“But I don’t,” she whispered. “I don’t know . . .”

He rose to his feet, picked up the pad and stared down at her with chilling disregard. “I’ll give you some time to think about it, Mackenzie,” he offered coldly. “Have an answer when I come back, or I’ll send you to that cell.”

He walked out. Not a backward glance, not another chance to answer his question or another threat. The door closed behind him, the sound of the lock clicking ominous in the silence of the room.

She didn’t know . . .

And it wouldn’t matter.

Now she was really fucked . . .

CERVES COMPOUND

Samara was there when her baby opened pretty green eyes and blinked up at her.

In the child’s eyes, there was a flash of confusion, of fear that she should have never felt, never known.

“There’s Momma’s baby,” Samara whispered, her voice hoarse, love suddenly flooding her, swelling inside her soul as she touched the child’s cheek.

“Momma?” the child asked, the uncertainty in her voice bringing tears to Samara’s eyes. “Are you my momma?”

Samara brushed back the tangled curls, her lips trembling as she held back her tears.

“Yes, baby,” she whispered. “I’m your momma. Do you remember your name?”

Little lips trembled and tears filled her eyes, distress darkening the emerald hue.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Samara promised. “I think you must have had a nasty fall. Your name is Lily, for the beautiful flowers I love. Lily Cerves. Do you like that name?”

Lily nodded, the tears drying, though the confusion remained. “Why don’t I remember my

name, Momma?”

Samara inhaled, her breathing hitching at the wash of emotion and fragile hope building inside her.

“I think you fell and bumped your head, baby.” Samara eased her fears. “But Momma has you now and I won’t let you be hurt ever again.”

Her heart melted, already loving this child, determined to protect her from anyone who would harm her.

“Rest now, my Lily. Momma is right here with you,” she promised the baby, her Lily. She brushed her fingers over the child’s flushed cheeks.

Lily’s eyes closed, fluttering against baby cheeks before sleep settled over her again.

It was then that the Breed, Graeme, stepped from the shadowed corner of the room, his gaze heavy as he stared at the child.

“Get out of the business, Samara,” he growled. “And hide her. Hide her well.”

Samara nodded faintly, brushing back the dark hair next to Lily’s cheek.

“We were doing so for Louisa before she was taken,” she told him quietly. “We wanted only for her to be proud of her momma and poppa. We will continue to do so now. We will remain here, on this estate. Where her uncle Graeme can help us care for her.”

It was a risk bringing him there, letting him see the child, but they’d been unable to wake her. And she would need someone who understood her Breed physiology, in case she became ill or hurt.

“We can take care of her, Graeme,” she whispered, desperate now. “Juan, Esteban and I, and you.” She had nothing but hope at this point. “If we take her to the Breeds, then the Council will not stop hunting her. This way, no one knows what happened to her. Perhaps even the soldiers lied and she was not there.”

Staring at Lily, Graeme restrained a sigh. It wasn’t quite that simple, but only a few of the soldiers were left living and they wouldn’t be living for long. He’d have to make certain of that.

It seemed the Council was still playing with genetics. This child was proof of that.

Tags: Lora Leigh Breeds Paranormal
Source: readsnovelonline.net