Love in the Shadows Read Online Free Page B

into. For
a moment Derek knew real fear. What the
hell was going on here?
    The door opened, and
Colette walked in. “Oh good, you are awake, cheri . I am sorry for having to do
this, you know. But for the betterment of humanity, sometimes
someone must suffer.”
    “What are you talking about? Why am I
tied to this table?”
    “You have a special
healing ability. I saw your hand heal after you were cut at the bar
that night you helped that old couple with the drunken fool. You
were such a hero, cheri . I have taken some blood samples but have not found the
evidence I need. I’m afraid some experimentation is in
order.”
    Derek braced himself as she picked up a
scalpel and cut into his right leg. He hissed with the sting.
“Look, Colette. Why don’t we talk about this? I’ll help you with
your research, and you let me off this table.” If he could find a
shadow, he could escape.
    “Non , I cannot. I need to have the proof, you see. The cameras
and lights will record your healing. We must have something
scientific to give the world.” She sliced him across his side.
Derek felt the sting and liquid on his skin as blood trickled down
his body. He tugged on the restraints.
    “Look, you crazy bitch, I’m sure your
government does not condone experimentation on humans. Let me up.”
His mind whirled in panic. He tried to distance himself from the
pain of his wounds. Derek unconsciously connected mind-to-mind with
Katherine. She came flooding into his thoughts. She was scared. She
could feel his pain. Colette made another cut across his
arm.
    No! he thought as he pushed Katherine from his mind. He would not
allow this mad woman to cause Katie pain. He reached for Raven with
his telepathy and was glad to get a quick response.
    Thank goodness. I have
been trying to reach you for two days, Raven sent.
    Katherine, she needs to
break off. I’m not sure I can shield her from the pain.
    I’ll take care of it. Where
are you?
    I can only guess I’m at
that lab stashed outside of Manaus the general sent me to find. I
think one of their scientists drugged me. She wants to experiment
on me to figure out how I heal myself. I’ve been using Isanti’s
healing potions. I don’t know how long I’m going to be coherent.
You need to send help. They have me strapped to a table under
extreme light. It doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to get
myself out.
    He shouldn’t have stolen Quiet
Thunder’s recipe for the healing potion. By drinking one potion a
day, he didn’t have to worry about being injured while doing his
job for the general. He never expected someone to realize he
possessed an amazing ability to heal. Quiet Thunder would have his
head if the secret was leaked. After drinking the potion daily for
several months, when might the effects wear off?
    Roger that. I’ll have a
team on the next plane. Hang in there, Derek. Katherine needs
you, Raven sent to him.
    Derek felt Katherine reaching for him.
She cried, feeling hurt and alone. He opened their telepathic bond
enough to reach her with his thoughts, but still block her from
pain.
    He tried to console her as best as he
could. Fear made him tremble. Why hadn’t he told her he loved her
before this? Why had he walked away the night Raven got married?
Derek slammed the telepathic link shut as Collette dropped a
cinderblock onto his hand. The bones cracked, and he yelled in
pain.
     
    §
     
    Joe Running Bear was more than six feet
tall and looked like a football linebacker. Katherine should have
felt intimidated. She had known and worked with him since coming to
Isanti, Inc. He was often gruff, but she quickly realized he was a
teddy bear with a heart of gold. He had the build and
coloring—black hair and broad shoulders—of all the tribal Shadow
Walkers. Unlike Raven, who had shoulder-length hair, Joe adopted a
military-style cut.
    Joe was head of security for Isanti,
Inc. He always seemed to know everything. He had figured out that
Derek was Katherine’s secret