“I know what you’re doing. Knock it the hell off, dammit.” He lifted his gaze.
“Get me some Kleenex.”
It was sloppy on my part to forget his ability to read my energy, but it didn’t
matter. I continued to circle the abyss, searching for the slightest clue to what
happened. I was distantly aware of Wolf rustling around somewhere behind us, then a wad of white tissues appeared over my shoulder.
Kayden grabbed them, shoving all but one into my hand. Holding one
against my nose, he stared into my eyes. “Stop it right now, Cyn.”
Unable to ignore his command, I backed away from the abyss. The taunting
laughter and whispers faded as I backed off. Slowly, I uncurled my nails from his wrist as I held his glare. I wouldn’t apologize and there was no way I was apologizing. Only one person was going to save my ass now, and it clearly wasn’t him.
“What the hell?” Wolf’s quiet question drew Kayden’s attention.
“What?”
Wolf’s answer was strangely reassuring. “Someone played around in her
head.”
Kayden frowned. “You’re sure.”
“Yeah,” Wolf said, “but Ramirez wasn’t psychic.”
“There was someone else with him,” I mumbled the reminder. Someone who
could’ve been Ellery, but I didn’t think so. To mess with someone’s mind you had to be telepathic. Ellery wasn’t a telepath, was he?
“No, he’s not.”
Terror spiked my pulse when Wolf answered my unspoken question. It was
bad enough having Kayden read my emotions, but Wolf? Wolf was…he was just
like…the yawning blankness rose, a mindless fear taking over in a vicious wave.
I jerked out of Kayden’s hold and bolted for the door, the drive to escape all-encompassing. I couldn’t do this again.
Hands caught me, dragging me backward. Panicked and drowning in an
unnamed terror, I kicked and clawed, desperate to escape. Voices swirled around
me, harsh curses, mocking laughter, and evil whispers all rolled together into a
mind-shredding howl. They seeped inside my skull, leaving me no place to hide.
No way to keep them out.
My spine slammed against unforgiving warmth and steel bands caught my
wrists, yanking my arms against my chest. Something trapped my legs, forcing
me to bend forward. Left with no other option, I drove my head backward.
Another muffled curse came, and then an unrelenting pressure to the back of my knees made me drop.
“Stop, baby, please stop. You’re going to hurt yourself. You’re safe. I
promise, you’re safe.” The words penetrated my horrified haze.
Terror pulled back enough to realize I was bent double, unable to move or breathe. Gasping sobs filled the room. Me. They were coming from me. I choked
them down. Behind me Kayden’s voice continued to whisper reassurances, his presence a bulwark against the other noise in my head. As fast as it hit, the fear
receded, leaving me too tired, too drained to take advantage when he shifted his
weight and loosened his hold on my wrists. We were on the floor, me in his lap,
cradled against his chest. I buried my face against him, listening to the harsh edge of my breath. He rubbed small circles along my spine, and his lips pressed
against the top of my head.
“I need to take her to the safe house.” Kayden’s voice rumbled under my ear.
