Change of Heart

Russ, at others I didn't know, and then back to her. "Do any of you understand? He saw Domin first; they spoke, but Jin rejected him. Then he saw Christophe, and he too was rejected. It's amazing, if you think about it.
    Jin, the only reah I have ever seen, rejected two other semels but me... and I'm sure there have been many others that he's seen, but it was my mark that he took, only mine. He knows I'm his mate; I'm the only one in the world who is, and somehow, his path brought him here. It's a miracle, and all I want is to learn everything about him and have him stand beside me for the rest of my life."
    "Logan! You cannot have a male mate! Your tribe will never accept him, and now is not the time for us to appear weak! Domin's tribe is like a wolf at the door! He attacked Koren, and his sheseru went after Delphine, and now, if you don't bond with Simone, then Domin surely will. With Christophe's tribe and his, we'll be overrun! It's your place to protect us, not leave us vulnerable while you take your mate!"
    He shook his head.
    "Logan, think about your mother and your sister, think about your brothers and me... think about your tribe. We need you strong; we need you rational. You are our semel.
    Do not lead us down the path to destruction because of your 112
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    own selfish needs." His voice cracked on the last word and he sucked in his breath. "Please, my son."
    His father's voice sliced right through me. The fear, the frustration, the anger—it was all there in his barely controlled rage.
    The silence after the tirade was thundering and consuming. There was no answer for his father's anger. Logan had no choice but to send me away.
    "A semel who finds his reah is semel-re, is he not?"
    "Yes, but—"
    Logan lifted his hand, and there was silence again. "I have found my reah, and so I am semel-re. I have sent Yuri and Mikhail to Domin and Christophe's tribes to bring them my news. I sent word to my friends and have received calls and e-mails back already. They all seem overjoyed for me. The sex of my mate, even though I told them, does not seem to matter to anyone but you."
    "They lie, Logan. They fear for your sanity."
    "I suggest we not tell them your thoughts."
    "Listen to me!"
    "No, you listen," Logan began but crossed the room fast and slammed the door shut hard in my face. He had no idea I was there. He just didn't want to wake me.
    When I turned back toward the bed, I noticed that there was another door, a second way out. I saw my boots at the same time. I didn't hesitate. Downstairs in the kitchen, I pulled on my parka and got out my cell phone to call Crane. I had to find him and get out of there fast.
    "Jin."
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    Turning, I was faced with a man I had never met.
    "I'm Christophe Danvers's sheseru, Avery Cadim."
    It made some sense that if Christophe were there for Logan's wedding feast, that his sheseru would be as well, but what was the man doing in the kitchen?
    "Christophe requests your presence. He needs to speak with you."
    "Well, I—"
    "We have taken the liberty of securing Mr. Adams. He is waiting for you out in the car."
    Translation: they had Crane, and if I didn't go with him he could not be expected to keep my best friend safe.
    "Okay." I took a breath.
    He stepped aside so I could walk by him toward the door. I sized him up as I moved, and if he was the scariest man in Christophe's tribe, as the sheseru traditionally was, I wasn't really that worried. Compared to the size and strength of Yuri Kosa, Avery Cadim was downright scrawny.
    When we reached the car, the door opened, and two men got out, holding Crane between them. His hands were tied behind him, and there was tape over his mouth. His eyes were blazing above the gag. I felt the fury rolling off him. My relief at seeing him unharmed made me tremble.
    "Jin," Avery said, his hand going to my shoulder. "You get in the car without any resistance, and we will leave Mr.
    Adams here unharmed. We only needed him so that you would take our semel's invitation for you to visit seriously."
    "Deal," I assured him.
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    I heard Crane's growl through his gag and saw his eyes suddenly widen a second before a hand rose in front of my face. I opened my mouth to say that I didn't need to be knocked out, I would go along willingly, before there was a horrible smell and blackness. Struggling to stay conscious didn't do a bit of good.
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