Psychic Storm: Ten Dangerously Sexy Tales of Psychic Witches, Vampires, Mediums, Empaths and Seers

by Deanna Chase

  Jared stormed across the room to face down Declan. Jared had a few inches on him but Declan seemed to be the type willing to fight dirty if the need arose. “You know nothing about me or Kate. And if you think for one second I’m going to let you involve her in something that will hurt her, you’re certifiable.”

  “I would never hurt Kate. And we share something that you could never be a part of,” Declan spat out.

  Jared clenched his fist and looked ready to knock Declan into next week. No way in hell was she letting the two of them bloody up her mother’s home. In an alarmed voice, she called, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind!”

  The boys got out of each other’s faces and turned to stare at her. She was beginning to recognize their equal expressions of concern for her mental state. Declan reacted first. “Huh?

  “It’s a quote from Gandhi. I don’t know—it was the first thing that popped into my head to get you two to stop fighting. My translation is that beating each other to pulp won’t solve anything,” she explained.

  Declan looked skeptical. “You know quotes from Gandhi?”

  “Yes!” she replied haughtily.

  In actuality, there was a TV show about him on the History Channel the weekend she had lost the remote. Kate ended up watching it because she was too lazy to get off the couch and change the channel. “Anyway, just cut it out.”

  Turning to Jared, she looked at him beseechingly. “I know you’re looking out for me, but I have to go. What if we have a vision that could save Melanie’s life?”

  “I guess my opinion doesn’t matter,” Jared said flatly. His text alert sounded and he took his phone out of his pocket. With a frown, he scanned the message before looking back at her. “I have to go.”

  He shouldered his way past Declan and headed towards the door. Kate followed at his heels. She clutched his arm as he reached his car. “Jared, please don’t go.”

  “I have to get into work. Have a safe trip.” His voice was cold and detached. The electricity between them from earlier had completely fizzled out.

  Tears sprung to her eyes. She willed him to understand. “Jared, please don’t leave like this.”

  “Kate, I can’t act like you taking off to another state with that prick doesn’t bother the hell out of me,” he grumbled. His expression softened as he noticed her distressed demeanor. “I know your heart is in the right place and you want to help Melanie. But you have to think of your own safety too. Calling in an anonymous tip is a lot different than heading to the scene of a police investigation.”

  “I don’t know what to say. I see Melanie constantly—every time I close my eyes. I feel this connection to her and I feel like I owe it to her to do everything in my power to get her back home,” she said earnestly.

  He sighed and grazed his lips against hers. “There doesn’t seem to be anything I can say that will change your mind. Only promise me that you’ll be careful.”

  Kate hugged him, but opted not to notice his stiff form. She had faith that things would work out and they would recapture what had been taken away by Declan’s interruption. “I will be. I’ll give you a call when I get into Chambersburg.”

  Jared nodded and entered his BMW. With a short wave, he pulled away from the curb. Kate stood outside for several minutes before sulking back inside. She had almost forgotten Declan was still in the house. With a tense smile, he remarked, “I’m guessing I didn’t just make a new fan.”

  “You didn’t have to provoke him. That comment about us sharing something special was way out of line,” she barked at him. She used the back of her hand to wipe off a few stray tears on her cheeks.

  Declan wrapped his arm around her and gave a gentle hug. “Cheer up. Everything will work out. We’ll save the girl and you’ll get the guy.” The way his eyes bore down on her, she understood that the guy he was talking about was not Jared.

  She pushed him away. “I’m going to get changed and grab a few things. We can leave in a few minutes.”

  As she made her way upstairs, Kate felt herself drowning in regrets. She didn’t want to leave town while there was tension with Jared. Not to mention, Declan was becoming more aggressive about his claim on her. Although a part of her wanted to run back downstairs to tell Declan she wouldn’t go—she couldn’t do that to Melanie. Kate had a strong sense that this trip would lead her to discovering the truth behind Melanie’s disappearance.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “You’re turning into a psycho stalker chick.” Declan gestured to her phone which Kate had checked approximately a hundred times since they left Franklin for Chambersburg. She had sent Jared an apology text and tried his cell twice. She had received radio silence in return. The pragmatic side of her understood he probably just needed time to cool off. However, her needy side wanted him to call her back this instant and work things out.

  “It certainly sounds like he’s been working a lot.” Kate didn’t miss the forced casualness in Declan’s tone.

  She glanced over at him as the setting sun partially hid his features in shadow. “Yes, he has. With our crazy schedules, I haven’t been able to see him as much as I wanted to.”

  “Hmm…that’s interesting,” he murmured.

  “If you have a point, I suggest you get to it,” she replied.

  “Can I speak freely?”

  “I’ll allow it.”

  “Well…I’m surprised you’re not more concerned he’s not seeing someone else.” He shrugged at her shocked expression. “I’m not saying for sure that is what’s going on. But look at it from an outsider’s perspective for a minute. He’s working long hours and not answering the phone when you call. He left his girlfriend not too long ago for another girl, but they still talk as friends. You have to admit, it seems suspicious.”

  “You need to shut up or I’m getting out of this car right now,” Kate hissed.

  “Sorry to offend you. You’re my friend and I just don’t want to see you end up being played for a fool.” Declan reached across the console and took her hand. “I know I come across as a big tool at times, but that’s only because it’s hard for me to confide in anyone.”

  She felt vaguely nauseous. What he had said about Jared couldn’t be true. Could it? She knew Jared talked to Nikki from time to time. Although it irked her that Nikki called him, she didn’t want to make a big issue out of it. Jared was that nice of a guy—it seemed to make sense he would remain on good terms with his exes. Had she put blinders on and didn’t see what was right in front of her?

  Glancing down at Declan’s hand entwined in hers, she shook her fingers free. It felt dirty to hold his hand while fighting with her boyfriend. Kate couldn’t let Declan get in her head and plant fantastical notions. Her emotions were too raw from her fight with Jared and she may end up seeking solace in the wrong place.

  When she talked to Jared again, they could work everything out. Declan had made it clear from the beginning he had wanted something more. If she continued to allow him to create a wedge between her and Jared, she could lose the best thing that ever happened to her.

  Wordlessly, she studied Declan as he drove. As much as she felt turmoil over his part in the discord with Jared, it would be a lie to deny that she felt nothing for Declan. He was the only other psychic she knew and she was extremely grateful for his help with her gift. Plus, there was the fact he was easy on the eyes. Kate couldn’t pretend he wasn’t physically attractive. The bevy of women to darken his door weren’t showing up for his sparkling personality. He had a dark sensuality that was undeniably alluring. His eyes were warm as he looked at her and she blushed as if he could read her mind.

  Clearing her throat, Kate began, “Can you tell me more about the future visions?”

  The side of his mouth turned up. “What do you want to know?”

  “How many have you had? What have they been like? Did they all come true?” She relentlessly questioned him.

  “It hasn’t happened often. Maybe a dozen times,” he answered. He s
hot an infuriating cocky grin her way. “Not all of the visions have taken place yet. But I have a feeling they will soon.”

  Kate hoped he noticed her eye roll. “Moving on...” Kate trailed off. Instead of looking at Declan, she watched the trees lining the highway. “Why do you think you have them? Have you tried to change the outcome?”

  “You can’t fight destiny,” he said and gave her a meaningful look.

  “Declan,” she admonished, “what if you were given this ability to try and change the future?”

  “Look, I did have a premonition about my uncle having a heart attack,” he said tightly. “I told him to get checked out. His response was to call me a weird little jerk-off and to go get bent. He died of a massive coronary three weeks later.”

  “Wow Declan. That’s horrible. I don’t know what to say,” she said softly.

  “The truth of it is we will probably never know why we were given these abilities,” he shrugged. “People have near death experiences everyday. Why were we the ones selected to have visions? And when I see the future, am I supposed to try to fix things?” he questioned rhetorically with a shake of his head. “Or maybe it’s just a big cosmic joke and I have to let fate run its course.”

  Kate prayed that wasn’t true. It made her especially thankful she had never experienced a premonition. It terrified her to think she could see something painful happening to someone she loved and be powerless to do anything about it. With any luck, she would never develop the ability to predict the future. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. A flash of Jared saying that he loved her would be most welcomed.

  “Did you notice any constants when you had the visions?” she inquired. “Anything you were doing that could have brought them on?”

  Declan nodded. “I guess you could say that my emotions were heightened at the time. I wasn’t in the same relaxed state like when I have most of my visions. It happened twice after I…” He gave her an uncertain look before continuing. “Well, I guess I should tell you that I used to do a lot of drugs—especially after my accident. I’m clean now, but I used to try all kinds of nasty stuff. I have seen omens when I’ve been high.”

  “Then maybe they were just hallucinations,” Kate countered.

  For some reason, she was having a tough time accepting the idea that Declan could see the future and she couldn’t. It made her question her abilities and wonder at the reason she had yet to harness this power.

  “Good point,” he replied with sarcasm, “except for the fact that the visions came true.”

  “I’ve been psychic for over two years now. In all that time, I’ve only seen people’s memories of the past. It’s one of the reasons I find it hard to believe you’re not full of it.”

  Declan shrugged. “Maybe it’s just your blasé personality.”

  “If my personality sucks so much, stop hitting on me,” she retorted.

  “Touché, little Kit Kat, touché,” he laughed. “If you saw what I did in the vision, you would understand why I can’t get the thought of us together out of my head.”

  “You only want me because I’m taken.” Kate shifted in her seat and gave Declan a tight smile. “If the chase ended, you wouldn’t be interested. Besides, aren’t you seeing Trish?”

  “Nah, she was getting way too clingy. She scared off this girl Sarah I was also seeing. Trish sent her a threatening email saying she would ruin her life if Sarah didn’t stop sleeping with me,” he explained

  “Lord, you’re a walking PSA for safe sex,” she groaned.

  “Don’t worry, Kate,” he said with a cocky grin. “The moment you say the word, they’re all gone.”

  “God help me.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  They arrived in Chambersburg ahead of schedule. When they pulled into town, Declan had called Melanie’s sister to see where she wanted to meet. Delaney was with her parents and giving an interview to a newspaper reporter about her sister’s disappearance. She would let them know once the interview was over and they could come by the apartment she shared with Melanie. Deciding to kill some time, they headed to a burger place for dinner.

  Trying to save calories, she skipped the fries with her cheeseburger. However, she swiped a few off of Declan’s plate while he went to the condiments bar. She also snuck a look at her phone to see if Jared had called. Nothing yet. Before she could send him another text, Declan returned to the table. Kate slid the cell phone into her purse and took a bite of her burger.

  “You surprised me today,” Declan admitted. “I thought you would be more freaked out about the drug thing.”

  She chewed thoughtfully, hoping to bide herself some time to reply. “Well, you know, I figured I’d respect your boundaries and not badger you with questions about it,” Kate said pointedly.

  She hoped this gave Declan the message that she didn’t appreciate him always crossing the line when it came to her life. As an afterthought, she said, “Anyway, it doesn’t really matter now if you’re clean.”

  He leaned back in his chair and stared at her openly. She squirmed in her chair. “You’re a terrible liar. You must have already known about my past. Did you have the detective run a background check on me?” Declan mistook her silence for affirmation. “I wouldn’t be mad if that’s the case. I did follow you around for a week.”

  “No, I didn’t have Jared look into you.” Although she was definitely going to do that now and shuddered at the thought of what could pop up on his criminal record. “It’s sort of awkward to admit…”

  Declan didn’t let her finish. With a knowing smile, he stated, “You’ve had visions about me.”

  “Nothing like yours, I assure you,” she replied haughtily. “But I did see some things about your past that helped me understand you better.”

  “What did you see?”

  “It only happened once…” she stopped and wished she could somehow avoid this conversation. It was always awkward when she had to admit having insider knowledge due to a vision. She was never sure about how the person would react to finding out she saw something private about them. This thought reminded her of when she told Jared about her vision of his parents. It had meant so much to him and he had expressed amazement over her powers. Kate had feared he would’ve been repulsed. It was only one of the many reasons she had fallen hard for him.

  Kate turned her attention back to Declan. “The vision was a fight between you and your mother. She threw you out of the house after the accident,” she explained. His frown prompted her to ramble on. “I mean you can be a douche, but she did treat you pretty harsh. It seems like you were able to turn things around for yourself. That’s great.”

  He laughed heartily at her discomfort. “You can stop acting like a spaz—I’m not bothered that you had a vision about me. I’d be surprised if you didn’t—considering how much time we’ve spent together. Besides, I have visions about you all the time.”

  She almost spit out her food. Oh god, Kate thought silently, was this how it felt like to be on the other side? She didn’t even want to know what memories Declan had seen. She was an unconventional person, so there were plenty of humiliating memories that could pop up in his mind. Now Kate understood why people would feel strange around her when she mentioned her second sight. Everyone had something to hide. The only one who freely invited her into his head before was Jared.

  Instead of replying to Declan, she felt the urge to call her boyfriend again. She stopped when Declan placed his hand over the top of hers. “Kate,” he addressed her softly. His dark eyes were serious. “I get that you’re upset about Jared, but I have a good feeling about today. We’ll find Melanie and we’ll be celebrating later when we’re $25,000 richer.”

  Kate ignored Declan’s reference to the reward money and instead thought about Melanie’s family and how much they must be missing the girl. Temporarily, she had to stop obsessing over her fight with Jared. If he stayed in her head, she would never have a vision about Melanie. She made an oath to concentrate on Melanie alone for n
ow and deal with everything else later.

  Melanie and Delaney Pirola’s apartment was not difficult to find. It was strange, but it felt as if she were visiting an old friend. The sisters’ apartment had popped up so many times in her past visions, she had the layout memorized. The apartment featured two bedrooms, a full bathroom, eat-in kitchen and oversized living room. The sisters had been roommates for the past three years since both moved out of their parents’ house across town. The apartment was the site of so many happy times—she imagined it must be very painful for Delaney to continue to stay there without her sister.

  Delaney bared little resemblance to the happy and smiling girl from her sister’s memories. Her hollow eyes stared past the psychics as she greeted them at the door. A ghostly smile looked more like a grimace as she thanked them for making the long trek out to Chambersburg. Previously healthy blonde hair was limp against her shoulders and the normally immaculate dresser looked like she simply grabbed whatever was on top of the laundry basket. The sweatshirt was frayed at the edges and the yoga pants were old and discolored from frequent washes. Delaney worked as a bartender and had not returned to the restaurant since Melanie went missing.

  Kate’s heart sank as she took in further evidence of Delaney’s despair. Fast food containers littered the counters along with stacks of missing person flyers. Melanie’s door was firmly shut and Kate didn’t dare ask to peek inside. She picked up one of the flyers and took in Melanie’s familiar image. Delaney cleared off a spot on the couch and gestured for them to both sit.

  She addressed Kate first. “Declan has told me everything you saw. All of those memories…they really happened. My parents aren’t buying it, but I want you to know that I believe with every ounce of my being that you saw into my sister’s mind.”

  “Thank you,” Kate whispered.