Read Tainted Energy (The Energy Series Book 1) for Free Online Page B

things down, bringing her closer, but the dimension was huge. Every
tree, every house, down to the cracks and holes in the roads could be seen when
highlighted and enlarged. The graphics didn't help find her. Only the
coordinates would. "You need to get her exact position," Tarek said.
    "Really?
That easy, is it? No plan? No strategy? Shouldn't you at least study the
dimension first?"
    "No
need. Got my suit." No point finding out what things trolled a place when
you had a contego suit that protected skin and major body organs from any
serious attack.
    "Yes,
but–"
    "Not.
Important." His eyes stayed on the hologram. "Get the location, and I'll
take care of the rest."
    The
fridge opened and ice tinkled in a glass followed by the uncorking of the
whiskey bottle. Mateusz could have all he wanted of his stash. Tarek hadn't touched
the stuff since the older man gave him his life back.
    "I
need to tell you…Cassondra's suspicious." Mateusz's words made Tarek's
spine tingle and his shoulders tense.
    Cassondra
was head of dimension research and development and as irritating as a heat
rash. She also controlled the satellites and monitored the incoming feed from
all the dimensional screens. Why the Synod appointed such an important job to
her was beyond his comprehension, especially considering who her brother was.
    Tarek
waved a hand through the hologram, marring the image for a second, and turned
to his friend. "Why?"
    "She's
been getting messages–someone's telling her a rogue is harassing Lena." He
hesitated. "Cassondra thinks it's you."
    If
Mateusz reached out and punched him in the face, he wouldn't have been any less
shocked " What? "
    "That's
not all." Mateusz took a drink, set his mug down, and wiped his mouth with
a shaky hand. "She's meeting me here, tonight."
    Tarek stepped
forward, his fists automatically curling. "What the hell for?"
    "Because
I invited her."
    Of
course there'd be a caveat. Luck didn't usually play on his side. Tarek spent
the last ten years begging Mateusz to use his authority clearance to figure out
which dimension the Synod sent Lena, only to have the guy refuse. Mateusz
showing her image on the screens after a few seconds of desperate insisting on
his part probably should have clued him in. "You better start talking."
    Mateusz
swiped drops of perspiration from his forehead before grabbing his drink off
the table and downing it with one gulp. "I don't know the damn details!
All I know is she's suspicious. I wanted her to see how you haven't left this
hut, much less traipsed across dimensional lines to hinder the development of
lesser worlds."
    Tarek
slumped on the couch, his head resting in his hands. "Shit."
    "Exactly."
Mateusz poured himself another drink. "Try to control your temper, prove
you haven't broken any laws. I don't wish to end my cycle today, and I'm sure
you feel the same."
    "It'd
definitely complicate things." Tarek scrubbed his matted hair before going
back to the map.
    An hour
passed without talking. There wasn't much more to say after Mateusz's
revelation. If a curious Exemplian was messing with Lena, Cassondra would take
care of the problem. It wouldn't just be the rogue dying. She'd get rid of Lena,
too, permanently. A complete energy annihilation. The bitch wouldn't let anyone
disturb the status quo. She took her job as overseer of dimension development
seriously.
    "Close
the book." Mateusz stalked to the window, pushing aside the thick curtain.
"She's here."
    Tarek slammed
the book shut, the map disappearing. He tripped over the chair on his way to
the shelf and shoved the book home. Mateusz could feel Cassondra's energy well
before him, but as soon as the knock came, the dull fuzz that always
accompanied a Protector's arrival entered his brain.
    Pissed.
That's what he needed to be, seeing as how it was the mask he'd worn for the
last seventeen years. Any different and she'd call in the troops. When Mateusz
walked to the door, Tarek waited in front of the fire, hands behind his