Dark Alpha's Embrace by Donna Grant Page B

means.”
    “Those in the nobility know it.”
    Her eyes widened as her lips parted. “So one of the other families have decided to help my father curb my … activities.”
    “Nay,” Kyran said and shook his head. “At least not that I know of.”
    She swallowed and turned her face away, looking into the room. “I’d go somewhere no one knew me. I’d remove this bracelet and any connection to my family. I’d make my own decisions. I’d be the one to decide who I married.”
    “Removing the bracelet will give you freedom, but if you ever need your family, that link will be severed.”
    “I know.” Her chest expanded as she took a deep breath. “I also comprehend I’ll have no one to protect me.”
    Kyran spotted Fintan ending his conversation. “And if I could help you with that?”
    “Why would you do that?”
    “An exchange,” Kyran told her. “I get you free, and you tell me who is hunting the mortal family.”
    The female closed her eyes.
    Kyran gave a small shake of his head to Fintan as he approached. Without missing a beat, Fintan changed course and walked to a group of females.
    “I’m Maiti.” Her eyes opened, and she met Kyran’s gaze squarely. “Don’t make me regret trusting you.”
    He bowed his head. “Kyran.”
    “How soon can you get me out of here?”
    Kyran nodded his head toward Fintan. “I’ve come with a friend. He’ll help. First, we need to remove the bracelet. If not, your family will only track you.”
    Maiti rolled her eyes. “Did you not hear me? My father made sure no magic can touch this.”
    “Trust me,” Kyran told her. He motioned Fintan over.
    Fintan studied Maiti before he looked at Kyran. “I guess this means you found what you were looking for?”
    “This is Maiti,” Kyran said. “Maiti, this is Fintan.”
    Fintan took one look at her bracelet and said, “Nighttail.”
    “She knows the group hunting the mortals,” Kyran said.
    Fintan’s gaze slid from the bracelet to Kyran. “And I suppose we’re to help her somehow.”
    “To escape my family,” Maiti said.
    Fintan let out a string of curses beneath his breath. He then put his hands on his hips and stared in a mixture of shock and anger at Kyran. “Have you lost your damn mind?”
    “I’m helping her,” Kyran stated.
    “This isn’t wise.”
    Maiti moved closer to them. “The family hunting the mortals is the Lightslayers. Does that ease your mind? Now, will you please help me?”
    The room began to swim around Kyran. He couldn’t catch his breath. Sound rushed like a waterfall in his ears. Suddenly, Fintan’s face appeared in Kyran’s line of vision. Fintan’s lips were moving, but Kyran couldn’t hear anything.
    This couldn’t be happening. The name couldn’t be right.
    But he knew it was.
    As awful as the truth was, Kyran couldn’t deny it.
    “Kyran,” Fintan called.
    He blinked and was able to focus his gaze on his friend’s concerned face.
    Fintan’s frown was deep. “You all right?”
    “Aye.” How could he be? Kyran was going to have to tell River that it was his family killing hers.
    “We need to get moving,” Maiti said.
    Kyran followed her, his mind still reeling.
    “How do you know it’s the Lightslayers?” Fintan demanded.
    Maiti shrugged and glanced over her shoulder at them. “I overheard my father and the head of the Lightslayer clan once. Another time when I was sneaking back into my house, I saw a group of Lightslayer men arrive, rejoicing at another kill. Rarely do Dark have blood on them when they take a mortal soul.”
    After she led them to a small corner in the palace, Kyran braced his hand on the stone wall and hung his head. Of course it would be his family. His father always had to prove to everyone they were the most evil, the most bloodthirsty.
    Kyran blew out a breath. He’d deal with this later. Right now he had to remove Maiti’s bracelet. He straightened and dropped his arm to his side.
    “You weren’t expecting that name, were