Dark Flame (Flame 3)

Mary answered his question, before he asked it. “No, they don’t perform their services in these sacks. When on duty, they’re sent to be cleaned up, hair styled, nails manicured. They’re then dressed in a costume the client has requested. After being used for the night, they return through the same process only in reverse, stripped naked, scrubbed in a shower, hair washed, nail polish removed and shot up with dark flame.

“Most hardly care because of the drugs. But I’ve watched them pass by. Every other woman returns cut and bruised. It’s a horrible, perverse situation.”

Brannick glanced into several of the cells. The women were either sitting on the side of a cot, staring into space, or passed out cold. Each had a toilet and a sink.

He still held Juliet’s hand. Her soft voice broke through his horror of Roche’s set-up. “Mary, I see you now.”

It was no wonder Juliet had been able to bring her into the dreamglide; she was in a profound sleep and hardly breathing. She must have been recently injected because the teal flames were bright on her bare arms and throat, even on her cheeks. In an odd way, it was beautiful.

“So, what’s the plan, Brannick? Are you and Juliet going to bust me out, or what?”

He shifted to look at Mary in the dreamglide. “That’s the plan. We have Fergus with us as well?”

“Who’s Fergus?”

“An alpha shifter from Savage. A border patrol officer.”

Her nostrils flared. “Just keep him away from me.”

Brannick stared at her, then remembered. Her sister had been killed in a shifter den during a dominance fight. She wasn’t a fan of the wolf population of Five Bridges.

“Fergus is a good man.”

Mary met his gaze, her eyes full of pain. But her shoulders fell. “Do what you must. The important thing is to get me out of here.”

Juliet squeezed Brannick’s hand and shifted to telepathy, though he could feel her include Mary in a group communication. Mary, you can leave now. We’ll take it from here.

Mary offered a faint smile then faded away to nothing. Even Brannick knew when she’d left.

Juliet stayed with telepathy. Roche is here. He’s suspicious. Stay very still.

Got it.

Roche appeared at the top of the aisle, shoving his thick, red hair back with one hand as he looked down the row of cells. He was blurred, which meant he was part of the real-time environment and an excellent sign.

Brann, as soon as Roche leaves my line of sight, I’m going to end the dreamglide, which will put us back at the court.

Ready when you are.

~ ~ ~

Juliet wouldn’t do anything until Roche was gone. So, she waited. She wasn’t sure what kind of temporal disturbance the cessation of a dreamglide could cause. But if it shifted the airwaves, Roche, as a powerful fae, would be able to detect it.

Once he’d disappeared the direction he’d come, she sq

ueezed Brannick’s hand, then let go of him.

When she woke up, she was in Brannick’s arms. She felt dizzy from the sudden shift and took a moment to orient herself.

She glanced up at Brannick. He looked down at her, meeting her gaze, but he looked deadly serious. Jesus, Juliet I remember the entire dreamglide, especially how I treated you and what I said to you about my own issues.

He slowly released her and rose to his feet, lifting her at the same time.

Standing next to him, she asked, Did all your memories come back?

He shook his head. No. I’m only remembering how I felt when I first saw you in the dreamglide. I’m experiencing the rush of seeing a woman who had been my lover for months. Jesus.

Juliet stepped away from him. He reached for her, but his hand fell away. I owe you an apology. I didn’t know how conflicted I was about you or how much I was a full participant in our lovemaking. But enough of that.