Chanku Rising by Kate Douglas

Author:Kate Douglas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2012-12-24T05:00:00+00:00

Xandi blinked against the darkness, praying her blindfold would slip, wishing she could see something, anything that would lead Keisha to her. She’d lost track of the time but still she worried about her packmate. Every moment Keisha searched as Chanku put the entire pack at risk of discovery.

Xandi rubbed her face against her shoulder but couldn’t reach the blindfold, tugged at what felt like handcuffs holding her wrists but only succeeded in making her wrists bleed. If she could be certain she was alone, Xandi knew she’d risk shifting. It would be so easy to free herself.

No luck. I can’t move the blindfold. Keisha? What if you link, the way we used to do during sex? Then you’ll see what I see . . . if I ever see anything! We’d know if anyone was watching me and you might get some idea of how to get me out.

You’re too far away for a complete link. I’m nearing the Presidio, paralleling Lincoln, heading toward the Golden Gate . . . I just cut through the park. Your mental signal is growing stronger. Keep feeding me anything you sense.

Xandi opened her mind, absorbed the sounds and scents around her. She drew on her Chanku heritage without shifting, delving deeper into her basic wolven instincts.

Fear hovered just beyond. She refused to acknowledge its presence.

The scents grew stronger, the sound of water lapping nearby, the roar of cars overhead.

Overhead?

Keisha? Is there any place under a bridge or overpass where he might have me? I smell fish and hear water, but I also hear lots of cars going overhead.

Fort Point!

What?

Fort Point. It’s just at the foot of the bridge, an old military base. I’m not that far away and your signal is stronger in that direction. Hang on.

Xandi sensed his presence even before she heard the door squeal on its hinges. Her body tensed. He’s here. In the room.

So am I. Not physically, not yet. But I’m getting closer.

Xandi felt Keisha’s thoughts enter her mind, the strength of the link now almost a physical presence. She almost sagged with relief, but instead, she forced herself to sit straighter in the hardbacked chair and take a deep, calming breath.

“Who are you? Why are you keeping me here? I want my clothes, dammit!”

She sensed movement, felt the brush of fingertips along her cheek and immediately recoiled. Her heart pounded beneath her ribs.

“Who are you?” It was all she could do not to scream. Heart racing faster, breath rasping in her throat, Xandi reached deep to find a calm she didn’t feel.

It’s Burns. I can feel him. But what the hell is he trying to prove? Keisha’s soft mental voice tinged with her usual steel helped quiet Xandi’s pounding heart.

She felt the man’s presence, stronger, closer. Her Chanku senses heightened with the rush of adrenaline and she smelled him, the acrid odor of unwashed body, old cigarette smoke and stale breath. Her stomach roiled and churned and she clamped her teeth tightly together to keep from gagging.

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