Knotted Read Online Free Page A

between the hedges and trees, caressing them lightly as she walked. She smiled as she got in touch with the reason she was here. The medical gardens were already scrambling to get her in.
    Rowen looked back toward the lights of the ballroom and sighed. Tomorrow, she could play with plants again. Tonight, she had to return to the social setting she had dropped herself into.
     
    * * * *
     
    Skorin used the satellite link to zoom in on the woman in the gardens. Her features showed resignation and he knew that look. He saw it in the mirror all the time.
    It wasn’t until she raised her left hand to check her hair and her cuff gleamed that he realised who he was looking at. He had found his wife, and he hadn’t really been looking for her.
    He sat back and sighed when she returned to the ballroom. “This is not good.”
    His body hummed with awareness. Just seeing her had increased his heart rate and begun a slow rise in his cock. It must have had something to do with possession. She was his in the eyes of the law, and he was a tremendous fan of upholding the law.
    He scowled and shut down the satellite feeds. He had seen her walk the garden, and even through the telescopes, he could see that they had flourished at her touch. It made him wonder what else would spring to life when she touched it.
    Growling, he got to his feet. “Devnin!”
    “Yes, Skorin?”
    “Do we have a mission?”
    “No. We have the night off. Uadon is communing with the rock and Pleska is staring into the sky and watching night butterflies.”
    Skorin scowled.
    Devnin said carefully, “Why don’t you put in an appearance at the ball?”
    Skorin let his shadow free and lifted him up toward the ceiling. “Repeat that?”
    Uadon came in. “We have a mission.”
    Skorin dropped his second in command. They sprang into action and got into their suits. Once they were geared up and Devnin was behind the controls, Uadon handed out their missions.
    In a brilliant example of bad taste, armed men in body armour had stolen a member of the nobility from a local benefit.
    Skorin had a sick feeling. “Who was the noble?”
    They checked the file and all went quiet until Devnin said, “Lady Nakkua.”
    Skorin shook his head and crossed his fingers. “Please let it be my mother or aunt Cressina.”
    They put their faceplates into position and headed for the ballroom. If they needed to track, it had to be from the point of origin.
    Count and Countess Nakkua were waiting for them in the ballroom. A few of the guests had been beaten and they were clumping together in little frightened groups.
    Walking Darkness approached his family. “Count and Countess Nakkua, are you all right?”
    His mother nodded but looked furious. “They took my daughter-in-law. I require you to return her to me.”
    His father was busy stroking his wife’s shoulder. “If you don’t, Akadeel will go in search of her. The girl is special and new to Irudan. To be hauled off for the podders to try and get an accelerated crop isn’t fair to her. We would ask that the Guardians retrieve her before they can damage her in any way.
    Walking Darkness nodded his head. “We will find her. Rock Wall will hold you all in until we return.”
    Uadon barricaded up all doors and windows while they went looking for a witness.
    Pleska called nocturnal insects and spoke with one, asking for tracking assistance. In exchange for a grape, the scorpion agreed to lead them to the hatch that the podders had taken.
    Devnin chuckled. “I don’t know how I feel about your bribing informants.”
    Pleska snorted, and they followed the direction of the insect’s tracking until they were in the garden and the upturned soil gave them a clear direction into the ground.
     
    * * * *
     
    Rowen was tired of being shoved. “I don’t understand what you want.”
    One of the grubby young men pushed her further down the tunnels. “We have a sick plant and we need you to heal it.”
    “Why didn’t you apply to the