Read rogue shifter 05 - caught between for Free Online Page B

kill them or do them permanent injury. Just tie them up until Liam, Jackie or I can get there."
    "What if they're threatening sweet Jacqueline or little Charlie?" He smiled slyly, thoroughly enjoying the bargaining process. Definitely a demon thing.
    Garrett frowned. "If she needs help, she'll ask for it." Isaiah shrugged and nodded. "And no training her to communicate with shades."
    Isaiah's head whipped around toward me. "This is your choice?"
    "Yes. I don't want to learn necromantic skills."
    His eyes narrowed as he looked at my mate. "I'm disappointed in you, Garrett. This is not a smart move. Those skills could be a great asset to your team."
    "Isaiah, this was my decision." The tone of my voice brought him back around. "Do you agree?"
    He twisted his mouth into a pout. "Will I have freedom when I'm not working?"
    Garrett shook his head, saying, "You can't leave our property without someone to accompany you."
    "You mean guard me. Speak honestly. I'm a prisoner, not really a guest."
    I frowned at his annoyed expression. I mean what did he expect? We couldn't let a demon roam around Crescent City or Carmel, free to do what he does best, wreak havoc. "Well, you're free to go back to your realm anytime you want." I crossed my arms as he scowled back at me.
    He hesitated for another moment, obviously thinking it over. "Does this other house have a Jacuzzi?"
    I laughed. "Yes, and a soccer field in the back yard and a tennis court on the roof and a pool and the biggest flat screen TV you ever saw."
    That information perked him right up. "Who else lives there?"
    Garrett answered. "No one just yet, but my nest and one shapeshifter, a young lion who's being trained for the team, will be moving in tomorrow."
    He gave Garrett a cagey smirk. "I'll agree to your conditions if you agree to two of mine."
    "What?" Garrett was leery.
    "You will be honest with me in our dealings." Garrett nodded. "When I train Jacqueline, we are alone. No guards, no cameras, no spies."
    "Absolutely not. That's not acceptable." Garrett wrapped his arm protectively around me, as if Isaiah might run off with me right then and there.
    "According to your rules, I cannot take her off the property. I'll be training her in methods that I cannot, by our laws, share with creatures not of our blood. That includes you and your,—" he looked at Liam with disgust, "—faeries."
    When his gaze returned to Garrett, Isaiah's expression had grown deadly serious. "I swear by my magic and my blood that I will not harm her or the child in any way for the entire duration of my stay with you. They will be in no danger when they are with me. We must have complete privacy for the entire length of each training session. If you do not agree to this, I will be leaving immediately."
    "I agree." I said it before Garrett had a chance to argue any more.
    "Jackie..." He couldn't quite hide his exasperated expression.
    Isaiah beamed like a kid on Christmas morning. "Then I agree as well. Would tomorrow after lunch be an acceptable time to begin?"
    "Yes."
    "Do I have a room, or do you prefer that I sleep in the garden?" He smiled mischievously at me, while I motioned to Jon.
    "I've made ready a room toward the back of the house, Madame. I will show you, Monsieur, if you'll follow me." Jon looked at Isaiah as if he were a bug that had crawled in from the garden.
    "After I see my room, I will take a stroll around the garden, if that is acceptable. This conversation has worn me out, and I can use some time to work out a lesson plan." He gave me an impish wink, then followed Jon toward the stairs. As they left the room, he asked, "Jon, could you have someone bring me my breakfast at 7 AM tomorrow morning? An omelet with jalapenos and sour dough toast would be perfect. And very strong coffee. And could you tell me, is there a TV in my room, because if not, maybe we could move that big one..."
    I sat down again at the table and looked at the various expressions, all anxious. "Who's going to yell