“You can trifle with Shirl all you want, that is Starc’s problem,” Koel advised the vampire. “This one is my soul mate and she is off limits to you.”
Drake stepped back, a grin on his face. “A mate worthy of such a powerful woman. My congratulations, Koel. I sense you have more capabilities since the last time we met. Alexandra is not among you, I hope the meal our men just enjoyed is not the reason why.”
“My wife and daughter are fine, and it is none of your concern.” Tarsea stepped from the shadows to confront the cocky vampire. JoAnna had to admit, Drake was certainly charming. Only a deadly creature would be so blatantly cavalier with these three Troyk warriors. JoAnna was certainly happy he was on their side.
“Oh, you have finally made an honest woman out of the chameleon,” Drake said. “I believe that is what they call it where she was born and raised.”
“We will eventually have a ceremony,” Tarsea started to backpedal. “Our bond was forged the moment we touched. A bond my daughter will one day share with another Troyk male. I do not know how you have manipulated Benko Jarlyn, but as soon as he reneges on whatever deal you two came up with, my daughter is off limits to you.”
JoAnna was so engrossed with the discussion, she did not notice Afton approach. “Let the boys continue their pissing contest. We should talk before you leave my world. I sense there is much within you that is crying to come out.”
Afton took her hand and led JoAnna to a small sitting area, not far from where the men continued to throw barbs at each other. Just short of their destination, lovely rugs covered the stone floors of the keep. The furniture was a rich burgundy satin. JoAnna did not know if she had ever sat in such a comfortable love seat. Shirl joined them, sitting next to JoAnna.
“I am so glad you have come to my world and hope you will come often,” Afton said. “We three have incredible power, abilities that seem to grow with time. Shirl has been on her journey longer and already has the scars to prove it.” JoAnna had witnessed firsthand Shirl’s telepathic strength. It was a relief to JoAnna she was not alone in dealing with what was happening to her. “I am alone in this world and hope you will return to Nightshade regularly. My soul mate is incredibly supportive, but it is not the same as having girl friends who have experienced the same issues.”
Suddenly, JoAnna had problems swallowing. “I pulled the telepathic power from that boy and left but a husk. It was so easy. Every day I seem to get more powerful and it scares me to death.”
JoAnna was amazed by the stress released from her body with the confession. Somehow Afton knew what JoAnna needed. Perhaps she suffered from feelings that needed to be voiced as well.
Shirl put her arm around JoAnna’s shoulder. “Jo Jo, that child was a killer with no conscience. We look at him and see a boy, but inside he was a monster. There was a man who hurt Alex, I had no qualms bringing him here to allow Drake to administer justice for his unborn soul mate. We do what we have to do to survive and make the Troyk universe a place where we want to raise our children.”
“I suppose I have it easy, I just killed blood lusting vampires,” Afton shared. All three women looked at each other and laughed. Somehow their lives had turned into B-horror and science fiction movies. None of their former friends on Earth would believe any of the tales they could share of their lives in these parallel dimensions.
“It is nice to meet you, Afton,” JoAnna said. “Since your soul mate is no longer a vampire, why do you stay in this terrible place? There are so many worlds you can live in and not have these monsters baying at your door.” She had certainly seen her fair share of bad films, JoAnna used melodramatic speech from her younger years of watching them with her parents.
“Lorenz has four blood brothers. Until they have found their soul mates, we will continue to reside in this world. Helpless victims are caught in portals and brought into this universe every day. It is my duty, with my enhanced powers, to help as many as I can. I wish I could help them all, but in some instances my hands are tied.”
JoAnna did not miss Afton look in the direction of a small redheaded woman on the other side of the room. She instantly thought of Alex, they were so similar in stature. However, unlike Alex, that girl did not blend into the shadows. Too bad for her.
“We should head back before the men’s friendly jabs turn into something more physical,” Shirl said. “I promise to check on you regularly and send as many people you rescue home.”
JoAnna entered the portal Shirl opened, walking alongside her soul mate. She had indirectly taken a life. Although she shared what she had done and her concerns, JoAnna had barely touched the surface of how worried she was about her ability to control her ever growing powers.
Chapter 20
The Troyk Universe
It had been the second time she had ventured to a parallel universe, but it still amazed JoAnna she had actually visited another dimension. Although she had not brought up returning temporarily to Earth to see her father, JoAnna knew there was little involved in making the trip. The only issue was what to tell her father about where she had been. It would be difficult to tell him she planned to live the rest of her life in another realm of existence.
JoAnna exited the portal beside Koel. It troubled her they had not had sex since the first time they came together. Her friends managed to steal away to have relations with their soul mates, while Koel seemed overly concerned about her physical well-being. What kind of man was he? JoAnna knew she should be thrilled with such a considerate mate, when all she wanted to do was jump Koel and have her way with him.
“Shirl and Alex,” JoAnna communicated through their closed link channel. Although Candy was not physically there, JoAnna knew her friend would pick up what she was broadcasting. “Would you mind disappearing again with your men and leaving the house for me and Koel?”
JoAnna did not miss the smiles that crossed each of their faces. They did not have to telepathically share they would honor her request. There were two apartments and the safe house her friends and their soul mates could use. Zane and Leenea Childers managed to steal away when one of their children wanted the house to themselves.
“I am hungry,” Alex said. The announcement was not news to anyone. Although Alex had not joined them in the Nightshade universe, she had not left the room. Her friend had a voracious appetite and it was the perfect ploy to start the mass exodus. “Why don’t we head out for something to eat? Tolfer and Candy can join us, let’s give the poor guy a break from always cooking.”
“If it is all right with everyone, Koel and I will stay behind,” JoAnna chimed in. “It has been a whirlwind kind of day and I would just like to get some more rest.”
Koel looked at her with concern, he swallowed her cover story. She was mentally drained, so whatever he picked up from their link, supported her claim. What he did not realize was that there was only one thing that would revive her. He appeared to barely notice his friends leaving the room and heading out for a meal.
The ever considerate soul mate of hers started to exit the room as well. “Where are you going?” JoAnna inquired. “I don’t want you to leave. Your place is beside me, giving me the strength I need to deal with everything that is happening.”
“I will only exhaust you,” Koel admitted. “My body craves yours so much, I can barely control myself being in the same room with you.” There was an edge to his voice, which reflected the fragile control Koel had been able to maintain. JoAnna knew he was at his breaking point and she was willing to let him fracture, as long as they did it together.
“For some reason you are under the misconception I need to rest, rather than work out all the frustrations this world has created. I am certainly not a sexual succubus, but I know being with you again can only revive my weakened soul.”
Koel approached her and took possession of her mouth. A sudden vision of Traves Choaks and his att
empt to suck her dry flashed within her mind. Her soul mate picked up the vision and released her lips.
“Don’t let him take this from us,” JoAnna pleaded. “I am not sure how long memories of what he tried to do will surface, but your kiss is nothing like what happened between me and the boy. His was a weapon, while your lips make love to me. We can and will move past this. Don’t back off when I have an episode.”
Koel’s eyes examined her face, while she felt his essence check the link which connected them. He slightly nodded his head and returned his luscious lips to hers. JoAnna needed to concentrate on the man who possessed her heart, not the maniac who tried to take her gift.
She raised her arms and brought her hands into his thick, dark blond hair. It was just the right length to allow her to wrap her fingers around the wisps, which stubbornly tried to curl at the ends. He had not cut his hair since she first saw him on Earth. She would have to stop him before he made the tragic error of cutting it again.
Her soul mate’s hands rummaged all over her back, shoulders, and her hips. He finally brought them to the bottom of her tunic and in unison removed the shift from her body. Rather than returning his lips to hers, he started to nuzzle her neck. He executed a combination of brushing and kissing her delicate skin with his lips. The result was magical. It felt so damn good after everything she had suffered.
Koel navigated her to the bed and made quick work of removing her leggings, as she got ahold of and removed his tunic. In her mind, she considered getting on her feet, removing his leggings, and exploring his anatomy with her own lips and tongue. However, her body wanted her soul mate inside her too much to further delay retrieving what she craved. She literally burned for him. Her body was creating its own natural aphrodisiac.
Whether it was the soul mate link or his own need, Koel entered her with one powerful thrust. JoAnna cried out with pure joy. They no longer had the specter of Jeryl Jarlyn over them. Their coming together was a natural reaction to the chemistry which existed between the two from the time they were born.
JoAnna shifted her hips and brought her knees closer to Koel’s waist. Her adjustment brought Koel in deeper. He touched her physically and mentally where no man had ventured. For an insane minute, she imagined Koel was her own James T. Kirk.
Koel continued to enter and exit her body, as they both became slick with sweat. Nature’s natural lubricant was working its magic both internally and externally. They operated as a perfectly oiled machine, no human frailties entered the picture.
Everything was almost perfect, except for the chatter from the communal pathways. How could she enjoy the pure perfection of what was happening to her with all the whining and annoying stories being shared? JoAnna had a natural barrier to protect herself against someone entering her mind. Why could she not shut herself off to the pathways that interrupted what she and Koel had together? JoAnna concentrated and turned off the noise in her head, as she would shut off a radio.
Koel stopped in the middle of his latest penetration into her eager body and looked at her in concern. “What is it, Koel?”
“The pathways have shut off in my mind,” Koel said. He was clearly alarmed by the silence within his own mind.
A grin crossed JoAnna’s face. “I wanted our time together to be free of the intrusion of others. Because of the bond between us, my turning off the conversations in my mind carried over to yours. Now, back to work, baby, we have not finished yet.”
A wicked expression lit Koel’s face, before he lowered his forehead to hers and drove into her one last time. They fractured together, as they both climaxed. The rapture she had just experienced far exceeded what had occurred the first time they were together. JoAnna imagined their love making would only become more intense as they spent time together.
“I do not want to move,” Koel whispered in her ear, “even to shower. Whatever you want, just ask it, but do not demand I move.”
JoAnna laughed. Things had been perfect between them. Rising to shower, to eat, or for whatever reason, would break the euphoria she was currently in. Obviously, Koel felt the same way. “I would have to do you serious harm if you even suggested we do anything other than hold each other.”
Everything was perfect. JoAnna had never been more physically and emotionally happy in her life. For however long she could, she wanted to hold on to what they had. Unfortunately, she figured it would not be as long as she wished.
What was the banging that interrupted his well-deserved sleep? Koel had never slept so deeply. He woke in a daze. His soul mate nestled next to him, also struggled to rejoin the world.
The door opened and Starc entered. “Why have you not been responding to us? We have been trying to contact you for twenty minutes. Shirl and I have been ordered to take JoAnna and Prime Adholm to the penal colony.”
Koel still struggled to break the hold sleep still had on him. He had to be dreaming, his cousin just said they were ordered to the prison world. JoAnna muttered something into his neck.
“What is wrong with the two of you? Get up and meet us in the common room in ten minutes.” Starc finished barking orders and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
The fog slowly left his mind, as Koel realized Starc’s presence was very real and for some reason they had been ordered to take his soul mate and her uncle to a world no one returned from. Had Jeryl Jarlyn finally lost his grasp on reality?
Koel shook JoAnna, he needed her to come back to full consciousness. She had turned off all the pathways into their minds. He had never felt so helpless in his life. Something major had occurred and Koel was ignorant about what happened.
“JoAnna, you need to wake. Restore the communal and warrior pathways to our minds. While we slept, an order was given to send you and Prime Adholm to the penal colony. We need to know what is going on.”
JoAnna shot up in bed. Her complexion had lost all color. She brought her head to her knees and placed her arms around her head. Slowly the chatter from different pathways reentered his mind. A sense of normality returned to Koel. He had never realized how accustomed he was to having so many people connected to him. For a short period, it was nice spending time literally alone with JoAnna, but he needed to rejoin his world.
Koel kissed his soul mate and rose to take a quick shower. He would meet with Starc and the others as JoAnna prepared. It would have been faster if they shared the shower, but Koel knew he would end up making love to her again and not meet the desired time frame Starc had set for their meeting.
The warrior link was focused on the logistics of the trip, not what had triggered the sentence. Koel did not want to interrupt the progress they made. He would ask his cousin all the questions which had plagued his mind since Starc entered JoAnna’s bedroom.
Koel stepped into the common room, still towel drying his wet hair. Tolfer must have cooked up some quick bites while he and JoAnna slept. He grabbed a couple and popped them into his mouth before he started questioning his cousin.
“Why have JoAnna and her uncle been sentenced to the penal world? There have been no arrests, no hearings, nothing,” Koel said.
“You got it wrong. JoAnna and Prime Adholm have been granted a visitation with Chartail in the penal world,” Starc advised his cousin. “The rescue of Candy and Tolfer showed the Prime Ruler people would be able to enter the penal colony and leave without releasing any of the prisoners. Solfa will also accompany us to get intelligence for Jeryl Jarlyn.”
Koel could feel himself pale. Benko Jarlyn was in the penal world. Although Solfa was aware Benko was alive and last living on Earth, she had never been in the position of being cross-examined by Jeryl Jarlyn about his son. All sorts of issues started to enter Koel’s mind about the trip they were about to make to reunite a father with his daughter.
“Do you think Solfa would recognized Benko?” Koel asked. “We will not be able t
o warn them about our arrival. Fortunately, it will be daylight, so we do not have to worry about Drake visiting with Benko. I imagine there will be additional Crystal Telepathic Guards who will accompany us to protect Prime Adholm. I just hope Darden hides himself, as soon as he recognizes who is coming through the portal.”
So many things could go wrong. Koel did not have time to deal with all the possibilities. If events went badly, there were various worlds Darden or Shirl could take them until forces were ready to mount an attack to bring Benko Jarlyn to power. Koel just hoped it did not come to that.
JoAnna walked into the common room and then directly into the kitchen. He imagined she planned to prepare herself some coffee. They had both woken in a fog. The latest disaster to befall them had jolted him wide awake. She quickly returned with two mugs, handed him one, and joined him on the couch.
“So, I finally get to meet my cousin Chartail.” JoAnna must have listened through the warrior channel, as she showered and dressed. “From everything I have heard about her, she sounds like an emotionally strong woman. She would have to be, considering all she has been through. At least her father has finally come through for her. When I first met him, he was shattered by what he did to his only child. I cannot imagine my adoptive parents ever deserting me like that.”
“We better head on out,” Starc announced. “Prime Adholm continually pleaded with the Prime Ruler to allow him to visit Chartail since Candy returned from that world. Now that Jarlyn has given in, The Prime is anxious to see his daughter.”
“Were there any inquiries into Traves Choaks?” JoAnna asked.
“None,” Starc answered. “Jeryl Jarlyn appears to be happy to be rid of the problem. We still do not know if he set up JoAnna or genuinely believed she would be able to break through his mind without any injury to herself.”
The Mind Control Telepath Page 17