Wild and Free (The Three #3)(182)

The stories were powerful and presented beautifully, but Gregor felt Abel and Delilah’s played the best. Although both of them were extraordinarily good-looking, each had led very humble lives and he believed theirs would be the one that would resonate the strongest.

By this time, the presenter was inside Canis, seated in a chair in what looked like a warm and welcoming (because it was) library.

She had an attractive earthenware mug sitting on the table at her side. Nothing extravagant, the power behind the throne was depicted by her walk up the steps to the castle. Now she was metaphorically seated in the lap of the werewolves—unpretentious, openhearted, relaxed, gracious.

In the meantime, in the room Gregor was in, they’d seated Jian-Li in her chair.

“And today,” the presenter stated, “I have the pleasure of speaking with one in a long line of Chinese American women who opened her heart and home to the hybrid werewolf vampire, Abel. Generations of her family kept him safe and hidden, with the immortal Abel doing the former for her family. Keeping them safe. Providing for them. I’m pleased to introduce you to Jian-Li Jin, a restaurant owner and mother of four sons, one of whom she counts as Abel.” She tipped her head to the side. “Jian-Li, it’s lovely to meet you.”

“And it’s lovely to meet you as well, Susannah,” Jian-Li said on a soft smile.

Gregor watched as the presenter asked gentle, then more and more probing questions and Jian-Li answered them unwaveringly, frankly, and proudly.

He watched knowing this was being broadcast on every network, including cable. He watched knowing that after it was over, it would be rebroadcast, repeatedly. He watched knowing that after it was done, it would take but moments for it to be available to stream on every online outlet offered to the masses.

And Gregor watched hoping that the stories of The Three, humans and immortals inexorably connected together in love and loyalty, would win the hearts of billions.

“Thank you, Jian-Li, for your time and your honesty. But mostly, thank you for sharing the private matters of your family in hopes of giving peace of mind to the many who understandably fear what might come next after the events of yesterday,” the presenter finished the interview.

“It was my pleasure, and my honor, to speak of my son, his lovely mate, and the others who I have met, grown to know, and grown to care about deeply,” Jian-Li replied.

The presenter smiled.

The red light on the camera blinked out.

“Excellent!” the production manager exclaimed, rushing up to Jian-Li.

But Gregor watched the television as the presenter finalized things, summing up, injecting humanity into every word she spoke about The Three, and finally concluding.

“We are not privy to what awaits these couples, husbands and wives, kings and queens, partners, or as they refer to themselves, as do we, mates. We have only been told that they have selflessly agreed to undertake a very dangerous mission to see to it that the human, vampire, werewolf, wraith, and phantom races can live peacefully, harmoniously, and safely.”

Her gaze intensified as the camera panned in subtly.

“And I, for one, with all my heart, thank them for their service and hope each one of them, Lucien, Leah, Callum, Sonia, Abel, and Delilah, emerge unscathed. To this end, I will pray for them. I do hope for these brave souls that you pray with me.”

She drew in breath and dipped her chin.

“Thank you for watching. Stay calm. Stay safe. And stay hopeful,” she finished.

The program ended and a newscaster came on.

The volume was muted and Gregor felt Jian-Li touch his arm.

“That went very well,” she stated.

“It did, indeed,” he agreed, moving his hand to cover hers on his arm. “You did beautifully.”

“I hope so.”

He gave her a small smile.

“What the hell?”

This came from the man with headphones and Gregor’s attention moved to him immediately.

Then his body locked.

“What’s that?” a woman carrying a clipboard and standing behind him asked, her eyes glued to the bank of monitors.

“Don’t know. What…? I…Fuck!” the man with headphones cursed. “The feed has been taken over. I don’t…Shit!” he exclaimed, rising from his seat.

Jian-Li’s hand had become a claw on his arm as he felt her body strain against the tightness in it, doing all it could to survive the unhealthy speed of the beat of her heart.

And Gregor knew why.

Because on every screen was Etienne, standing in the middle of a street somewhere.

And with her back to the camera, facing him, stood Delilah.





Chapter Twenty-Six


We Are The Three

Delilah



I walked down the street cautiously, my stomach knotted with panic. I saw faces in windows peeking out from behind curtains. I felt eyes on me from everywhere. I felt fear choking the air.

I had no idea where I was. I had no memory of putting on my tee, my jeans, my motorcycle boots.

I had no idea how I got there.

This couldn’t be right. I couldn’t be here.

Why was I here?

Alone.

No one with me.

Not a single one of The Three.

Not my mate, who I knew would protect me.

“This is a warning.”