Rose, Charlotte - Bayou Rescue [The Shifters of Alligator Bend 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read Online Free PDF Page B

It hasn’t happened often in our history, but there’ve been a few times when someone hurts the rest of us so much that the only choice is to make that person leave.”
    “So you let them die?”
    “Hardly. There’s a ritual, only to be used in extreme circumstances like that. It’s a banishment ceremony. The spiritual and emotional ties to the congregation are broken. The banished gator can leave the congregation and will still survive physically, but that person is left with a gaping emotional hole.”
    “But at least they’re not dead.”
    “Well, I’ve never experienced it, but it’s rumored that the emotional hole in your life is worse than death.”
    “So you banished Rosaline and Armand?”
    Georgina nodded, the tears falling faster now. “We had no other choice. It was awful, but we had to do it. Manuel and Andre haven’t been the same since. Their connection to their mate was severed. They can still go see her, but you can tell they’ve never stopped hurting. And Rosaline and Armand—I’m sure they know we haven’t abandoned them, but they still have that sense of disconnection. It’s part of the spell.”
    Adele put her hand on Georgina’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry. How awful for all of you.”
    “I just hope they understand why we did it. And that they haven’t given up hope that we’re going to free them.”
    “Why haven’t they gotten them out yet?”
    “What on earth could they do? They tried to see if they could buy them, but apparently, that’s illegal. Security is tight, and we’ve yet to figure out how to get them past the alarm system and the guards. Manuel and Andre visit them in the Aquarium. But it’s not the same, of course. They can’t even communicate right now.”
    “But there’s a rescue plan in the works, right?”
    Georgina sighed. “Yeah, and it absolutely has to work. Because while our congregation wasn’t allowed to buy Rosaline, apparently some people have more clout. A certain businessman named Ferdinand Villemont is a multibillionaire, and apparently he’s building himself a private zoo full of exotic animals. He’s offering the Aquarium sixteen million dollars for all eight albino gators.”
    “And they’re going to let him do that?”
    “It’s still technically illegal, but he’s petitioning the state to grant him an exception.”
    “It won’t work.”
    Georgina gave a harsh laugh. “A man with that much money will get his way every time. So we have to find a way to rescue them. Not just Rosaline and Armand, either. We have to protect all those gators because there’s no way that Villemont has their best interests in mind. The congregation kept me home today so that I could help them work on our new strategy.”
    Adele sighed. “You know, I think I can start overlooking some of your absences. And let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you save Georgina and Armand. My head is reeling right now, but these people are your family, and I want to help them.”
    Georgina nodded. “Thanks. We really appreciate it.”
    “Anyway, I should get back to the lab. It’s getting late.”
    “Xavier and Oscar are good guys, by the way. I agree with Serafine. You shouldn’t make this decision lightly, but I think you’d make a great addition to our little congregation, if you ever wanted to join us.”
    Adele smiled. She couldn’t even begin to process the possibility, but she didn’t want to offend Georgina. “Thanks, I appreciate it. I’ll see you on Monday.” There’s no way on earth I’m becoming a gator bride .

Chapter Three

    On Friday night, Adele sat in her office, poring over journal articles that would serve as foundational texts for her newest research project. She’d spent the past week struggling to keep her mind focused on work. After everything that had happened the previous Sunday evening, she couldn’t get Oscar, Xavier, or the things she had learned out of her mind. Her attention to both her teaching and her research