Authors: Cyndi Friberg
“Close thy eyes and try to relax.”
Her eyes drifted shut. She felt heat behind her and suspected Tal knelt there, ready to grab her if she started to struggle.
He will not hurt you. They will not hurt you
. She repeated the sentences, but Vee’s hand brushed against her forehead and her hands closed into fists.
His palm pressed against her skin and every muscle in her body clenched.
She felt his presence in her mind, light and agile.
He moved like a breeze, quick, nonthreatening.
Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as she thought.
Concentrating on her breathing, she held back the insidious need to fight. Dizziness crept over her and she swayed. Warm hands closed around her shoulders. Tal supported her.
Vee moved deeper. She arched away. Tal pulled her back against his chest, his arm circling her waist.
With firm, steady pressure, Vee advanced. She shook her head, trying to dislodge his hand.
“He will not hurt you, Charlotte. Be calm.” Tal’s voice soothed her. She relaxed against him.
Vee’s fingers moved across her skin, sinking into her hair. The intensity of his presence increased.
Charlotte kept her eyes tightly shut and caught her bottom lip between her teeth. She had to let him do this. They all needed to know why Joon was after her.
“This cannot be,” Vee whispered, but he said no more.
Tingling heat built within her mind. Each place he touched grew hot and irritated. She tried to shake him off but his other hand tangled in her hair. Vee drew near and she went wild, kicking and thrashing, tossing her head.
Tal pulled Charlotte’s struggling body into his lap.
He quickly wrapped his arm over hers. She bucked and arched but Tal held her firmly. This must be done.
Vee began to chant strange, musical syllables Tal did not recognize. Vee leaned in, his forehead resting directly against Charlotte’s, his hands on either side of her face. She shuddered and moaned. Her fingernails dug grooves in Tal’s forearm. Quickly transforming his skin, he prevented her from doing further damage.
Charlotte suddenly screamed loud and shrill. Tal’s gaze flew to Vee but he could only see the top of his head. She writhed, fighting madly. Fear twisted within Tal. Was Vee pushing too hard? Could this be done without causing permanent damage to Charlotte?
Dez’s smirking face flashed within Tal’s mind, reinforcing his resolve. “Help us, Charlotte,” he whispered into her ear. “There is nothing to fear. Let him work.”
Should he try to restrain the compulsion? Tal hesitated. Would another presence within her mind compound the terror?
There was no other choice. Slowly, gradually, Tal sank into her mind.
Panic bombarded his senses. She was far beyond rational thought, crazed with the need to evict the intruders from her mind. Tal frantically scanned, searching for the source of the chaos. His pulse raced and the urgency became painful, but he couldn’t let anything distract him. He must hurry!
A second compulsion arose within her, darker and more dangerous than the first. Tal trembled as he recognized its purpose. If she couldn’t force the intruders out, it would lead her into the safety of insanity.
He gathered energy and saturated the beast with serenity. It howled and writhed. Charlotte’s body mirrored its movements. Tal tuned out physical reality and summoned all of his power to the metaphysical plane. He coated the beast with thick, cloying layers of peace, restraining it, binding it.
He could feel Vee now. Sense his urgency and his exhaustion. Tal turned from the compulsion, meaning to offer his energy to Vee, but fear swelled immediately and Charlotte cried out.
Other Mystics slipped silently into the meld. Vee accepted their offered energy and continued the intricate task of dismantling the containment.
Tal whispered encouragements into Charlotte’s ear. She trembled and whimpered like a frightened child. Her distress tormented Tal. He had promised to protect her, to keep her safe. He swore that Vee wouldn’t hurt her and each moan branded him a liar.
Ripples of energy danced across the metaphysical plane. Tal focused on Vee. Something was happening.
He heard Vee gasp and power exploded, knocking him backward. Vee twisted and energy burst with brilliant intensity, hurling Tal out of the meld.
Vee staggered back and slumped onto one of the cushions, panting loudly. “I do not know how it is possible.” He dragged in several shuddering breaths.
“I thought the gift lost with E’Lanna.”
“What gift? What did you see?”
“Shar Lott is a catalyst,” Vee said, and then collapsed.
Tal looked down at Charlotte’s pale face. She still trembled uncontrollably and her eyes had yet to open.
Catalyst? What, by the ghosts of the night moon, was a catalyst?
* * * * *
Dez dar Joon fell against the back of his chair with an audible groan, panting and disorientated.
“What is wrong with you?” Lilt dar Joon demanded.
Dez ignored the impatience in his brother’s tone and tried to focus on his face. Firelight caught in the curly strands of his burnished gold hair. His features stopped this side of pretty and the firmness of his jaw kept them from appearing effeminate. Turquoise eyes were a legacy from their father. Dez suspected he’d look very much like his brother, if he hadn’t taken control of his appearance years before.
“Have you had some sort of seizure?” Lilt asked when Dez didn’t respond to his first question. He rose and approached Dez, caution clear in his gaze.
Four years his junior, Lilt had always treated Dez with a combination of fascination and fear.
“I’ve been a damn fool,” he muttered, waving Lilt away.
A violent disturbance in the metaphysical plane had snatched him into a trance moments before. It could only mean one thing.
She
was alive.
Lilt returned to his chair but Dez could feel his gaze searching.
“What happened to you just now?” Lilt asked.
Dez rolled his shoulders, relaxing against the chair’s high back. Firestones cast warm light throughout the small chamber. Though the rest of the palace was ostentatious, Dez preferred his private quarters neat and organized.
“It seems accepting my failure was premature.
Charlotte is alive.”
“How can that be? You said—”
“I know what I said. Obviously, I was deceived.” Taking a moment to savor his velterberry wine, Lilt dared to ask, “Why didn’t you sense her presence before now?”
“I underestimated my opponent,” Dez grumbled.
“It will not happen again. If she is on Ontariese, they have taken her to the Conservatory. The Mystic shields are impenetrable even for me. But she cannot stay there forever.”
“What shall you do?”
“Bide my time, see if I can learn what they know and what they only suspect.”
“Why won’t you tell me what is so important about this woman?”
Lilt sounded petulant and Dez laughed. “Because what you know, they can learn. If she will not join us, this secret will follow Charlotte Layton to the grave.” Feeling somewhat weakened by the disruption, Dez sent Lilt away. He needed an energy transfer and not even his brother knew the true source of his power.
* * * * *
Pain dragged Charlotte back from the peaceful abyss. Her breath caught on a ragged gasp as she tried to move. Every muscle in her body ached as if it had been cramping for hours.
“Tal?” she whispered without opening her eyes.
“I am here.” His warm fingers closed around her hand.
“Did it work? Did Vee figure out what Joon wants?”
“I believe so.”
He didn’t sound very enthusiastic. Ignoring the pounding in her head, she forced her eyes to open.
She lay on a bed in a strange chamber. Tal sat beside her on a chair. Furrows creased his brow, his lips pressed into a thin line and his nostrils flared with each breath he took. Charlotte felt his fingers gently squeeze hers and her heart lurched.
“What’s the matter?”
“You need energy desperately and I’m not sure you can absorb it.” His voice sounded hushed, choked.
I’m dying. Dear God, I’m dying!
“No.” He moved to the bed beside her. “It’s a simple skill. Vee destroyed the shield within your mind so I will teach you.”
She tried to sit but her body trembled in protest. “If it’s so simple, why do you look terrified?” He didn’t respond to the question. “Try to relax.” Charlotte laughed. “If I were any more relaxed, I’d be unconscious.”
Stroking her hair away from her face, he smiled, a sad, tender smile that made Charlotte panic all over again. Despite his reassurances, Tal didn’t think she’d survive this.
“Can you visualize the metaphysical plane?”
“Yes,” she answered immediately, but this was no time for bravado. “No. I don’t know what you mean.”
“Close your eyes. It’s easier to form images if your mind is not processing physical signals.” That made sense. She closed her eyes.
“Form the image of a place, somewhere safe and familiar.”
Her cabin in Aspen immediately materialized within the void. It was her sanctuary from the world, her haven, her refuge—and thanks to Tal, it only existed within her mind.
“Stay focused, Charlotte. You can punish me later.” He was already in her mind, awaiting her on the
metaphysical plane
.
“Go to the food preparation area. Visualize the hot beverage dispenser.”
She heard the urgency in his voice and moved as quickly as she could. Again he waited for her, a large mug of coffee in his hand. He handed her the mug and motioned toward her mouth.
“Drink the beverage and accept the nourishment into your body.”
The rich aroma of coffee filled her nose and heat radiated from the mug. Nothing she ever imagined had been this realistic. She drank the coffee, but Tal’s image within her mind remained tense and agitated.
“Why isn’t it working?” she asked.
Strength seeped from Charlotte. Her muscles felt weighted; her thoughts became muddled.
“You know this isn’t how it’s done. Your mind won’t accept the representation.”
The image fluctuated, swelling in and out of focus with sickening irregularity. Her life force ebbed even more and she cried out. She was not going to die!
Throwing her arms around his neck, she sealed her mouth over his, just as he had done on the mountain.
Her image followed suit, and soon she saw their embrace as well as felt it. His lips pressed to hers, firm and warm. She opened, inviting the exchange. Hot, prickly sensations crept into her body. She opened further, surrendering to her hunger. The tingling intensified. She could see the energy flow in sparkling, skittering waves.
Tal pulled back with a ragged gasp. “Greedy little thing,” he murmured, his tone light with amusement.
Charlotte opened her eyes and laughed out loud.
“That was unbelievable. Keep your ginseng. I feel incredible.”
He laughed too then exhaled loudly.
They sat hip to hip, facing each other. “You’re an adept pupil. Vee will be pleased.”
“Vee? Where is Vee? What happened before? I only remember bits and pieces.”
Charlotte shifted, leaning her back against the smooth headboard. The chamber was not large but it felt spacious after the continual confinement of Trey’s ship.
Tal spoke a word she didn’t recognize and the room filled with light.
“What are those?” Charlotte crawled over Tal and off the bed. Transparent boxes protruded from the wall at regular intervals, several feet above Charlotte’s head. Within each box rested an egg-shaped, translucent rock or perhaps a crystal. Tal’s simple command had set the stones to glowing, providing the illumination.
“Firestones. They can provide heat as well as light when it’s needed.”
“Are they hard to control? Are they used on the entire planet or just by the Mystics? Are they—”
“Charlotte,” he said in exasperation. “Your education begins tomorrow.”
She smiled. “I’m sorry. I just feel so alive. I can hardly contain it.”
“I’m relieved.”
He sounded tired. Charlotte walked back to him, studying his face. His expression had relaxed but creases branched out from his mouth and purple shadows circled his eyes. “Are you all right?”
“We nearly lost you.”
She stood before him, her knees brushing against his as he sat on the bed. Hesitantly, she traced the stress lines in his skin. She had wanted to touch him for so long, needed him to touch her.
His hands came to rest against her hips and Charlotte fought the urge to topple him backward and climb on board.
“You’re broadcasting.” A sensual smile curved just the corners of his lips.
“What did Vee find once the shield was lowered?” She continued to follow the contours of his face with her fingertips.
“Vee will have to explain it to you because I don’t fully understand.”
He parted his legs and pulled her between them, his hands curving around to cup her bottom.
“My education begins tomorrow,” she said. “So what should we do with tonight?”
Desire ignited within Tal’s gaze at her throaty question. “The image in your mind a moment ago is agreeable to me.”
Her tongue darted out to wet her lower lip. She’d never been with anyone but Victor. And even with Victor it had been—tame. Was she betraying Victor’s memory by wanting Tal this badly? She would always love Victor, treasure the years they’d spent together, but Tal was here and now, alive and so incredibly exciting.
“Touch me,” she whispered. “Now.”
Tal transformed his hand into a pair of scissors and snipped the drawstring supporting her uniform bottom. The material obediently pooled around her ankles and she gasped.
“How did you do that?” she cried.
She was still covered to mid-thigh but Tal couldn’t resist the temptation of knowing she was naked beneath. He cupped her bottom again and groaned.
The heated softness of her flesh invited a much more intimate exploration.
Without explaining the technique, Tal sliced the sash circling her waist and snipped through her undergarments, leaving only the tunic in place. She slipped off her shoes and scooted the pile aside as he reached past her and took a goblet from the small table beside the bed. He’d intended to use the potent beverage to help calm her if she didn’t accept the energy exchange. Taking a long sip, he passed the cup to her.