“There were others with you when you were sharing my memories. I felt them, two men with us.” “There was only one man,” Miah corrected gently. “Alexander. He is a very powerful man. Under his protection there is no one who can harm you.” Shaina looked puzzled.“There was another. I am sure of it. There was one staying very quiet, lending his strength to you and to me. But the other remained passive while you were here with me. After you left, I remember him holding me, yet he wasn’t touching me at all. His arms were strong and felt very different than any other’s. He wanted nothing from me, only to comfort and help. Who is he?”“Only Alexander was with us, sweetheart. Maybe you were dreaming.”“I felt all three of you distinctly. He was very strong. There was no anger or rage, only a quiet acceptance. He examined my memories. I know he was learning about you through me, I felt it.” Shaina sighed in resignation. “You don’t believe me. You think I’m making it up.”“No, I don’t think tha
“Alexander?” Miah had thought he’d gone into the city looking for evidence of Luther. He had read the newspaper, given a quick exclamation, and was gone before she could ask. When she picked up the paper there was an article about an unidentified man found in an alley with his throat slashed. He had been found in a part of town where few decent people ever went. Miah was certain she would have recognized Alexander’s touch in Shaina’s mind. She reached for Alexander and found him at once.“You are safe?” She asked it softly, a little hesitantly, knowing from his deep concentration he was in the middle of something important. “He was here. Luther. This was his kill. He is still in the city. I do not know why he was not waiting for me as he should have been.”“Were you here with us just a moment ago? Shaina says she felt the presence of another while we were talking.” There was a moment of silence. Alexander examined Miah’s memories of the conversation she had had with the teenager.“It
“Do not worry so much, Alexander, I am more than careful. They will not find what I do not wish to leave behind.” Alexander took the opportunity to “see” through his twin’s eyes. If he could lock in on his brother’s position, he might have the opportunity to fulfill his vow. At once Luther’s soft, taunting laughter echoed in his mind and the view was distorted so that Alexander had no chance to see anything that would help him. “You do not think I would make our game so easy for you, do you? You must follow the clues I leave. That is the way it is done. You cannot cheat, Alexander.”“This is between the two of us, Luther. There may be other hunters in the city. I would keep this between us, as it should be.”“Do not worry so much for the safety of your brother. I am certain I will defeat all who come to threaten me. I am learning about this world fast and the knowledge is rather exhilarating. There is much to play with here. I like this place and do not want to hurry our battle.” Luth
“So you see, Shaina, if you want to live with me, the judge is willing to agree, but you’ll have to talk to him,” Miah coaxed gently. She was not using her voice to sway the teenager in any way. The judge moved to within a few feet of the bed. Shaina was visibly trembling. Alexander reached automatically for her mind.She was under his protection, a female child with psychic ability, a precious treasure to be guarded at all times. He did not like her agitation, the terrible distress on her face. Miah was also in her mind, bolstering her courage, soothing her, aiding her to face the male strangers invading her room. The terror of her childhood was far too fresh in her mind to be able to handle such an event alone.At once he gathered Shaina into his mental arms, pouring his strength and power into her so that she blinked in amazement. He was surrounding her mind, repeating a healing chant in the ancient language of their people, whispering teasing nonsense so that Shaina could hardly ke
“Of course Miah is the perfect guardian. You think so, too. Is that not correct, Shaina?” His voice was soft and gentle, so beautiful that it made Bert sound harsh in comparison. But it was more than that; it was the way he said Miah’s name that made Bert want to throw things. There was something very intimate and possessive in his tone. The judge turned to look at the young girl. “Is that so, Shaina? Would you like to live with Miah? It’s up to you. If you prefer to answer in private, we can clear the room, and just the two of us will hear what you have to say.” Shaina shook her head, hugging her stuffed wolf close to her.“I know what I want,” she answered softly, but very clearly. “I want to live with Miah.” The judge beamed at her as if she were a brilliant child. “Naturally. I can see you and Miah have already established a close bond. I trust we can see through the proceedings as quickly as possible?” He fixed a stern eye on first the attorney, then Bert. While Miah’s attorney n
She had no idea of her own feelings, how deep, how intense they ran within her, but he could see the truth in her eyes. It looked as if they lived in their own secret world. They seemed to communicate without words. His fingers bunched tightly at his sides, curling until his knuckles were white, and his body shook with anger and disappointment. He had courted Miah for so long and devoted himself to her, yet never once had she looked at him in such a manner. And she was more beautiful than ever, more alluring. Watching her, he realised she was sexy beyond anyone he had ever encountered.He had always thought she was beautiful, the perfect ornament to display in the social circles he intended to travel in. Bert had never thought of her in terms of hot, steamy nights and sex, yet now, looking at her, he could hardly restrain himself. Just then Alexander lifted his head and looked at him—a long, cold look that sent a shiver racing down Bert’s spine. Bert turned on his heel and walked away
She arranged for her purchases to be delivered the next evening and followed him out into the night. Shaina would have a room designed especially for her, with items chosen as much as possible from her memories of things she had seen and liked. The rest they chose for her, wanting her happiness and comfort.The pattern for her quilt and sheets was a design fashioned by Miah to aid healing and promote soothing comfort and a feeling of well-being. The room they had decided to give her was a round turret where the intricate stained glass contained a powerful spell to protect the occupant from outside harm and nightmares. Miah smiled up at Alexander as they settled onto the balcony of her home, once more taking their own shapes. “I had a wonderful night, Alexander. Thank you so much for sharing this with me. It is much more fun experiencing life with another.” “You are growing used to me, despite your intentions not to,” he ventured as he led her down the stairs to the kitchen.“We have t
“The doctors here are quite remarkable,” she said softly. “Don’t you think it is much more likely they healed the child if her cancer is in remission? I go and read to the children often, but I cannot heal them, much as I would like to. Have you seen them on the cancer ward? They are so beautiful and brave. It’s rather heartbreaking. Perhaps you should visit them. The story would have tremendous human interest, don’t you think?”She buried the subtle compulsion in her suggestion carefully. The reporter shook his head as if to clear it. “I have to get the story.” She nodded gently, her long hair moving like a silken curtain around her shoulders. “Yes, the story about the doctors here in the hospital and how remarkable they really are.” Her dark eyes stared directly into his.“You really must write about their work.” Woods caught himself as he was turning toward the cancer ward. He shook his head hard to clear out the cobwebs. For a moment he was disoriented, unable to remember exactly