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“That,” she said, “is something I’d love to see. Your father’s expression alone would be worth the chaos that would undoubtedly unfold.”
“Yes, it would.” Hell, he considered it enough of an affront that he’d sired a daughter blessed with so little in the way of magic; the shock of being tossed out of power would probably kill him.
Not that that was something I wanted, no matter how badly he’d treated Belle or me.
I picked up a still warm biscuit and munched on it contemplatively. It didn’t do a lot to calm the growing sense of trepidation, but it tasted as delicious as it smelled and certainly made my stomach happy. And that was better than no happiness at all.
The door chimed again as Marjorie returned. Either she lived close by, or she’d had something of Karen’s in the car, just in case. The older woman didn’t say anything, just sat down opposite me and held out her hand. In her palm sat a heart-shaped locket on a fine gold chain.
I brushed the crumbs from my fingertips then reached out for—but didn’t quite touch—the locket. The last time I’d tried searching for someone rather than something, that person had died.
I briefly closed my eyes and shoved the thought away. This situation was different—and if my psychometry did find Karen, Belle could call the rangers while I headed out. If Cat’s death had taught me anything, it was the fact that there were some situations neither magic nor psychic power could salvage.
Heat began to burn across my fingertips, a sure sign that the connection between the locket and Karen was strong and active. Which meant, as of this moment, the teenager was still alive.
But I wasn’t about to offer that hope to Marjorie. Not when hope could be killed as easily as a life taken.
And I certainly didn’t want to examine the reason behind that particular thought.
I took another of those deep breaths that didn’t do a whole lot to calm the butterflies. Then, before I could think about it too much more, I picked up the locket and pressed it into my palm.
For several seconds, nothing happened. Then the locket began to burn against my skin, its heat initially clean and bright, but gradually becoming darker. I shuddered, suddenly uneasy.
I’m here, Lizzie, Belle said. I’ll pull you back if need be.
I knew that, but it didn’t stop the growing tide of reluctance. But I’d said I’d do this. I couldn’t back out now.
Not allowing myself any more time to think—or fear—I closed my eyes again and reached down to that place deep inside where my second sight lay leashed and waiting.
The minute I set it free, pictures flowed, but they were fragile things, little more than a reel of bright flickers. I let them slip by unheeded, waiting until I drew closer to a more recent memory before I slowed that reel down.
And what I saw chilled me: a laptop, a chat room, an older man who made her laugh and who promised to help her escape her mother’s iron fist. A clock, chiming at midnight. Climbing through her window to meet the man with dark hair and darker eyes. Warmth and laughter and exploratory passion.
The only thing that hinted at danger in those images was the fact that Karen was meeting a much older man, and that really wasn’t surprising if she was looking for someone to replace her father’s absence in her life. But there was no hint as to where she was now, and that meant I had to go deeper into her memories if I wanted any hope of uncovering that information.
I’m here, Belle repeated,
her voice distant but filled with reassurance. I won’t let you get lost in there.
I tightened my grip on the locket, pressing it more forcefully into my skin. But instead of growing stronger, the images momentarily fled and an oddly dark force rose to resist me. I fought on, determined to get into the more recent store of memories.
Then, without warning, a connection formed and I was with Karen, seeing what she was seeing, feeling what she was feeling….
…and oh God, it felt glorious. He touched her, caressed her, made her feel, burn, in a way that Jason never had.
“Stroke me,” he whispered, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through every part of her.
Karen glanced down. His erection seemed huge and oddly pale in the light of the campfire and fear momentarily filled her. She’d never taken this final step….
He took her hand and placed it on his cock. “Be not afraid. It will never hurt you.”
Karen swallowed her fear and let her fingers play up and down his skin. He was hot, hard, and somehow very different to Jason. But then, Jason was a boy, not a man like Tomme. When he groaned, a smile tugged her lips and she became bolder. He took off the rest of her clothes and touched her, teased her, and soon she couldn’t breathe, it felt so good. And when he finally thrust inside of her, it hurt, but he kissed away her pain and began to move, and an avalanche of unfamiliar but amazing sensations flooded her body.
As his movements became faster, his lips returned to hers. He kissed her cheeks, her chin, her neck….
Lizzie, a distant voice screamed. Pull the connection.
His teeth scraped her neck, the sensation unpleasant. But before she could say anything, he kissed the sore spot and brushed his tongue across her ear. She moaned in pleasure. He chuckled softly and bit her again. This time, his teeth pierced her skin. Pain bloomed, and she tried to jerk away from him. But his left hand gripped the other side of her neck and held her motionless. She cried out, begging him to stop, but he didn’t. She struggled, hit him, doing all that she could in an effort to get out from under him, but he didn’t stop fucking her and he didn’t stop biting her, and there was warmth on her neck and she couldn’t breathe….
