by Deanna Chase
Kane picked up a cold piece and ate half of it while pulling two beers from the refrigerator.
“Yuck. I love pizza, but cold pizza is just not right.”
“What? You can’t be serious. Besides, I can’t wait. Someone used up all my reserves.”
I chuckled when he leaned in to nuzzle my neck. “Stop. Go into the living room. I’ll meet you there with warm pizza in hand.”
The microwave dinged, and I switched the plates.
“You go. I’ll be right behind you.” Kane handed me the beer bottle and gave me a tiny shove.
With the pizza in one hand and a Guinness in the other, I curled my feet under me and sunk into the couch. I’d finished two pieces by the time Kane appeared. He lifted an eyebrow. “Must have had a good workout.”
“Something like that,” I said between bites.
We ate in companionable silence. When the last slice of pizza was gone, I grabbed both plates and took them to the kitchen. It didn’t take long to load the dishwasher and clean the counters, but desperate to avoid the upcoming conversation I moved on to scrubbing the sink. By the time Kane came to find me, I’d cleaned the stove top, wiped down the appliances and had moved on to sweeping the floor.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Just a little clean up.”
“A little?” His eyebrows rose as he looked around at the sparkling kitchen. “Are you cleaning out the refrigerator next?”
“Uh…no.” I put the broom back in the closet.
Kane smiled and took my hand. “Thank you, but that wasn’t necessary.”
I shrugged and let him lead me to the living room.
“All right, what is it you don’t want to talk about?” he asked after pulling me down on the sofa next to him.
I shook my head. “I can’t keep any secrets from you.” How did he do that? It must be some kind of special gift. Only, not a weird psychic or dreamwalker gift. Just a natural gift of perception.
“It’s hard to hide from the people who love you.” He wrapped his arm around me and pulled my head to his shoulder.
Love. There it was. I knew he loved me. I could feel it just as I felt the love growing in my heart for him. A lump clogged my throat and I took a shaky breath. “I’m sorry I hid my ability from you.”
“It’s all right. I understand.”
I sat up, unwrapping myself from his embrace. “It’s really not okay. I wasn’t honest with you, and considering how hard I was on you after you told me about the dreamwalking, I can’t understand why you aren’t more upset.”
“Maybe it’s because I knew about your ability. You didn’t tell me, but I felt it and knew what I was getting into. Plus, you weren’t influencing the way I felt about you.”
“But you weren’t upset when I wasn’t honest with you. Why?”
“Is it so hard for you to understand?” He tilted my head to look in my eyes. “I know what it feels like to have people run from me due to my ability. I already knew why you didn’t tell me.”
My heart squeezed. He’d known his share of rejection, just as I had, due to something neither of us could control. And what did I do right after he told me about his gift? I ran. “I’m so sorry.” I tore my gaze away and focused on our clasped hands. “I hurt you.”
“I deserved it.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “But you should know I really didn’t dreamwalk you on purpose. My subconscious took me there and was in charge in my dreams…at least at first. So everything that happened, well, I didn’t control it. It’s just what I secretly wanted.” He paused and his voice hitched. “And my emotions…those were real.”
I lifted my gaze to really study him. “You were never trying to manipulate me.” It wasn’t a question, but he answered with a shake of his head.
“I love you, Jade.” His hand tightened on mine. “I want you as my partner, my friend, my lover. But I only want you if you want me the same way. I wouldn’t try to trick you into anything, or expect you to be anything other than who and what you are. That isn’t who I am.”
“I know,” I said with intensity. “I know that isn’t who you are.”
He pulled me into his lap and held me close. “So what do you say?”
Joy spread and filled all the empty corners of my being. “I love you, too.”
Kane’s arms tightened around me, while his lips brushed mine. I leaned into him, hugging tight and sank into the kiss. When I pulled back, the softness of his eyes matched the tenderness escaping from his being.
I snuggled back into his chest and rested my head on his shoulder. “We need to talk about Pyper.”
“All right.”
“I feel guilty being happy about us when she needs help.” I buried my head deeper, as if to hide from myself.
“Don’t. I know Pyper and she’ll be thrilled for us, no matter how or when this came about.” He stroked my back.
“I know. It’s not that. It’s because I don’t know how to help her. At the calling Lailah did,” I cringed at the use of her name, “the vision of the so-called ‘goddess’ said I needed to change things. That I held the power to alter the course now set. I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what I can do, other than try to reach her emotional energy. And that isn’t working.”
Kane sat silent for so long, I finally glanced up to catch his eye. “What?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I really don’t. And as far as Lailah is concerned, I’d just as soon not have you involved in any more of her brand of magic.”
I sat up. “I’m not too keen on it either, but I feel like I have to do something.”
“Okay, we’ll try to figure it out, but not right now. Both of us need sleep. Will you stay with me while I try to dreamwalk Pyper?”
I nodded, got to my feet and held out my hand. “Come on. Let’s go.” I couldn’t help my lips from curling into a small smile.
Ten minutes later we climbed into Kane’s bed. I stared at his chest, my eyes lingering. I reached out and ran a hand the length of his torso. “I wanted to do that since the first time I woke up next to you.”
Kane caught my hand and kissed it. “If I hadn’t thought you had a concussion, I don’t think I could have kept my hands off you.”
I scooted closer and snuggled up next to him. “There wouldn’t have been much of a fight.”
He groaned. “Now you tell me.”
“I think you’ll live.” I lifted my head. “Will you take me with you in the dream?”
“I already planned on it.”
Pressing my head to his chest, I relaxed. “Thanks. I want to try to reach her mentally before we go.”
“You can do that from here?”
“Maybe. The closer I am emotionally to someone, the easier it is. And the fact we’re in her apartment helps. Plus, you’re her best friend. If we’re connected I might reach her.”
“It’s worth a try.” Kane reached over and flipped off the light.
“Okay, I’m going to read you first. I need to lock in your emotions so I can differentiate and concentrate on Pyper,” I said.
“All right.”
Because Kane and I were now connected emotionally and physically, reading him became as effortless as breathing. His energy flowed through me as if it were my own. I didn’t think I could block him now even if I tried. His pleasure warmed my skin, and I lightly trailed my fingers over his as I paused to enjoy the moment. But soon the weariness and worry for Pyper intruded.
In my mind I conjured up Pyper’s distinct energy. It wasn’t long before I entered the void I’d been experiencing at the hospital the last few days. I was close. As I had earlier, I forced my essence deeper. Instantly, pain rippled down both my arms and legs. Through the haze I barely heard Kane gasp in alarm. Instinctively, I stiffened, trying to hold as still as possible and the stabbing jabs eased to a dull ache.
“Pyper,” I whispered. “We’re here. I can feel you. Please, tell us where you are.”
Anger and despair filled
the void, masking hopelessness.
“It’s not hopeless. Kane and I are coming for you. Tell us where to look.”
Pyper, I’m here. We both are. Don’t give up. We’re coming for you. Kane’s voice rang in my head.
I jerked, momentarily startled. How did he do that? My focus waned, and I felt Pyper slipping. “No,” I said in a raised voice and concentrated. “Where are you?”
Pain pierced my hands, and I bit down on my lip to keep from crying out. Kane’s arms tightened around me with fierce protectiveness.
Roy. Kane, Roy has me. Help. Pyper’s faint voice barely registered in my mind. A white-hot bolt of terror punched me in the stomach, and the connection was lost.
Kane shot straight up as I rolled away and vomited right there on the bed.
“Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God,” I said over and over. “I’m sorry.”
Kane grabbed the quilt and carried it out of the room. In no time he was back. “Are you all right?”
Barely holding back my gag reflex, I shook my head and wobbled my way into the bathroom. When I was sure I could hold down the rest of my dinner, I reemerged and found Kane hovering by the door.
“Jade.” He rubbed my back as I padded back to the bed. “Are you okay?”
I nodded and sat with my back against the headboard. “All of that pain was Pyper’s”
“What pain?”
“Oh, you didn’t feel it?” When he shook his head, I continued. “Her hands are in awful pain, like she’s been stabbed or something. I got sick because I experienced a sucker-punch of some sort. Only it wasn’t me, it was her.”
Kane’s eyes darkened to almost black, a shade I had never seen in my vast experience of analyzing his eye color. Fury and hatred engulfed me.
“I know. I feel the same way.” I ran my hand up his arm. “Why did you gasp? What did you feel?”
“Your energy changed. It went from a light airy feel to heavy and somehow foreboding. I knew something wasn’t right.”
“That’s when I felt all the pain.” I rubbed my palm. “Who is Roy?”
“I only know one Roy. He was the previous owner of the club.” Kane paused. “He died six months ago.”
“A ghost,” I whispered.
Chapter 21
The turbulence coursing through Kane was like nothing I’d experienced before. Hatred, compounded with a fierce possessiveness, overwhelmed his other protective instincts. I imagined a wolf protecting his den while he simultaneously stalked his prey.
“Kane?”
He turned, and his emotions surged through me, zapping my remaining energy.
“I know you’re upset. You have every right to be, but I need you to calm down. Please.”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Sorry.”
I pulled him down in the covers and cuddled up close. “Just focus on me for a while, okay?”
He kissed the top of my head. “I’ll try.” The intensity of his emotions faded, but the anger didn’t disappear.
“I’m going to try to relax and sleep. I’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.”
“I’ll see you soon,” he said.
I closed my eyes and stretched my aching limbs. Kane felt good, too good in my arms, and it didn’t take long for me to drift off. Immediately Bobby appeared at the foot of the bed, shining in his bright light. All the red anger he’d displayed earlier in the night was gone, replaced by a peaceful acceptance. I dozed in his presence until finally, after what seemed like hours, Kane joined me.
Bobby came and stood next to the bed, his light washing over both of us. I looked from him to Kane and back again. Bobby nodded, turned his lips up in a sad smile and faded into the night, his light going with him.
That was weird. I stared at the spot Bobby had vanished from.
Focus, Jade. I need to take you to Pyper. Kane’s voice rang clear in my head.
My eyes found him. His determination and sense of urgency snapped me back into the moment. With our hands clasped, our bodies rose together in a transparent image of ourselves. We floated through the walls and floors, ending up next to the stage in the middle of Wicked.
The club pulsed with activity. One of the strippers crawled across the stage toward an eager front-row participant. I spotted Charlie, busy at the bar handling a line of bachelor party shots. The room was half-full with tourists, party goers and, of course, the regular at the table in the corner, sitting the same as always, with a cigarette and a bottle of beer on the table. He stared across the room at something. I followed his gaze.
A platform in the back of the club levitated above the velvet couches lining the wall. I pointed and floated off toward it. As I got nearer, someone’s anger engulfed me, muffling my senses. The emotional imprint seemed vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I spotted Kane just behind me, horror etched on his face. A twinge of desperation and panic I recognized as Kane’s pushed its way through the anger surrounding me. I sent my energy out to him, trying to link us together, but his emotions were far away and barely reachable. Disoriented, I turned back to the platform and floated up above it.
A piercing cry rang from my lips, and my own terror pushed out all other emotions.
On the platform, Pyper lay encased in a silver outlined clear box. Stripped naked, she’d been pinned down, spread eagle with nails through her palms and feet. Barbed wire wrapped around her limbs, causing her to lie still or suffer more puncture wounds. Her eyes, pleading, moved from me to Kane and back again. Her lips moved, but no sound was audible.
The foreign, angry energy mixed with my own desperation, and I raised my arms over my head, ready to strike. Using all of my force I slammed my hands down, intending to shatter the silver-lined box. I barely felt anything as my hands bounced off the structure, propelling me backwards. Reminding myself my body was back in Kane’s bed and this was just my dream self, I changed tactics. Turning in a circle, I sent my energy out searching for the unwelcome visitor still crowding my awareness.
Kane hovered above Pyper trying to communicate with her, his mouth working and hands waving. Charlie was oblivious to the action, as was everyone else in the club, except for one man; the quiet, creepy regular with the beer bottle and unlit cigarette whom I’d seen every night I’d ever been in the bar. He sat in his regular corner staring right at me, hatred ripping holes in my senses as it radiated off him.
Our eyes locked, and in that moment I knew he wasn’t alive. A ghost. This had to be Roy. How had I missed it? Digging deep, I sent all of my awareness toward him and was engulfed into blackness so dark it was as if I’d gone blind. I floated back to Kane, reining in my energy.
“There he is. It’s Roy, isn’t it?” I pointed to the ghost across the room.
Kane turned, following my direction. “Son of a bitch!” He flew across the room, fists raised in challenge. Just as Kane came to a stop in front of the man, Roy’s hatred heightened, slashing at my very essence, and then disappeared as the ghost vanished. Kane whipped around, back and forth, and then glided back to me.
I sent my awareness back out in search of him and felt a small tug. Then my energy was grabbed with such force, I felt as if it would be ripped from my being. Frantically, I tried to merge with Kane as I had earlier in the evening when Bobby had invaded my senses. But I couldn’t reach him. A thread of Pyper’s desperation reached me and I opened to it, merging with her instead.
All at once, Pyper’s pain vanished, along with her restraints. I hovered near the case and melded my energy closer to hers. Pyper rose from the case and floated next to me. Seconds ticked by, and then I faded into nothing.
I woke with slashes of pain radiating throughout my limbs. My eyes blurred with unshed tears and when I tried to move my arm, a ragged cry burst from my throat as sharp barbs pricked my flesh. The tears ran down the side of my face, and Kane’s face came into focus.
I could see his mouth forming the word “Jade” over and over again, but I could hear nothing. Worse, I could no
longer feel his energy. I was trapped in a void.
You freed her—I needed someone to take her place, a sinister voice said in my head.
“Why?” I asked in desperation.
To punish you, of course. To punish them.
I focused on the glare above me. I was now trapped in the case with my limbs wrapped tight in the barbed wire. Pain pulsed from my hands and feet, and I knew nails held them down. There wasn’t anything I could do to get free. I stared at Kane, looking as helpless as I felt, and cried out in anguish as he disappeared from my sight.
He’s left to be with her, you know.
“No!” I cried. “He’ll be back for me.”
He’s always loved her best. There will never be room for you in his life.
“Lies. You’re an evil, lying bastard.”
Roy chuckled, and his laughter rang in my mind. Call me whatever you like. You’re mine now.
“I’ll never be yours.” My voice was flat to my own ears. Where had Kane gone? I couldn’t believe he’d left me here like this.
That’s right, Jade. He left you. Really, what did you think he would do?”
“Stop it! Just stop it!” In my rational mind I knew Roy was playing off my fears, but I was powerless to stop him.
Roy continued to spew his brand of hate at me for what seemed like hours. Tired and worn down, I turned inward, pulling my guards up. Suddenly I couldn’t hear him anymore. The pain in my limbs dissipated to a dull ache. Why hadn’t I tried that before?
This isn’t real, I told myself. Of course it wasn’t. Pyper had been in a coma in the hospital with no visible marks at all. Roy had stolen just her conscious self. Now, I’d traded places with her. All the pain was an illusion in my mind.
I tried to lift my arms, but all I felt was weight holding me down. There wasn’t the sharp stabbing pain as before, but I couldn’t lift my arms or legs. Still trapped. Damn it!
With nothing else at my disposal, I decided to try merging with his emotional energy again. It was the only thing I could think of to do. After taking a few deep breaths, I let my guards down. My arms throbbed in pain from where I’d tried to lift them against the barb wire. I pressed my arms down on the platform, trying to get as far away from the prickling metal as possible.