Heart Secret Read Online Free Page A

chair and sat straight in it, challenging Heather. “Yeah?”
    She leaned forward over her desk. “We have new information. After three years of decontamination, we retrieved the locking mechanism of the door for the body storage in the back of the transport vehicle that you drove.” She touched a hand-sized panel that ran with the slight orange light of Flair tech along the curving lines of spell algorithms. “Its recording mechanism of when and how often the door was opened is intact. So we have better details of how the sickness progressed that we would like you to confirm.”
    Garrett stared at the small piece of the bus he’d driven, and his brain played back Old Grisc in the driver’s seat when they’d smelled the first scent of death. He’d reached over and pressed the red button . . . setting the recorder as well as unlocking the door, Garrett now understood.
    Beads of sweat formed along his spine, were absorbed by his padded and Flaired armor. Now he knew why he’d worn it. More for emotional protection than physical. Primary HealingHall was in a well-protected part of town—not to mention that many of the less advantaged had died during the sickness that swept through the land two to three years before.
    â€œGentleSir Primross, can you give us more details about your experience?” prompted Lark.
    Nothing he enjoyed more than reviewing the worst days of his life. He felt his impassive expression stiffen into a stone mask. He’d made this report before . . . more times than he wanted. Doing so now just hurt because he hadn’t been expecting it. The scab had been ripped off his inner wounds. He wouldn’t let the tear or the inner bleeding show.
    â€œNo.” He stood and walked back to the door.
    â€œOf course you do not need to help us,” FirstLevel Healer Ura Heather said. “We are only facing an epidemic again. One that you can stop.”
    He slammed his hand against the door and muttered curse words that should have singed the air with his frustration at having to fall into line with someone else’s plans.
    â€œYes,” the Healer nearly purred, though he’d have expected more of a satisfied snake hiss. “Anyone else who dies of this sickness could be due to you.”
    â€œYou shouldn’t say such things,” the SecondLevel Healer protested.
    â€œStop this, Aunt!” demanded Lark Holly.
    â€œIt’s true.” Heather’s voice was smooth, like she was a fighter who knew she had him by the balls.
    Guilt always gnawed. He’d start off as usual. “The Iasc sickness was traced to an unknown fish with an unknown infection that washed ashore on the beach of the Smallage estate near Gael City.”
    â€œWe know that.” Ura Heather’s brows snapped down.
    Garrett angled his thumb at the thick folder. “You know all that I have to tell you.” He put his hand on the door latch.
    â€œPlease, stay, GentleSir Primross. We understand this is hard for you,” Lark Holly said. “We’ll take it in chronological order so you can settle before we ask about the new information.”
    His gut twisted. It was hard for him and he didn’t want any of the women—especially his HeartMate—to pity him.
    Yeah, he hadn’t seen her for a while, a year maybe, since he avoided her. They’d never met. He didn’t think that she knew they were destined mates, and he couldn’t legally tell her and limit her choices. Not that he wanted to tell her anyway. Not that he wanted her.
    Maybe his blood was humming because they were in the same room, but that was his body. His emotions were . . . Who the hell cared?
    â€œThe Iasc sickness was traced to the discovery of the large fish on the former Smallage estate,” Ura Heather repeated.
    There was no more Smallage estate. The house had been demolished, the land sterilized, remotely. There were