turn it in. But I have a feeling my cover’s been
blown.”
She gave him a sly grin. “That’s not the only thing that’s
been blown recently.”
Pleased his iriu could make light when she had plenty
to worry about, Romy treated her to a nice massage and regaled her with stories
about his annoying brothers.
It was enough to take her mind off her brother, at least
until Sean arrived.
* * * * *
An hour later, Romy and Tara enjoyed a luxurious lunch in
their room. Romy had purchased Tara clothing from a boutique, and now several
hundred dollars poorer, he couldn’t help the pleasure he felt from taking in
her beauty.
She flushed. “Would you stop staring? What? Do I have food
in my teeth?”
He chuckled. “I just can’t get over how beautiful you are.
The Selection only enhances your attractiveness.”
“Great. So I’m going to be attracting Otra left and right
for what, the next week?”
He shook his head. “I’m shielding most of it, taking your
essence into mine. Truth be told, most of your need has passed. What remains
now is the desire for your iriu . And to enhance your energy to protect
our child.” His eyes gleamed. He couldn’t begin to explain how much in love he
was with thoughts of their child.
She patted her belly, her gaze introspective.
Iriu? Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you or
the baby.
I can’t help worrying. We both know Trotter has Mannie.
He’ll be all right. Like you, your brother has Otra in
him.
I can’t believe I never knew. I grew up with him, for
God’s sake.
I sensed it the moment I met him. He’s not as strong in psychei as you are, but he’s part if not pure Otra.
She shook her head. “You know, Mannie does have this strange
intuition. And his dreams, sometimes he senses things. But I’ve never seen his
eyes turn silver. Well, except just once, recently. It’s weird. I was never
very strong in other gifts, but since meeting you and bonding with you, I think
my psychei has grown.”
“As has mine. A true bonding enhances partners.”
“So my healing had nothing to do with my little statue?”
“Not at all. But I’d venture to say that tiny statue is
worth a lot of currency.” Just another reason for Trotter to want Tara.
A chime at the door gave them pause. When Romy saw Sean
hovering at the doorway on the security screen, he unlocked the door and
stepped back. Sean entered, looking frustrated.
“Romy, Tara.” He nodded to both of them, walked past them,
then sat down and started eating the extra sandwich Romy had intended to
devour. The Testing and Selection wore at his energy.
“Help yourself,” Romy said wryly and closed the door, not
surprised when Sean wolfed down his sandwich.
“I can’t find the jerk anywhere,” Sean said around a
mouthful. He balled up a napkin. “He’s real good about keeping in touch. I
can’t help worrying.”
Romy had a feeling Sean and Mannie were more than just good
friends. The cop seemed more than uneasy about Mannie’s disappearance. Under
the cool front, his aura pulsed in a frenzy of worry. Tara took Sean’s hand,
easing his anxiety with her strong energy.
Romy still felt in her that need to heal, but it wasn’t so
all-consuming now that she’d mated. As if her psychei knew it had more
to do and worry about, her energies fell under her control instead of driving
her.
At the rate she’d been heading, especially living in her
neighborhood, she’d been close to pushing herself past her limits. A strong
healer, Tara nevertheless needed to regroup. The battered souls living around
her constantly drained her energy. He liked knowing he helped her psychei asmuch as she helped him control his.
“Trotter has him,” Romy said quietly.
“You’re kidding.”
“Wish I was.” He stared at Sean, wondering how much to tell
the man. A glance at Tara’s subtle nod had him wavering.
Tell him the truth, Romy. He needs to know so he can help
us. I think it’ll take more than just you and
blown.”
She gave him a sly grin. “That’s not the only thing that’s
been blown recently.”
Pleased his iriu could make light when she had plenty
to worry about, Romy treated her to a nice massage and regaled her with stories
about his annoying brothers.
It was enough to take her mind off her brother, at least
until Sean arrived.
* * * * *
An hour later, Romy and Tara enjoyed a luxurious lunch in
their room. Romy had purchased Tara clothing from a boutique, and now several
hundred dollars poorer, he couldn’t help the pleasure he felt from taking in
her beauty.
She flushed. “Would you stop staring? What? Do I have food
in my teeth?”
He chuckled. “I just can’t get over how beautiful you are.
The Selection only enhances your attractiveness.”
“Great. So I’m going to be attracting Otra left and right
for what, the next week?”
He shook his head. “I’m shielding most of it, taking your
essence into mine. Truth be told, most of your need has passed. What remains
now is the desire for your iriu . And to enhance your energy to protect
our child.” His eyes gleamed. He couldn’t begin to explain how much in love he
was with thoughts of their child.
She patted her belly, her gaze introspective.
Iriu? Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you or
the baby.
I can’t help worrying. We both know Trotter has Mannie.
He’ll be all right. Like you, your brother has Otra in
him.
I can’t believe I never knew. I grew up with him, for
God’s sake.
I sensed it the moment I met him. He’s not as strong in psychei as you are, but he’s part if not pure Otra.
She shook her head. “You know, Mannie does have this strange
intuition. And his dreams, sometimes he senses things. But I’ve never seen his
eyes turn silver. Well, except just once, recently. It’s weird. I was never
very strong in other gifts, but since meeting you and bonding with you, I think
my psychei has grown.”
“As has mine. A true bonding enhances partners.”
“So my healing had nothing to do with my little statue?”
“Not at all. But I’d venture to say that tiny statue is
worth a lot of currency.” Just another reason for Trotter to want Tara.
A chime at the door gave them pause. When Romy saw Sean
hovering at the doorway on the security screen, he unlocked the door and
stepped back. Sean entered, looking frustrated.
“Romy, Tara.” He nodded to both of them, walked past them,
then sat down and started eating the extra sandwich Romy had intended to
devour. The Testing and Selection wore at his energy.
“Help yourself,” Romy said wryly and closed the door, not
surprised when Sean wolfed down his sandwich.
“I can’t find the jerk anywhere,” Sean said around a
mouthful. He balled up a napkin. “He’s real good about keeping in touch. I
can’t help worrying.”
Romy had a feeling Sean and Mannie were more than just good
friends. The cop seemed more than uneasy about Mannie’s disappearance. Under
the cool front, his aura pulsed in a frenzy of worry. Tara took Sean’s hand,
easing his anxiety with her strong energy.
Romy still felt in her that need to heal, but it wasn’t so
all-consuming now that she’d mated. As if her psychei knew it had more
to do and worry about, her energies fell under her control instead of driving
her.
At the rate she’d been heading, especially living in her
neighborhood, she’d been close to pushing herself past her limits. A strong
healer, Tara nevertheless needed to regroup. The battered souls living around
her constantly drained her energy. He liked knowing he helped her psychei asmuch as she helped him control his.
“Trotter has him,” Romy said quietly.
“You’re kidding.”
“Wish I was.” He stared at Sean, wondering how much to tell
the man. A glance at Tara’s subtle nod had him wavering.
Tell him the truth, Romy. He needs to know so he can help
us. I think it’ll take more than just you and
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