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George did as I asked and then, sure enough, I found the correct ‘road.’ I explored the entire length of it with my psychic hand, taking my time, carefully checking each offshoot.
Done, I finally pulled back. I turned to the Grand High Pair and shook my head. George here wasn’t our boy.
The pair dismissed him and then called in the next potential culprit. I repeated the process with them and then each person who followed. None had lied about their abilities.
Sinking back into her chair, Sam exhaled heavily. “I thought it would be one of them. I hoped it would be, because I want this bloody over with. I don’t know who else it could be.”
“Maybe there’s someone on the island who has two gifts but hasn’t declared it,” I suggested, drinking an NST. “I doubt Antonio is the only vampire on Earth who can aid others in developing additional abilities.”
“Maybe,” said Jared. “There’s only one way we’ll know for sure who infected the animals. You’re going to need to scan every mind in The Hollow.”
“You’re talking hundreds of people,” I said, taking the seat that each of the suspects had used.
Jared nodded. “I know. I’m aware that using your gift for more than four consecutive hours can psychically tire you, so I understand you’ll need breaks and that the process of searching every mind could take a week—maybe even more. But I don’t see any other option.”
“It may not come to that,” I said. “Once they hear that I’ll be sweeping each mind, they’ll most likely panic and choose to run.”
“They might,” Sam agreed. “But they won’t get far unless they can also teleport. And even if they do, you and Sebastian will find and bring them back.”
Well yes, we would.
Claiming he needed to speak with his twin brother, Jared gave Sam a quick kiss and then left.
Looking at me, Sam tilted her head. “Well, are you glad to be home or are you itching to get away again?”
I felt my brow crease. “I wouldn’t say I ever itched to get away.”
She snorted. “Being stuck on the island and isolated from most of its population drove you nuts—and understandably so. It hits a lot of newborns hard, but you struggled with it more than most. That wasn’t a criticism. Just an observation.”
I shrugged. “I don’t like feeling hemmed in. It’s different now that I’m a true resident and not in isolation.”
“People are glad to have you home. Especially Krista,” Sam added, her eyes lit with humour.
“I don’t think she’s so glad anymore, considering I told her last night that she was knocking on the wrong door.” I’d never had any interest in the female. She was too highly strung, too high-maintenance. And I wasn’t impressed when I learned she’d spread some bullshit tale that I’d not only slept with her but laid a claim to her.
“I would have thought she’d have been more pissed at hearing the rumour that you and Maya got frisky in the gardens. Does the rumour have any substance?”
Fuck, I hadn’t known there was any such rumour. I doubted we’d been seen so it seemed more likely that someone had noticed that Maya and I were missing at the same time. Or maybe Beatrix had commented that I’d passed her as she left the gardens.
Really, it didn’t matter where the rumour came from. I had no problem with it being common knowledge, but I wasn’t going to confirm it to Sam, because she’d only start firing nosy-ass questions at me. I respected Sam a great deal, but my private business wasn’t up for discussion. So I didn’t answer. I kept my expression neutral as I stared at her, making it clear that the subject was off-bounds.
Her shoulders sagged. “You’re no fun. Come on, you can at least give me a nod or shake of the head.”
But I didn’t do that either.
“Fine, be that way. But I’m willing to bet that it did happen. I’ve seen the way you look at Maya. She’s had your undivided attention since moment one.” Sam twisted her mouth. “I wasn’t a fan of Jared when I first met him. Thought he was an arsehole, actually. And yet …”
“You wanted him,” I finished, happy to lead her away from the prior topic.
“Yeah. It made no sense to me, and I was not at all pleased about it.”
Yes, I’d heard all about the pair’s rocky start.
“I was ticked off with myself for wanting him. You can bet your arse that I felt like slapping myself a time or two. I went at him with my whip instead.” She pointed at me. “I watched you go through a similar struggle with Maya. You wanted her, but you didn’t like it. I still can’t sense if you’ve made your peace with it yet.” She leaned forward. “Which is why the biggest question on my mind is … did you only have a tumble with her last night because you don’t like that she’s with Coop?”
