Touched by Light

by Spangler, Catherine

  ADAM sat by Julia’s hospital bed. He had the adjustable bed tray set up as a temporary office—laptop, BlackBerry, police scanner set at low volume. Despite the many matters demanding his attention, his focus kept shifting to Julia.

  He looked at her, saw her breathing was deep and even and her face relaxed. She wasn’t in any pain right now, and he intended to keep it that way. He was also healing her wounds—and they’d been substantial—but very gradually. He didn’t want to raise any suspicions while they were still in the hospital, so he’d wait to do a full healing until after she was discharged.

  Every time he thought about the lion attacking her, saw the horrific image that was indelibly imprinted on his mind for all time, he felt himself aging another lifetime. No doubt her quick intervention had saved lives. No doubt there were a lot of grateful parents standing in line to thank her for protecting their children.

  But he had told her no heroics, had expected her to remain out of harm’s way. She was incredibly courageous, stubborn and hardheaded beyond belief, and utterly infuriating. He was both immensely proud of her and furious with her. Thank The One she would make a full recovery. And when she did . . . he was torn between turning her over his knee and paddling some sense into her, or kissing her senseless—or both.

  But for now, while she was injured and helpless, he would take care of her and protect her. He had hired private security to keep the press and nonmedical personnel away from her room. He was letting Sean monitor San Antonio for signs of Matt or the Belian, although he was sensing Matt quite a lot, which meant the Belian had been weakened by the two bullet wounds Adam had inflicted. Hopefully that had bought some time before the next Belian attack.

  His BlackBerry rang, and he saw it was Luke. Adam had felt it necessary to tell Luke and Marla what had happened with Julia, as there was a strong possibility they’d hear about it on the news, even though he’d managed to keep Julia anonymous—for now. Fortunately, her parents had left yesterday morning for a trip to the Smoky Mountains, so they weren’t in the loop.

  “Hello, Luke.”

  “Hello, Adam. How’s Julia?”

  “She’s doing well. Should be discharged tomorrow. Did you have to tie Marla up to keep her in Houston?”

  “I thought I might have to, but then she had some abnormal contractions, and the doctor ordered her on bed rest for a few days. I’ve reassured her that Julia is fine, just sleeping a lot, and you’re keeping her pain free. But if she doesn’t hear from Julia tomorrow, I can’t guarantee anything.”

  “I’m sure both the baby and Marla will be fine. Julia will call her tomorrow.”

  Luke was quiet a moment. “A lot of shit has gone down in San Antonio the past few days. Those shootings on the Riverwalk and at SeaWorld. Then that business at the zoo. Sounds an awful lot like Belian activity to me. It all has something to do with Matt, doesn’t it?”

  Adam rubbed the bridge of his nose. The Sentinel code demanded honesty. “Yes, it does.”

  “Oh, man, I hate to hear that. If you need any help, you could call in Damien. He’s not too far away. Or I’ll come, if you want me to.”

  “No, I don’t want either of you here right now. I can’t give you any details. I have a special situation that I need to handle.”

  “Damn. That can’t be good.”

  That was Luke Paxton—master of the understatement. Adam suspected Luke had pieced most of the puzzle pieces together. “It’s problematic,” he said, “but I hope to have everything under control in the next few days.”

  “You know I’m here if you need me. But I’m calling for another reason. I think we might have a problem with Bennett.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I’ve kept a continual tail on him, and up until now, he stayed close to his brother’s apartment. But today he took a bus to the library. Spent an hour there, then caught another bus. Davis was tailing him, and is following the bus right now. He just called and told me the bus is headed for the University of Houston.”

  That could only mean one thing. “Julia must be named in the university staff listing.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. And the son of a bitch has found her. What do you want me to do?”

  “Just have Davis stay on Bennett. Its obvious Bennett knows where Julia works, so the damage is already done. I’ll call Tami Lang in the math department and warn her about Bennett. I’m sure she’d refuse to give him any information on Julia, but I’ll also advise her to call security when he shows up. I’ll ask her to call the physics department and warn them as well.”

  “I don’t like this,” Luke growled. “Bennett might come after Marla next.”

  “It’s very possible. But he’ll have to get past you first.”

  “Yeah, like that’s going to happen.”

  “I have full confidence in your ability to protect your wife. For now, continue to keep track of Bennett. When things are cleared up here, I’ll be back in Houston and we’ll come up with a permanent solution.” Although that was going to be tricky. Adam wasn’t allowed to dispense souls to Saturn just because they were vicious, lowlife scum. He only had jurisdiction over Belians. But he would find some way to deal with Bennett.

  He ended the call with Luke, retrieved the university math department number from his BlackBerry directory, and called Tami. He kept it brief, told Tami that Bennett was a disgruntled graduate student who had been annoying Julia, and advised her to call security, and also forewarn the physics office.

  “The funeral was very tasteful,” he replied when Tami asked about that. “No, I don’t think Julia was very close to her aunt. Dr. Curtis? Let me see . . . I think Julia has an appointment with her tomorrow.” One that would have to be rescheduled. “Why don’t you give me that phone number again, in case Julia misplaced it?”

  He took the number and told Tami good-bye. Then he closed his eyes and sat there, simply letting all the bits and pieces and various details drift through his thoughts. He found that situations often clarified and settled if he did that—in effect turning them over to a higher consciousness. Next to trance-state communications with the High Sanctioned, it was the most effective way to process information.

  “Adam?”

  The voice was hoarse and barely audible. He snapped to attention and saw Julia’s eyes were open and watching him. For the first time in twenty-four hours, they were clear and aware. She was returning to the conscious world—and back to him. The darkness that had been swirling in his thoughts dissipated like smoke into air.

  He had the oddest sensation of being touched by light.

  SEVENTEEN

  WHO’D have thought a hotel suite would ever have looked so wonderful? Or that she would feel so good two days after being mauled chest to abdomen by a lion? Fortunately, the lion had been several feet back when it clawed her, and the wounds had been fairly shallow. But she was still stitched and stapled down the front of her body, although thanks to Adam, she was pain free and almost healed. Ah, the miracles of modern Sentinels. Too bad she couldn’t share that pun with the scientific community.

  She sank onto the sofa and patted it fondly. “How do you feel?” Adam asked, sitting next to her. “Any pain or discomfort?”

  “No, none at all.” She rolled her shoulders and arched her back to stretch her chest. “It’s amazing. You’re a good healer.”

  “Fortunately for you.” His expression hardened and she could guess what was coming next.

  She held up a hand. “Please don’t start with the lectures. Have some mercy.”

  His dark eyes glittered dangerously. “You don’t know how lenient I’ve been with you. If anyone else had so blatantly disobeyed my orders, they’d have found their rebellious soul on Mars, learning how to resist impulsive urges and let go of stubbornness.”

  “Mars, huh? Sounds like quite an experience.” She studied his face, taking in the sharp angles and the beard stubble, those midnight eyes, and that sensuous mouth. Sometime during the past two days, he
’d lost his stitches, and didn’t have a scar. All signs of his Saturday injuries were gone. He was stunning. But he was so much more than a gorgeous male.

  Emotion swelled inside her. He’d been with her the entire time at the hospital, her anchor in a physical and emotional storm. He’d kept her calm and comfortable, had explained and reassured, dealt with the doctors, nurses, and all the mind-boggling details involved in a serious injury and subsequent hospitalization. Somehow, her emotional barrier had slipped these past two days. Of course, nearly dying again tended to make a girl reevaluate things, to tap into the well of brutal honesty.

  She felt so much for this man, no matter how hard she’d resisted her feelings. She knew nothing could come of it. Lowly mortals and gods didn’t mix well, if mythology was any indication. Adam had a higher calling, and was responsible for hundreds—maybe thousands—of souls, if you counted the innocents he protected. She was a very plain, lowly professor whose greatest joy was teaching. They were oil and water. But that didn’t stop her feelings.

  She forced her thoughts away from that dangerous direction, changed the subject. “What’s the latest on the Belian search? Since you’ve been with me for two days, I’m assuming there hasn’t been another incident.”

  “Nothing on the radar. Matt has been in and out, and I can only assume the gunshot wounds weakened the Belian, and slowed it down. Sean and Miriam have been on the search.”

  She shifted toward him, cocked her head. “You’re giving Sean free reign on this?”

  “I had to. I wasn’t going to leave you alone in the hospital, and Sean has held up well. He and Miriam have been checking hotels and rentals, showing Matt’s picture around. She’s also been working with the cards and the pendulum. Nothing’s clicked yet.”

  “Damn it.” Julia clenched her hands in her lap. She felt sick inside, assaulted by a jumble of emotions that went beyond her complicated feelings for Adam. Bad enough that events in her life had cost her so much, and had hurt her family and friends as well. Bad enough that her demons were alive and well and kicking, and William Bennett was a free man. The fact that she was leaching resources that should be used to help other potential victims made it that much worse.

  Waking up in the hospital again had been a resurrected nightmare. Adam’s presence had been the only thing to make it bearable, but that didn’t assuage her guilt. “I hate it that my injuries pulled you off the hunt,” she said. “My needs should never have superseded those of the innocents in the path of this Belian.”

  “You are just as important to me as anyone else.”

  She didn’t agree, but that didn’t discount her gratitude. “I’m not sorry you were there with me, and I thank you for that. I was terrified when I woke up and realized where I was. It was too much like . . . before. I might have lost it if you hadn’t been there.”

  “I’m glad I could keep you from going wild and whacking people with your cane.”

  “Very funny. And you telling the doctors and staff that you were my fiancé was hilarious. Not.”

  He didn’t look the least bit repentant. “It was expedient. And I find it has a certain appeal.”

  “Get real, Adam.”

  “I am deadly serious.”

  O-kaay. Time to move away from the personal discussion . Some distance from the man himself might be a good idea. She shifted forward, again marveling at the lack of pain. “I’m going to bathe. Those nice little moist towelettes at the hospital just aren’t as good as the real thing.”

  He stood and helped her up. “Make it a shower for now. You can soak after I get the bandages off and the staples out.”

  Whoa. “I’m supposed to go to the doctor next week for that.”

  “That’s not a good idea, especially since you’ll be completely healed in one more session. Plus your scars will disappear. There’s no good way to explain that.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Masters, but I’ll take it from here. There’s a great product on the market called Scargo for those pesky scars.” She got her cane and started for her bedroom.

  “Why not let me take care of your injuries, since we both know I can do more than conventional doctors. And why the false modesty? I’ve seen you nude, Julia, more than once.”

  She thought of him securing the back of that stupid hospital gown as he had helped her hobble to the bathroom. Of the doctor’s utter lack of concern for her modesty when he’d pulled her gown up to look at her staples and then had the nurse rebandage them.

  Of course, Adam, being her “fiancé,” had remained in the room the entire time. She’d been loopy on Demerol (he had suggested she use some to avoid suspicion) and lacked the wits to protest. And wasn’t that great stuff for the memory book.

  She glared at him. “Thank you so much for the reminder. That’s another letter grade off your paper.”

  He shrugged, a hint of a smile lurking around his mouth. “I’ve been doomed to a failing grade since the beginning. You always did like Luke and Damien better.”

  When had the man developed this startling sense of humor? He’d been such an arrogant hard-ass when she first met him. In a way, she missed those “good old days.” It had been a lot easier to dislike him when he’d been demanding and abrasive. It had certainly been easier to maintain an emotional distance, despite the electrifying chemistry that had been present from the beginning.

  She escaped to her bedroom, then indulged herself with a long shower. With the detachable showerhead, she was able to wash her body without soaking the expanse of bandages covering her from just above her breasts to several inches below her belly button. She stepped out of the shower feeling human again.

  Dried off and enfolded in a soft hotel robe, she was combing her damp hair when she heard her cell phone ring. It sounded muffled and distant, and she looked around for her purse. She knew Miriam and Sean had brought her things back to the hotel after the mauling, so it was here somewhere.

  She went to the bedroom door and opened it. Adam held her purse and was retrieving her phone. He handed it to her. “Thanks.” She flipped it open, didn’t recognize the number. “Hello.”

  “Julia? Is this Dr. Julia Reynolds?” asked an unfamiliar male voice.

  “Yes. Who is this?”

  “You know who it is.”

  Great. She was horrible at recognizing voices over the phone. Why couldn’t people just introduce themselves up front and save everyone embarrassment? “I’m sorry, but I don’t know. Who are you?”

  “Ah, Julia, I’m so disappointed you don’t recognize me. After all we’ve been through. I haven’t heard your voice in over twelve years, but I remember every little detail about you.”

  Everything inside her froze. “Bennett.”

  “See, you do recognize me. Although you used to call me William. I really am disappointed.”

  Shock set in, numbing her mind. She saw Adam reach for the phone, but turned away and raised her hand to hold him off. “What do you want?”

  “You should never have crossed me, Julia. You cheated on me, then you betrayed me. Did you really think you’d get away with it?”

  She couldn’t think. This couldn’t be real. “How did you get this number?”

  “One of your students gave it to me. Apparently you gave it to him when he needed help, so he figured it was pretty much public record. By the way, I think he has a crush on you. He doesn’t realize you’re a whore.”

  Oh, God. Her heart pummeled her chest. She couldn’t breathe. “You’re not supposed to contact me in any way.” She heard the fear in her voice, knew he heard it, too.

  “I was impressed to learn that you have two doctorates now; that you teach at UH. I went by to visit you, but you weren’t there. They said you’d gone out of town. Running from me, Julia? It won’t do any good.”

  “I’m reporting this. I’m contacting the police. You stay away from me.”

  “No way in hell, bitch.” His voice changed, pitching up and vibrating with the rage just under the surface. “I don’t kno
w where you are, but you’ll have to come back sooner or later, and then you’ll pay. I promise you. You will pay. I can’t wait to see you again—and very soon.”

  Then he was gone. Stunned, she lowered the phone. Adam wrenched it from her numb fingers, put it to his ear. Obviously realizing the connection had been broken, he looked at Julia, his eyes burning. “Sit down, before you fall.” He took her arm and led her to the couch, easing her down. “Give me a minute.”

  He took her phone and strode to the dining table, where his laptop was set up. She watched him as he made a call on his BlackBerry. She felt detached and surreal, too shocked to react.

  “Luke, Adam here. Julia just got a phone call from Bennett. The bastard tracked down one of her students at the university, got her cell phone number from him . . . Yeah, that’s not a surprise, given what happened yesterday. We could report this to the police, but Bennett will only deny he called Julia, so we need more before we do that. I want you to check with the tail and find out exactly where Bennett is right now. And trace this number.”

  He pressed a pad on Julia’s phone and rattled off the last incoming phone number. “That’s where Bennett called from. It looks like he called several times before this, but Julia’s phone was at the hotel instead of the hospital. Yes. Get back to me when you know something. And keep that scum in your sights.”

  He tossed his phone on the table, came back to her. She started shaking then, an uncontrollable shivering that swept through her body like a trapped scream. The memories rushed back. . . .

  Bennett turned from Marla’s battered, prone body. Insanity and cruelty glittered in his eyes as he stepped toward Julia. “I told you that you belong to me, Julia. I told you not to see anyone else. That you would be sorry if you did. But you didn’t listen. I saw you with those other men, saw you acting like a whore. Now I have to punish you. . . .”

  “No.” She rocked herself, battling the terror that filled her. “I can’t go through that again.”

  “You won’t.” Adam pulled her into his arms. “He won’t get near you, Julia. I told you that you wouldn’t have to face him alone and I meant it.”