Garrett got into Quade’s face and sniffed. “I knew it!”
Quade sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s the good kind. I just happened to check, and it was there, and well…”
Garrett pushed Quade off the deck, and he landed with legs set. “That’s my favorite, and my mom just sent it. You can only get it in Idaho since it’s made there by a guy who retired from Crest years ago.”
Quade shrugged. “It’s peppermint and spearmint. The absolute best. I didn’t eat the whole tube.”
“Yes, you did!” Garrett leaped off the deck and tackled Quade. The two muscled males rolled toward the river over rocks, grass, and weeds.
Karma gasped and then looked at Haven, who was drinking her wine, not watching at all. “Benjamin. What is happening?”
Benny took a bite of the spaghetti. Yep. Haven had cooked dinner. She always used too much salt, but it wasn’t bad. “Well, Quade has a slight addiction to toothpaste, unfortunately. We’ve tried to give him candy and mints, but it just isn’t the same. Garrett gets the best kind, and I know he hides the tubes, but Quade is like a bulldog with a scent.”
Karma watched the men throwing punches and then shivered. “This is over toothpaste? They’re going to harm each other.”
Benny took a drink of his beer, surprised that Karma had chosen beer instead of wine. She seemed like more of a wine girl, but good for her. He loved a thick beer. “If they get hurt, they’ll just heal. Right now, Garrett needs to let off some steam, and Quade is always up for a decent fight. It’s good-natured, sweetheart. They won’t cut off heads or anything.”
She eyed her plate of spaghetti, her lips trembling. “I don’t see how violence will solve the problem.”
Huh. “Don’t you ever go to a gym and work out hard? Maybe take on a punching bag?”
She turned to him, her forehead creased. “Are you kidding?” Her hands swept along her skirt. “In this? How exactly would I punch a bag in a dress? Females wear dresses because they put us at a disadvantage.” She swallowed. “And we look pretty.”
“You don’t have to wear a skirt,” he said.
She sighed. “I know. I plan to start practicing wearing slacks and jeans, but I’m going to work up to it. Maybe start with short-sleeved shirts. A couple hundred years of wearing skirts is a hard habit to break. I just don’t feel like me in modern clothes.” Her jaw firmed. “Although that has to change once I get my girls home with me.”
So, they were back to that. “I promised you I’d go in and get the girls as soon as we have a location. I have never broken a promise.”
She pressed her lips together as if trying really hard not to lose her temper. “You do not seem to understand the situation.” Her hand felt just right under his, but he released her when she pulled away. “If you do find Sam Kyllwood, he will be located at a temporary stronghold for military soldiers. My girls are at a more permanent stronghold, out of the way. They’re only brought along to control me.”
The female made sense. “Why haven’t you tried to escape through the years? I mean, I understand why you didn’t a hundred years ago, but even being isolated the way you’ve been, surely you understand how life has changed for women. At least immortal ones.”
She shook her head. “I have tried to escape three times, along with some of the other enhanced females. When a mate tries to escape, her mate deals with her. Usually harshly, and she’s often sent back to a main headquarters somewhere cold.”
His gut clenched. “What about if widows try?”
She shrugged. “It depends. Sometimes they’re beaten, and sometimes they’re sent elsewhere. I’ve received both treatments.” The casual way she spoke demonstrated acceptance of a life she never should’ve known.
Anger burned through Benny’s body, singeing his ears. “Tell me anybody who’s put a hand on you, and I’ll make sure they lose it before they lose their head.”
“Our priority is my daughters, and I’m the only one who can get to them.” Her jaw firmed.
The fighting males rolled right into the river.
Haven set down her glass. “Benny? Fish them out, would you? Morons.”
Benny stood. Oh, he wasn’t fishing them out. The way he was feeling, he’d beat them both senseless. “No problem.” He jumped toward the river.
* * * *
Karma lay quietly in the guest bedroom of Benjamin’s lovely home on the river. While the cabin at the false headquarters had been charming, this house was beyond her dreams. All wood and stone, perfectly luxe and beautiful. The wide windows let in the outside light from every angle, and whoever had decorated it had kept Benjamin’s size and tastes in mind. It was masculine and comfortable with wide furniture and stunning oil paintings.
How surprising that the Seven had had a decoy headquarters just in case. She could understand why they’d taken her there, and it had fooled the Kurjans. Did the Kurjans know that fact yet? How strong was Sam Kyllwood? If his brother was anything to measure him by, Sam would be incredibly difficult to break.
Terre was a master at breaking prisoners, or so she’d heard. General Jaydon’s skill at torture was legendary among the Kurjan people, as well.
Her heart hurt for the middle Kyllwood brother.
She took a deep breath, sat up in the humungous bed, and mentally called out for Linda.
“That’s the first time you’ve ever called for me.” Linda popped up on the bed and took a seat. Her thick hair wafted around her head, and her light brown eyes seemed almost translucent, even more so than her form. With each passing month, less and less of her body could be seen, and right now, Karma could view a beautiful oil painting signed by Haven Daly right through Linda’s form. “What’s going on?”
“I’ve been calling you all day,” Karma said quietly. “Where have you been?”
Linda paused and her full lips dropped open. “You have? I didn’t hear or feel you. But I was taking a rest—we need that, you know—and then I heard you. So here I am. Where the heck are you?”
“Somewhere in Wyoming at the real Seven headquarters.” Karma smoothed her hair back into the braid she’d woven for sleep. It felt good to talk to somebody other than the Seven and their mates, who were kind but not exactly on her side. “The other headquarters was a decoy, and the Kurjans might believe me to be dead. Do you have any news on the girls?”
Linda threw up her hands. The room chilled. “No. I have only been able to see them through you. If you’re not with them, I can’t know how they’re doing.”
“All right.” Karma shivered and pulled the blankets up to her waist. “We’ve never really talked about what you can do, because I don’t care. So long as you protect the girls as much as possible.”