Page 42 of MeK

“Ihate to bother you this late in the rising, but isMistressLaciewith you?”

“No,Ihave not seen her since …”Iwatch as he fights his emotions as his eyes flash brightly, and he seems to be fidgeting with something on his hip. “Wait, why would you be asking me this?Hassomething happened?”

“Weare not sure butBriarbrought it to our attention that she has not returned toANDI.Themale you had words with this early rising is also not accounted for.”

“Laciethanked me for running him off earlier, as she said he ‘creeped’ her out.Thereis no way she would be with him willingly.Iam returning planetside immediately.”

Isee something onMeK’sface thatIknow he has not come to terms with.Aperson does not drop everything for someone they do not care about, andIhope that he is male enough to face the mistakes he has made.Wedisconnect andIturn, only to findKirapacing around our chambers. “MyKira, you are close to her … any idea where she may be?”

“No, not at all.Sheseems so responsible, andIsimply can’t see her at least not checking in, especially withBriar, even if she did decide to stay planetside.Lacieis such a lively child.Shealways wears a smile and is the first to jump in to help.It’seasy to understand why all the guys watch her.She’sa natural beauty, and she has no clue.”

Rebucklingmy weapons belt,Iwalk toward the ramp. “Vedeceis the only oneIgave permission to stay as of yet, because she andKyTare working so closely together, andIknow he will look out for her safety.”

“Maybehe can help?”

Instantly,Ihit my comm unit. “KyT,Ineed your assistance.Iwill meet you outside my shuttle.”Iquickly receive confirmation that he is on his way.KissingKiraon the forehead,Iwalk out of the shuttle, locking the ramp behind me.IknowKirais more than capable of protecting herself, but my attention is scattered this late rising, andIneed to know she is safe.

KyTswiftly approaches. “Father?”

Ilift my hand, motioning to the forest around us. “Seeif your friends will tell us where our two lost souls may have run off to?”

Justas he walks away from me,ANDIcomms. “CommanderDaR,Ihave scanned the entire area inside the perimeter fence, and there are no signals from either one of them.Doyou think they could have possibly been taken?”

“Atthis pointANDI,Iam not ruling anything out.”

SCOUT’sholo form appears before me because he is directly connected toANDI.Healready knows whyIhave summoned him. “Commander,I, too, cannot find any signals within the perimeter.”

KyTmotions for us to come with him. “Theyare not inside the perimeter.TheTimberswatched as the male followed a distraught female along the path they had set aside for humans.Thefemale went to the aid of a youngSueton the other side of the fence, and an altercation happened.Theylost them both when she exited the forest line on the other side of their territory.”

Weare quickly heading to that location whenIseeMeK’sshuttle break through the atmosphere.Iping our location to his comm unit and we move on, asIam too concerned forLacie’swelfare to waste time awaiting his arrival.

“KyT, could they tell you anything else?”

“Yes, but the news is not favorable as they have never witnessed any type of violence before, so they actually shut their senses off when the female became overly upset.Nowthat they understand this behavior is unacceptable, they will not allow that to happen again.Theyare willing to help show us the path that was taken once we get to their border.”

IhearMeK’slarge footsteps long beforeIever see him. “SCOUT, go on ahead and see if you can track anything past the tree line.”

MeKappears moments later. “Anything?”

“Wehave a few leads.SCOUTis going ahead, and theTimbersare taking us to where she was last seen.”MeKis so upset he is practically shaking all over, to the point his runes are flashing wildly. “Son, we will find her.”

Itis as if he does not hear my words.MeKrounds the end of the perimeter fence and theTimbersshow us where she entered this unmapped area.Screaming, “LACIE!”he is practically running in every direction to find her.

Chapter Twenty-Four

LACIE

Severaltimes already,I’vejolted awake, thinkingIheard someone calling out my name, but no one comes whenIyell back.Curlingup on my side,Icradle my head in my good hand asIlie on this hard rock that is barely large enough to hold me.EverytimeIopen my eyes, it takes a moment for the world to come back into focus.Evenwith my thoughts clouded,IknowI’min really bad shape, andIwon’t last much longer out here without help soon.Iwonder if whenI’mgone, will this rock open up and swallow me like it did thatMotherSuet.

Turningmy head,I’mglad to see that the little cat is no longer lying at the top of this cliff looking down at me anymore.Ihope he lives a long life and has lots of little ones to show for it.Mymind drifts back toMeKand the way he called out my name as we made love ... well, love in my mind and just meaningless sex in his.Itwas deep and affectionate, but for some reason, it sounds different to me now.Itseems frantic and scared now, how odd.That’swhenIrealize someone is calling out my name.

“I’mhere!”Asqueak is all that comes out whenItry to yell. “I’mhere.”Tearsfill my eyes whenIswearIhear the shouts gettingdimmer.He’sgoing the other way.Withthe very last ounce of energyIhave,Iscream out, “I’mHERE!!!”

Onlyto blink whenIfind a small form in front of me. “MistressLacie,Ineed you to sit back.Thisrock face is unstable.”

“SCOUT, is that really you?You’reso tiny.”

“YesMistress, now try to relax and steady your breathing.Ineed to go get the others.”

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