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set her
free to live a decent life.
     

Chapter 4
     
    Once Silas explained in detail what he'd
seen in Asia’s brain, Dr. Passen left at a fast clip to put a team
together to re-examine the woman. Jasmine and Silas walked a few
feet down the hall. She placed her hand on his arm to stop him. “My
mom, her husband, and Renee will be here in a couple of days for
the christening.” She ignored the tensing of his arm and continued
while holding his gaze. “I know you’ve been busy, I’ve been busy.
Everybody is busy, but we will be having guests soon and you need
to spare some time for my family.”
    He frowned.
    “Some quality time, Silas. I mean it.” She
stopped him from making a comment. “My mother remarried and I
haven’t met this guy. Rose has all the background checks for my
former pastor.” She glared at him. The man had no shame requiring a
man of God to undergo the same scrutiny as one of his Alphas.
    “And your mother’s husband?”
    “Yes, she has Mark’s background information
as well. I think she even has one on Jacques.” She waited for him
to defend the need for his trusted friend to receive a clearance,
when he didn’t, she moved on before he came up with a reason to
leave.
    “Tonight, I want to go over an outline of
how the christening will flow. Since we don’t have godparents, I
was thinking we could cut out that part.”
    “God-parents?” He frowned, staring down at
her.
    Jasmine pointed a finger at him.
“Don’t.”
    “What? I’ve never heard of that term.”
    She pressed her finger into his chest. “I
mentioned it to you, three weeks ago before the depression
hit.”
    “You did not.”
    She pushed him. He did not move, instead he
wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “Silas, I
don’t like this.” Her eyelids fluttered as tingly sparks raced
through, awakening her libido.
    He inhaled deeply behind her ear and placed
a kiss in that spot. “Yes you do.”
    “No. I don’t like it when I explain things
about my culture, things that are a part of my upbringing and a
part of me, you don’t listen.” She shoved at his chest again. But
he held fast.
    “I do listen. I don’t remember the
discussion you’re referring to. But I listen to you.” He tipped up
her chin. She searched his eyes. He appeared serious.
    “Godparents are individuals chosen by the
parents to care for the children in the event of the parents’ death
or inability to care for the children,” she explained, hoping he
understood, because she would hit him over the head the next time
he asked for an explanation.
    “No.”
    “What do you mean no?”
    “To set someone up in that position is
sending the wrong message to my enemies. I cannot do that. I agree
with you, we will exclude that from the ceremony.” He placed a kiss
on her cheek. “I like this dress,” he murmured as his palm rubbed
over her butt, inching the peach colored fabric upward.
    “I bet you do,” she said, glancing around
the corridor and removing his hand. Stepping back, she gazed up at
him. “I am going to explain the half-breed thing to mom and Renee.
Since mom is a breeder it won’t be too much of a jump. Renee… she’s
not bringing her girlfriend, Mandy, who would make the leap easier,
but I think she’ll be okay. Do you need to scan them as well?”
    “Yes. When I shake their hands –”
    “Mom will probably hug you.”
    “I’ll do a quick mental scan, just to be
sure no one slipped anything into their drinks or anything like
that.”
    Although the idea bothered her, memories of
recent surprises killed her qualms. “The pastor flies in Saturday
morning around eight, does the christening at noon, and then flies
back to Washington at four that afternoon. Rose made arrangements
through your service.”
    “That’s fine.” He gazed up the hall and she
knew her few minutes were up, but at least they had covered quite a
bit of the event. After her bout with depression he had suggested
they postpone the