Page 31 of Knight of the Sword

Michael sighed. “I…inherited…special intuitive powers. Over the years, I’ve been trained to use them.”

Sophie looked at him. “Do you curse people?”

“No. That’s black magic. It comes back to haunt you.”

“Do you lure people away? Lock them in dungeons or trees or whatever like that witch did with Merlin?”

A corner of his mouth quirked up in a little smile. “Nope. And Nimue is—wasn’t—a witch. She’s a faerie.”

“A faerie. Of course.” Sophie turned her attention back to the cars speeding past. So normal. Not one of those people had issues with dragons landing on their lawns, or men wearing fire-capes, or faeries flying around. Not to mention a sexy-looking warlock… She snapped her head back suddenly to study him.

“Is this how you really look? Or is it an illusion covering up horns and a tail?”

He grinned and shook his head. “Demons have horns and tails, not warlocks.”

“And I suppose demons are running loose too?” She tried to laugh, but her voice cracked.

Michael sobered. “I can assure you they are. Adam Baylor is one. That’s why it is so important that we find Excalibur before he does. Can you imagine what a demon would do with the kind of power the Sword has?”

Sophie felt the blood drain from her face. She turned back to stare at the cars, not seeing them. All this talk of supernatural beings was too much. She was a logical person. There were logical reasons for everything. Weren’t there? She didn’t want to think about fire-breathing dragons or demons from hell, or wherever they came from. Parkland was beginning to sound really cozy.

They rode in silence the rest of the way home while she tried to get a handle on the nonsensical information that Michael had given her. She hardly noticed when he stopped the car in front of her house. Thankfully, there were no reporters lingering about.

“I have one other question,” she said.

“Sure. What?”

“Can you get inside a person’s mind? Know what they’re thinking?”

“Sometimes. It’s easier when someone is angry or highly emotional. They let their psychic shields down.”

Highly emotional. Like in sexual climax. Sophie felt her face grow hot. Did he know about the dream? Dear Lord. Then another thought hit her and she narrowed her eyes. “Can you put thoughts into someone’s head?”

Michael hesitated.

“Can you?”

“I can create an illusion. One time, I created an illusion of being a panther to save a woman from being accosted in a park. This time, Caldwell thought he saw a flaming Sword in my hand.”

“And you can make the person actually feel it? Alan thought it burnt his hand. That’s why he threw his rapier down.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, my God.” Sophie fumbled for the door handle and stumbled out of the car. “You were in my head the other night. You put the dream there! How dare you!”

“Wait. I can explain.” Michael opened his door. “I’ll walk you—”

“No. You stay right here. I don’t need any more of your illusions right now. And I thought Robert was a liar! You’re worse! You made me do—made me feel—things—I never… You controlled me.”

With a sob, she turned and ran for her front door.

Chapter Nine

“I told you Sophie called and said she was running late. Why do you keep pacing?” Morgan asked petulantly.

“We had a misunderstanding yesterday. I need to talk to her.” Michael didn’t add that he had gotten her voicemail several times last night.

Morgan gave an exasperated sigh. “That’s no surprise. The woman is as unemotional as Mr. Spock.”