving him a dirty look.
    â€œNo, I’m not,” he answered in an abstracted tone, his gaze flicking over me as if he were making an inventory of my person. “The word Beloved to a Dark One has a different meaning than the term of affection, although it is based on that. It is a term we use for a soul mate, the one woman who can redeem a Dark One’s soul, returning it to him.”
    â€œAnd to think when I woke up this morning I figured it was going to be just another mundane Friday, the kind that doesn’t involve shape-shifting vampires who don’t have souls. Wait a second—you told me at the shelter you had your soul. Is this Beloved thing what you were talking about?”
    â€œYes.” He continued to look thoughtfully at me. “And I do have my soul—I don’t need it redeemed, but I seem to have marked you.”
    Cora snorted indignantly.
    â€œI beg your pardon!” I was somewhat outraged at the idea of this marking. Why, I didn’t quite know, since it was obvious he hadn’t harmed me in any way.
    â€œIn this case, the marking is the ability to speak directly to each other without using words,” he explained, a slight frown pulling his dark blond brows together.
    â€œWhich means, what? That I’m this soul-redeemer you don’t need?”
    â€œWhy not?” he said, shrugging, as if he had been arguing with himself. “Other Moravians have them. Why shouldn’t I? It’s just that I didn’t expect it.” His slow smile caused my stomach to tighten as he reached across Cora and pulled me toward him. “Kiss me.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œHey!” Cora objected as she was smashed into the back of the seat. “Get off me, you bloodthirsty ghoul!”
    â€œKiss me. Suck my tongue,” Avery demanded, trying to haul me across Cora. The seat belt wouldn’t allow him to do more than cause my back to wrench painfully.
    â€œOh my God, I knew it! He’s trying to get into your pants, right here in front of me!” Cora shrieked, slapping at his arms.
    â€œBe quiet, woman!” Avery thundered, impatiently unhooking his seat belt, then doing the same for Cora. Before she could do more than squawk, he hoisted her onto his lap.
    â€œIf you think copping a grope on my sister is going to encourage me to French kiss you, you need to think again,” I told him sternly. “I do not share my men.”
    He rolled his eyes, scooted over to where Cora had been sitting, then summarily dumped her into his spot, next to the passenger door. “Kiss me. It’s the third step.”
    â€œThird