Page 42 of Elusive Mate

Zenya looked at her but said nothing. The look of concern must have been more evident than Zenya would have liked to believe.

Adriana touched her hand. “I get it. You just met me, but I’m kind of in the same boat.”

“Doubtful. Manchester and his people will feel honor bound to return me to my origin clan,” Zenya answered.

“The Resistance isn’t the only group opposing the Shadow League…”

Zenya sent her a sharp look. “I thought you didn’t know who they were.”

“As I said, new to shifters. I have a vague knowledge of them, but not the Master nor how any of this fits together. I do know that the League has an enemy that dates back a very long time.”

“Do they?”

Adriana nodded. “The Shadow Sisters.”

“How do you know the Shadow Sisters?”

“They were trying to get me to safety.”

“This is your idea of safety?”

Adriana shook her head. “No. We got jumped by vamps. Two of them went down fighting for me. If you aren’t wanting to return, we need to get word to them.”

“If we’re in Alaska, if we can get a message to them…”

“They can get us out.”

One of the people on the helicopter handed them water and protein bars before the door was closed and helicopter began to lift off. Adriana and Zenya made sure to stay together.

“Can you tell me where we’re going?” Zenya asked the pilot.

“Ghost Moon Manor. The home of Cullen Manchester and his pack. We’ve got people waiting, and you can contact your own packs from there.”

Zenya opted to remain silent for the rest of the ride.

CHAPTER 17

ZENYA

They landed at Cullen Manchester’s stately home. It was no Ice Storm, but it was gorgeous and had more the look of a manor than a fortified stronghold. Those who had been prisoners were given food and drink while their needs were assessed. She tried to stay close to Adriana, but they became separated.

A woman with short red hair with blonde highlights, freckles, and a thousand-watt smile joined her. She was dressed in faded and distressed jeans and a thin oversized sweater that did far more to show off her looks than hide them.

“I’m Jinx. Rumor is you’re concerned about being here.”

“Why would I be concerned? Your people rescued us.”

Jinx laughed. “Girl, don’t ever try to play poker for money. You don’t have the face for it. So let me come at this another way. Hi, I’m Jinx. I work with the Shadow Sisters.”

There was something credible about Jinx that made Zenya want to trust her. For one thing, Lucian and Cullen had never gotten along, but at this point, no one here knew she was part of the Baihu Clan, much less Lucian’s claimed and fated mate.

“Yeah, that look of relief is a dead giveaway. Let me guess, you don’t want to go back to your clan?” Zenya shook her head. “How bad is it?”

“Claimed mate to Lucian, and sister of his beta.” She still couldn’t bear to say Zaiden’s name.

“Ouch. Oh well, Cullen and Lucian aren’t exactly chummy. I think if we just tell him you don’t want to return to Ice Storm, he’ll get you to Windsong.”

“They say Reynolds supports the Shadow Sisters.”

---