Shadowed (Dark Protectors) Read Online Free Page B

gave a sympathetic grimace over her shoulder. “Your mating, of course.”

Chapter 3
    B renna shook off the feeling of walking into a principal’s office. Her aunt Viv, her sister Moira, and two witch lawyers sat on one side of a long conference table. Kane Kayrs and Conn Kayrs sat on the other side. Opposite ends of the table held empty chairs. Viv motioned Brenna toward one.
    “No.” Jase took her hand in his warm one, grabbed an extra chair lined by the door, and dragged it over to where he was apparently supposed to sit. “We sit together.”
    His palm warmed hers right along with her heart.
    She sat, her gaze on her sister. “Moira? When did you get home?”
    Moira’s green eyes flashed. Her rioting red hair curled around her shoulders. “We jumped on a plane the second we heard about this crazy scheme. You are not mating for business reasons.”
    Conn, Moira’s mate and Jase’s brother, nodded. “I agree.”
    Even sitting on opposing sides of a table, the pair was united. A pang nicked Brenna’s heart. She’d probably never have that sense of belonging. “I’m dying, Moira.”
    Moira paled. “You’re not.”
    “She is,” Kane said quietly. “I’m sorry, but I’ve examined her medical records. There’s no cure to the internal poisoning from planekite, and she’s declining quickly.”
    Brenna took a deep breath. “To be honest, I may have waited too long.” She needed her sister to be prepared. “Even mating a vampire as powerful as Jase might not save me. I’m so sorry.”
    Blue mist smoldered along Moira’s arms—proof the witch was agitated. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “I thought our doctors would find a cure, and I’m tired of everyone being worried about me.” Damn, Brenna missed being able to make fire and plasma balls. She pushed her glasses up her nose. “There was nothing you could do.”
    “She’s right,” Kane said. “Her doctors have tried methods I’ve never heard of—probably because you witches are so secretive.” Only fact existed in the brilliant vampire’s tone. No judgment.
    Moira shifted in her seat. “What’s up with the eyeglasses?”
    “I can’t see,” Brenna said. Just saying the words hurt. Even ancient witches retained perfect eyesight.
    “Oh.” Concern bracketed Moira’s mouth. “Jase? Why are you agreeing to mate?”
    His chin slowly lifted. “Besides the fact that Brenna is beautiful, smart, and sexy as hell?”
    Heat slid through Brenna stronger than her uncle Paddy’s homemade liquor. As the plain one in the family, nobody ever called her sexy.
    “Yes.” Moira’s shoulders went back. “You’ve been avoiding all of us since you returned home, training constantly, all but consumed with the need to go and fight. Yet now you’re willing to take a mate?”
    “Yes,” Jase said.
    Silence pounded around the room. Apparently the vampire wasn’t willing to expand on the subject.
    “No,” Moira finally said.
    Brenna leaned forward. “My mind is made up, and I’ve agreed. So we’re finished here.” She moved to stand.
    Viv waved her back into her seat. “I agree. But now we need to negotiate.”
    Brenna slowly regained her seat. “How so?”
    “Well, our treaty with the vampires is tenuous at best. This will cement it.” Viv nodded toward two male lawyers on her side of the table.
    “Wait.” Brenna eyed Moira, who sat with her arms crossed. Their discussion was in no way over. “When Moira and Conn mated, we created a treaty, right?”
    Kane cleared his throat. “Ah, kind of. Basically, after their, ah, accidental mating one night, that treaty prohibited Conn from contacting Moira for a century in order to prevent war. That’s all. No future promises or obligations were created.”
    Conn flashed Moira a grin. “A whole lot of promises and obligations were created, if you ask me.”
    “Nobody asked you.” Moira smiled back.
    “I see.” Brenna counted the distance from her chair to the door. They all knew that mating