They were already in each other’s arms when the door to Xorran’s cabin slid closed.

“We shouldn’t do this,” Sara whispered in between feverish kisses. Her doubts were still real, but her body didn’t seem to care. All their teasing touches and hungry stares—not to mention the close call in the storeroom—had made this almost inevitable. And she was as guilty as he. She was finished pretending she didn’t want him. It was pointless and dishonest. Still... “I’m not ready to be claimed.” She pushed on his chest hard enough to get his attention.

He loosened his grip and eased back without letting her go. “I won’t claim you until you want this as much as I do.” His phitons glowed with amethyst fire and need hardened his features. “Let me show you what I’m offering. How can you choose if you don’t really understand?”

That made sense. Or was it just an excuse for having sex with him? “I thought the link was permanent.”

“A soul bond is. I’m talking about a transfer link. We could share emotions, even memories, but the connection can be dissolved.”

He was easily the most attractive male she’d ever encountered, and it wasn’t just his looks. He was strong and protective, without being a possessive jerk. They’d talked for hours without feeling awkward. If what he told her was true, he was everything she’d hoped for in a mate and then some. So why were they still talking? “This isn’t a trick, a way to—”

“I would never take advantage of you like that.” He tensed, lowering his arms. “Even to wonder about it questions my honor. I will protect you with my life. I will do nothing to cause you harm, ever!”

Rather than apologize for insulting him, she rolled up onto her toes and drew his head down to hers. Their mouths fit together, lips caressing as they gradually parted. He swept her up into his arms, then he took control of the kiss. She looped her arms around his neck, happily following his lead. He took a step then stopped, apparently lost in the kiss. Their lips clung while their tongues slid and curled, moving from her mouth to his and back.

When they were both breathless and needy, he started walking again. He broke away briefly and she looked around, noticing her surroundings for the first time. His cabin was at least twice the size of hers, and she had to share the space with others. His bedroom was separate from the main living area, and there was only one bunk, though it was wide enough for two.

“Officer perks?” she asked with an upraised brow.

He smiled. “There are no ‘officers’ among the Outcasts. The overlord assigned me this cabin because of my need for meditation and my ability to assist others.”

“You meditate? When and why?” She knew so little about him. Everything he shared was another piece to the Xorran puzzle. She was eager to know more.

“Most mornings and any time I can’t afford to be distracted. Tracking requires enormous concentration.” He set her down beside the bed and reached immediately for the seam release tucked inside her collar.

She pushed his hand away and motioned toward his uniform. “You’ve already seen me. I want to see you.”

He started to protest, then shrugged. “As my lady commands,” he grumbled, bending to tug off his boots.

Following his example, she toed off her shoes as she asked, “Have you ever tracked down someone who was in real trouble?”

“Like Heather?” Shame and frustration sparked within his dark gaze.

“She doesn’t count because elves are involved. I’m convinced they can do magic.”

“Advanced technology is often mistaken for magic,” he reminded as he took off his shirt. “We have shields that render our ships undetectable. Some can even appear to be other ships. I think the Sarronti are using a similar technology to mask the entrances to their lair.”

She wiggled out of her pants and opened the front of her uniform top, but didn’t take it off. “Can you track objects or just people?”

“I’m much more accurate with people, but I can do both.” He stepped out of his pants and stood before her naked, clearly unashamed of his body. But then why would he be? He was lean and muscular from head to toe. “Why all the questions?”

Her appreciative gaze swept the length of his impressive form, lingering on the most interesting areas before returning to his face. “I want to know you before I sleep with you.”

He moved closer, his gaze intense and bright. “Forming a transfer link will reveal me more completely than all the conversation in the universe. My answers could be lies, or exaggerations. The link will allow you to find the answers for yourself.”

“And you’ll be able to look into my mind too?” Did she want that? She didn’t have any deep, dark secrets, but he’d feel how close she was to giving in. Could she trust him not to exploit the fact? “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

He sighed, but his voice remained patient. “I can scan your mind whenever I like. I choose not to because I want to earn your trust. If you don’t want me in your mind, that’s all you need to say.”

She would never know if she could trust him until she gave him a chance to prove himself. He’d been nothing but helpful and protective so far. Besides, what did she have to lose?

After a quick pause, she decided, “I have nothing to hide. I already told you my concerns.” To make sure he understood, she shrugged out of the shirt and placed her hands on his chest. All she’d meant to do was demonstrate her surrender, but an electric pulse arced between them. Her fingers tingled and heat cascaded through her body, magnifying the ache between her thighs. She slid her hands up to his shoulders, then slowly ran them down his arms, pausing to explore the dramatically contoured muscles along the way. “Your body is sinful,” she whispered.

His only response was a throaty chuckle as he tried to pull her closer.

“Not yet.” She looked at him and added, “Please. Last night was your turn. Now it’s mine.”

He raised his hands in surrender, then lowered his arms and just stood there, letting her touch him.

She ran her hands eagerly over every inch of his well-toned body, avoiding his sex until she’d explored everywhere else. She knew all the Outcasts were like this, muscular and tall. They were mercenaries, and war required strength and endurance. But Xorran was hers, hers to touch however she liked, hers to bond with and love. If she could ever decide being mated was what she wanted. The temptation had never been so inviting.

She swallowed hard and finally wrapped her fingers around his cock. Like the rest of him, his shaft was long and hard. She stroked him from base to tip, fascinated by the contrast of soft skin over rock-hard flesh. “I want to taste you.” Without waiting for his reply, she sank to her knees and guided him to her mouth.

A harsh groan escaped his throat as she took him deeper and deeper. He pushed his fingers into her hair, but didn’t try to control her. She needed to learn his taste, smell and textures, and he seemed to understand. She took her time, caressing him with her tongue while she slid her lips up and down his length. He bumped the back of her mouth and she still couldn’t take all of him. She quickly wrapped her fingers around his base and stroked the portion that didn’t fit inside her mouth.

She couldn’t wait to join with him. He’d fill her, stretch her like never before. She shivered at the thought and bobbed her head faster, desperate to watch him lose control.

He only allowed her play for a few minutes before he pulled her to her feet.

“I wasn’t finished,” she protested breathlessly.

“Next time,” he dismissed. “I want to come together.”

It was damn hard to argue with that, so she pulled down the covers and crawled onto the bed. He joined her, moving immediately to kneel between her thighs. He paused for a slow, deep kiss, then found her entrance and pushed inside.

She was soaking wet and seriously turned on, but the fullness still made her gasp. “Damn,” she whispered, a bit of her arousal receding.

He didn’t try to move. Instead, he stayed deep inside her and continued their kisses.

She concentrated on the sensual slide of his tongue and the soft press of his lips. She was tensing and she wasn’t sure why.

That wasn’t true. She knew why, she just didn’t want to ruin this with insecurities and frustration.

Wrapping both arms around her, he rolled them to their sides. Then he drew her leg up to his waist, keeping himself deep inside her. “Talk to me, love. What’s wrong? I thought you wanted to share pleasure.”

“I do. I’m sorry. I just...”

He gently tilted her face until their gazes met. “You just?”

“I met you yesterday and already I’m in bed with you. This isn’t like me. It’s happening way too fast.”

His gaze searched hers, then he started to pull out.

She gasped and dug in her heel. “Don’t! Please, don’t. I want to share pleasure with you. In fact, that’s why I’m freaking out. I shouldn’t want you this badly.”

He caressed her back, keeping her snug against his body. “There is no reason for your fear. I would never hurt you. Close your eyes.” He kissed each eyelid, making sure she obeyed. “I’m going to form the transfer link. I’ll try to be quick, but it might sting a little.”

That was all the warning she got before a sharp sting burst deep inside her brain. The sensation was enough to make her gasp, but it faded quickly. Then feelings and sensations flowed into her mind, expanding reality in a way she’d never experienced before. Warmth and affection surrounded her like a blanket, yet she could sense fierce determination and protectiveness too. She’d heard this described by her friends who had bonded, but no one could really understand until they felt it for themselves.

Her breasts pressed against his chest. He was warm and solid. Now she also felt her softer body from his point of view. To him, she seemed tiny, fragile. She’d never thought of herself that way. Their legs entwined and her inner walls snugly encased his shaft. It was intoxicating and slightly disorienting to sense everything all at once.

Slowly tuning out the physical sensations, she concentrated on the emotions curling and twisting through her mind. His arousal was tightly leashed. Despite his body’s urgent demands, he was determined to give her all the time she needed to accept what she was feeling. His selflessness soothed her, melted her inhibitions.

Xorran wasn’t interested in a few hours of mutual pleasure. He was desperate to claim her. Winning her heart, her trust, was literally the most important thing in his universe.

Humbled by the realization, she relaxed in his arms. There was no pretending, no way to lie. She literally felt what he felt. “This is amazing.”

He rewarded her with more soft kisses while desire and tenderness flowed across their link. “How does this work for you?”

His hips drew back, then he thrust back into her wet core. “Like that.”

“No. The link. Do I need to do something to let you in?”

He stilled, his gaze dark and searching. “Do you want me in your mind?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I want this to be interactive.”

Clearly pleased with her decision, he smiled from ear to ear. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

Suddenly, he swept her beneath him and drew her arms over her head, intertwining their fingers. His gaze never broke contact with hers as he drew back until only his tip remained inside her.

She held her breath, unable to move, barely able to think. There was no need for words. She felt his hunger and the driving urgency of his desire. He controlled his body through sheer force of will, determined to make this good for her. She’d never experienced anything like it, never imagined that she could inspire such feelings in another person.

Finally, he started moving in earnest, filling her with slow, deep strokes. She drew her legs up along his sides, offering herself completely. His need escalated along with his movements, but tenderness threaded through even his most demanding need. Already he cared for her deeply. It didn’t make sense from a human perspective. She didn’t believe in love at first sight, but it was impossible to ignore what she felt, what he felt for her.

Sensations coursed through her body, surging like blood through her veins. She was so lost in the pleasure she barely registered his presence in her mind. His movements were light and careful, meticulously controlled. She didn’t resist him, didn’t try to withhold any area of her past. She wanted him to know her as well as she was starting to know him.

His hips pumped faster as he released her hands. He angled one arm beneath her neck, supporting himself on his forearm and knees. Then he slipped his free hand between their bodies and found her clit with his thumb. She gasped, arching into his next thrust.

“That’s right, angel. Come for me. I want to feel you come.”

The whispered command was so damn sexy, it sent a jolt of sensation straight to her core. Her inner muscles tightened rhythmically and suddenly—almost spontaneously—she was coming. Pleasure pulsed through her body, dragging a startled cry from her mouth. He pushed the pleasure higher with his thumb, drawing every last spasm from her before he shifted positions again.

He rocked back onto his knees, and grasped her hips with both hands, lifting her as he drove forward. She found the mattress with her heels and arched into each of his forceful thrusts. They collided, lost together in the gathering storm. The slap of flesh against flesh echoed in the cabin, a sexual rhythm track, accompanied by their gasps and moans.

His energy blazed in her mind, consuming reality. All she saw was him. All she felt was the pleasure they shared. He took her with possessive fervor, and she reveled in the intensity. One thing became clear in that moment. Xorran was in love with her.

The end came suddenly, bursting through her like a sonic boom. She arched clear off the bed, crying out sharply as he drove his entire length deep into her core. He shuddered, clutching her hips against his, while his seed released.

They clung to each other as they drifted back down. He managed to take the majority of his weight on his forearms and knees, but he blanketed her from neck to hips. She panted harshly, too weak to move.

“You all right?” He brushed the hair back from her face as he searched her gaze.

“That was...intense.”

He sighed and a hint of shame trickled into her mind. “I’m sorry. I tried to be gentle, but I—”

She covered his lips with her fingertips. “Never hold back on me. I want you to be exactly who you are, nothing more, and nothing less.”

He kissed her fingers before she lowered her hand. “Are you still hungry, or should we just sleep?”

“I wouldn’t mind a sandwich or something, but I need to get back to Wenny.”

His brows drew together and he slowly separated their bodies. “The cub is safely contained. There is no reason for you to sleep on the floor again.”

“This is her first night in her new habitat,” she argued. “There is no way she’s spending it alone.”

“Gods save us from stubborn females,” he grumbled as he scooted to the edge of the bed. “If you’re going back down there, so am I. There is no way my potential mate is spending the night alone in the forest.”

“Suit yourself.” She grinned while his back was turned. She’d counted on this exact reaction.

* * *

DR. FORAN DIDN’T COME through with a dart gun until sundown the following night. Xorran and Sara spent the day together, much of the time in Wenny’s enclosure. As Xorran feared, word of the cub soon spread and groups of females, and more than a few males, appeared eager for a glimpse of the adorable baby battle cat. For the most part Wenny tolerated the visitors. She basically ignored the females, yet she was hostile to most of the males. Xorran seemed to be the one exception.

“Ask her why she likes me when most other males upset her,” he suggested as the sun sank behind the trees.

Sara posed the question in Sarronti and whatever the cub said made her laugh. “According to Wenny, I am strong enough to control you, so she has no reason to fear you.”

“I see.” He crossed his arms over his chest, trying not to be annoyed by the cub’s perspective. “I think Isolaund has given her battle cats a distorted view of life in general.”

“Wenny definitely sees Isolaund as the ultimate authority, so it stands to reason that the cats expect the rest of the world to be ruled by females.”

“For all we know the Sarronti could be a matriarchal society,” he mused. “Alonov clearly has power, but that doesn’t mean their Guiding Council isn’t populated with females. We simply don’t know.”

She nodded, but had no comment.

A few minutes later one of Dr. Foran’s assistants showed up with the dart gun and six prefilled darts. “We can make more darts if you need them,” the tech said, then hurried back toward the Wheel.

Xorran looked over the compact weapon, then tucked it into the back of his pants. “It will be dark in a few minutes. It might be best if we waited until—”

“Not a chance,” Sara insisted. “Heather is not spending another night in that place. This has gone on long enough.” Her chin came up and her shoulders squared.

He knew that look. Nothing he said would change her mind. “It’s almost impossible to find a trail in the dark.” It wasn’t a lie, just a gross exaggeration. His abilities had nothing to do with the physical world. Energy patterns didn’t care if it was day or night.

“Wenny’s nose works just as well in the dark. Why do you think so many cat species hunt at night? It gives them an advantage.”

“The overlord is right. I’m going to have my hands full with you.”

She just laughed and walked over to where the harness and leash were looped around one of the fence posts. Wenny accepted the harness without too much resistance, but fought against the leash as soon as she reached the end of its length. With the cub in tow, they headed for the storeroom where they had slept the night before. They retrieved solar-powered torches and jackets, then headed off through the trees.

“Do you remember where you first saw us in the river?” Sara asked after they hiked for a few minutes.

“Of course. Our introduction was memorable.”

She flipped on her torch and lit the ground ahead of them. “Let’s follow the river back to that spot, and I’ll take it from there.”

“Works for me.” The ground was uneven and hilly. Even with both torches activated, the forest grew dark fast. He wrapped the handle of Wenny’s leash around his wrist and grasped the leash itself. For the most part Wenny tromped along through the underbrush without complaint or resistance. Whenever she ran too far ahead, Sara slowed her with a sharp voice command.

“She is remarkably well-behaved for a wild animal,” he concluded.

“She was born in captivity,” Sara said. “I’m not sure she still qualifies as wild.”

They followed each dip and curve of the river, soon locating the spot where he’d first seen them.

Sara took the lead as they headed deeper into the forest. Trees closed in on them, becoming almost oppressive. If it weren’t for their torches, it would have been completely dark.

“I’m pretty sure it was right around here,” she insisted a few minutes later. “I remember that rock formation and that cluster of fallen logs.”

Wenny sniffed the air, then pulled back her teeth in what looked like a painful grimace. “Is she okay?”

Sara glanced at the cub and said, “She’s fine.”

“Then what is she doing?”

“On Earth cats have a sensitive olfactory gland in the roof of their mouth. It’s called the vomeronasal sac or Jacobson’s gland. The expression she just made is called the flehmen reaction. They suck air into their mouths, so the gland can identify territory markings and potential threats.”

“Earth’s cats smell through their mouths?”

She smiled. “Basically. Apparently karrons do too.” She nodded toward the cub who was still making the strange face.

Suddenly, Wenny detected something that excited her. She took off so fast it nearly ripped his hand off. He ran after her, but even Sara’s commands were ignored. Wenny headed straight toward a clump of bushes and pawed insistently at the ground.

So much for his holo-shield concept. Those bushes were definitely real.

Wenny growled and whined, looking back at Sara beseechingly.

“She keeps saying ‘home’ and ‘mother’. This has to be it.”

They searched the bushes for a trigger or control panel, but found only spindly branches and prickly leaves. “There’s nothing here,” he muttered, frustrated by their apparent failure.

But Wenny kept vocalizing and digging, clearly convinced she was in the right place.

He slowly circled the bushes, looking at them from every direction. They looked like ordinary shrubs, so what was causing Wenny’s reaction?

“Have you lost your mind!”

Xorran snapped his head around and found a beautiful elf female glaring at them. She had pale hair that flowed to her hips and flashing, shimmering eyes. Her coloring was lost in the dimness. Was her hair silver or blue? Was this Isolaund or—

He understood her! Why could he suddenly understand Sarronti?

“Arrista,” Sara said with a guilty smile.

Wenny rushed up to the elf and greeted her with a happy figure-eight around her legs. Arrista paused to pet the cub. So this was the servant, not the master.

“Why are you back here?” The question snapped with demand as Arrista straightened. “You promised to keep Weniffa safe. If you had been detected by the guards, Wenny’s life would be forfeit.”

“I’m worried about Heather.” Sara didn’t switch to Sarronti. Smart. No need to reveal her new ability when Arrista could understand English.

“Your red friend is safe. We have hidden her where even General Alonov will not go.”

“Take me there,” Sara said firmly.

“No.” The elf glared at Sara, undeterred by her demand. “You will wait until Lady Isolaund contacts you again. She has agreed to the prisoner exchange, but the Guiding Council must approve the action. They never do anything quickly.”

“I have only your word that Heather is safe,” Sara pointed out. “I want to see her.”

“We have only your word that Weniffa is safe, and yet here you are. We are not the ones acting dishonorably.”

“How did you know we were out here?” he asked Arrista. Her sudden appearance seemed suspect.

She looked at him, arching brows raised. Then she asked Sara what he’d said. She really couldn’t understand English without the translator link.

“Can you understand my words?” the elf asked.

If they ever wanted Arrista to trust them, they needed to be truthful with her. He nodded. “I don’t know how, but yes. I know what you’re saying.”

Sara translated and Arrista’s eyes narrowed. She looked from him to Sara and back. “Are you two intimate?”

He nodded, refusing to offer details.

“Translation lenitas are aggressive, but harmless. They often pass from body to body with intimate activities.” He felt a faint ping inside his mind, and then she said, “I will be able to understand you now.”

“Thanks for the explanation.” But she hadn’t answered his question. “How did you know we were here?”

“All of Isolaund’s cats are tagged. Their lenitas are locator beacons, but they also serve other purposes. Wenny set off a perimeter alarm. Luckily for you, Isolaund is in with the Guiding Council, so I saw the warning light instead of her. I reset the alarm, but it will keep going off until Wenny is out of range. You need to leave now!”

“Come with us,” Sara offered suddenly. “Your life would be very different if you leave the Underground.”

Arrista sucked in a breath and pressed her hand to her throat. “I cannot...it’s impossible.”

Sara moved closer, advancing with slow yet steady strides. “It’s not. Our home would protect you from the sunlight and you would no longer be anyone’s slave.”

The elf lowered her arm as her head tilted up. “I am not a slave. I serve Lady Isolaund by choice.”

“You told me those in your designation have no control over anything,” Sara reminded. “That sounds like slavery to me. Our men fought a war in order to escape such attitudes.”

“Just go.”

Arrista’s shimmering gaze shifted to him and he saw the conflict in her eyes. He’d thought Sara was being melodramatic, but her instincts were right on the mark. Arrista was seriously tempted by the offer, yet something powerful held her back.

“If you’re not ready to escape, then help us,” Sara urged. “We do not want a war with your people. Educate us. Tell us how to avoid the coming fight.”

The elf shook her head and lowered her gaze. “It cannot be stopped. It has already begun.” Without another word, she stepped out of the stream of light coming from his torch and melted into the darkness. “Damn it.”

“We’re obviously close.” Sara sounded as frustrated as he felt.

“Come on. Let’s get Wenny a safe distance away.” He started walking, but hit the end of the leash and the cub refused to move.

Sara gave the command for follow. Wenny ignored her, staring longingly at the bushes.

“Wenny we have to go. Now!” Sara repeated the command, but again the cub ignored her.

Xorran tugged on the leash, dragging Wenny across the ground a foot or two. “She’s not budging.”

“Can you blame her?” She approached the cat slowly, cautiously. “I shouldn’t have brought her here. I was thinking of Heather, not Wenny.”

Wenny waited until Sara nearly reached her, then turned and bared her teeth, growling with obvious menace.

Sara held up both hands. “I’m not going to hurt you, sweetheart, but we have to get out of here.” Slowly, she extended her hand and Wenny snapped at her, sharp teeth coming precariously close to Sara’s hand.

“This is pointless.” Xorran pulled the dart gun from his pants and shot the cub before Sara had time to object.

Wenny growled and twisted, desperately trying to dislodge the dart.

They had stressed fast-acting when they’d told Dr. Foran what they needed. Apparently, the doctor took them seriously. Within seconds, Wenny’s head drooped and she wobbled unsteadily. It took her a bit longer to go under completely, but Xorran was still pleased with the result. He walked over and scooped up the cub.

“Sorry, love,” he said to Sara. “We don’t have time for a battle of wills.”

Mercifully, Sara didn’t argue. She followed him through the trees, rushing to keep up with his long strides. They reached the river without incident, and Sara took the lead.

“Is she still breathing? She went out awfully fast.”

He paused to watch the rise and fall of Wenny’s fury chest. “She’s fine. Stop worrying.”

“It’s my job to worry about her,” Sara grumbled.

When they reached the enclosure, the overlord was waiting for them. And he was clearly angry.

“What were you hoping to accomplish by this little stunt?” the overlord demanded, standing in front of the gate.

Xorran shifted the cub higher against his chest and widened his stance. He needn’t have bothered.

Sara moved in front of the overlord and motioned Xorran toward the enclosure. Though she hadn’t spoken, her message was clear, Get Wenny settled while I take care of this.

“Wenny helped us identify the location of an entrance,” she told Kage in a calm, clear voice. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to activate the door.”

“And what if you had?” the overlord challenged. “A tracker and an unarmed female were going to take on the elves?”

Sara put her hands on her hips, clearly ready for an argument. “We weren’t going to take on anyone. It was a recon mission. We were going to locate Heather and then determine our next action based on her exact situation.”

Xorran nearly laughed as he carefully placed Wenny in her shelter. They hadn’t really had a plan beyond finding Heather, but the overlord didn’t need to know.

“If you weren’t able to open the door, how do you know you found the entrance? Could you actually see the door?” Kage persisted.

“Wenny grew very excited and clawed at the ground. And she kept saying ‘home’ and ‘mother’.”

The overlord snorted as he folded his arms over his chest. “I wasn’t aware that karrons could speak.”

“She’s telepathic,” she said emphatically.

“Gods above, you’re serious.” He moved closer to the enclosure, looking at Wenny with new interest. “Is that how Isolaund controls them? She can actually reason with them?”

“I’m not sure reason is involved. More like loyalty through fear. The battle cats are pampered and fed well. And staying in her favor ensures their progeny an opportunity to be trained as well. But if they fail her, they’re discarded like rubbish. She has abandoned entire bloodlines because of the failure of one cat.”

“The servant told you all of this?”

She shook her head. “Wenny did.”

“What else have you learned from your new pet?” His gaze narrowed and his expression sharpened. “How many elves are there really? How large is their army? Do they have access to spacecraft?”

Again, she shook her head. “Wenny won’t tell me anything that endangers the elves. As I said, she is extremely loyal, despite the fact that Isolaund sent her away.”

His only response was a thoughtful grunt.

“We saw Arrista again,” Sara told him. “Wenny’s locator chip set off some sort of alarm.”

“Wenny has a locator chip?” His scowl returned in a flash.

“The elves already know where to find us,” she pointed out. “It’s not like we’re hiding from them.”

“Did anyone else know you were snooping around?”

“No,” she assured him. “Arrista turned off the alarm before anyone else saw it. I tried to convince her to defect, but she isn’t ready.”

Xorran joined them near the gate, though he stood on the inside of the fence. “She might never be ready, Sara. Like the cub, Arrista is strangely loyal to Isolaund.”

“That’s not unusual. Slaves are often so beaten down they can’t comprehend a life free of bondage. Besides, she would be much more valuable to us as a spy than a refugee.” The overlord looked at Xorran as he asked, “Can you find the entrance without the cat?”

“Easily. But the door is undetectable.”

Kage shrugged. “It might not be for Torrin.”

Why did the overlord always think of Torrin when he needed assistance? “What can he do that we didn’t try already?”

He started to speak, then changed his mind. “That’s Torrin’s story to tell.”

“May I ask a question, sir.” Xorran knew the overlord responded best to respect freely given.

“Of course.”

“How did you know where we’d gone? We weren’t gone that long.”

“Dr. Foran mentioned the dart gun in his latest report. I dropped by to ask you about it and all three of you were MIA. It didn’t take much to figure out where you’d gone.” He looked at Sara and shook his head. “Your mate isn’t known for her patience.”

“Arrista assured us that Heather is safe from Alonov, so I’m hoping that will settle Sara down.”

Sara scoffed. “Not likely.”

The overlord laughed. “I’m so glad she’s yours, not mine. Get her back to the Wheel as soon as possible. It’s not safe for you two to be out here alone.”

“Wenny will protect us,” Sara’s tone was just sarcastic enough that Xorran wasn’t sure if she was serious or not.

“Not from Isolaund she won’t,” the overlord’s tone hardened, all friendliness gone “I’m serious. I want you both inside the Wheel within the hour.”

“Yes, sir,” she muttered, sounding more frustrated than facetious.

The overlord left without further discussion.

“You really shouldn’t piss him off. He can be one mean son of a bitch.”

“Not to a female,” she predicted. “I can see it in his eyes.”

“Well, he could easily make my life miserable, so I’m asking you nicely to behave.”

She smiled. “Since you asked so nicely, I’ll try.”