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“It goes both ways,” she warned with a frown.
He looked more curious than alarmed. “You can read my mind?”
Sofie paused before giving into temptation. Instantly she was flooded with a vivid image. An explosion of colors and scents burst through her, but at the same time, it had the transparent sensation of a mirage.
“I see a large open space that’s framed by golden trellises,” she murmured. “There’s a high, domed ceiling that’s painted blue with silver stars and a large fountain in the middle of a mosaic tiled floor.”
“My Oasis.” Ryshi heaved a deep sigh. “It’s been too long.”
“Around the edge of the opening are piles of satin pillows, and low tables with…” It took a moment for her to recognize the tall copper pipes with long hoses and mouthpieces. “Hookahs.”
“My shisha parlor.”
Sofie snorted. It was the perfect setting for Ryshi. Lush. Decadent. Drenched in luxury. Then her brows abruptly snapped together as the image transformed. The room was the same, but it was no longer empty. There was a beautiful female with long brown hair and midnight eyes lying on a pile of satin pillows.
Surprise and something that was ominously close to outrage jolted through Sofie as she studied the unknown creature.
“And a companion,” she rasped.
“Oh yes,” Ryshi purred, reaching out to run his fingers down her arm. “If you insist.”
She shook off his hand. “I see a female.” Ice crawled over the floor of the cave. “Your mate?”
Ryshi’s sensual features abruptly hardened at her sharp question. It wasn’t shock that she’d managed to peer into his mind. It was fear. As if she was seeing something he didn’t want seen.
“I don’t have a mate.”
“A lover then,” she countered, only to shake her head as she caught a vision of Ryshi sitting at the low table with the female sharing a meal. His feelings toward her weren’t sexual. They were a mixture of fond exasperation and aching regret. “No. It’s your sister. What happened to her?”
“Nothing.” He turned away, staring out the opening of the cave as if trying to shut off their connection.
An impossible task.
Unfortunately.
“I’m not the only one who is bitter,” she murmured, shivering as she touched the raw, painful emotions bundled in the center of his heart.
“Maybe you should concentrate on the lightning.”
Sofie could have forced her way past his barriers, but she didn’t. It wasn’t that she was concerned about invading the male’s privacy or stirring up painful memories, she hastily assured herself. She was a ruthless vampire who didn’t give a shit about anyone or anything. She simply didn’t have the time to probe.
Yes. That was it.
She shook her head at her idiotic thoughts and watched the lightning spear toward the hillside. It had happened in that precise location twice before.
“I have the pattern,” she announced.
“You’re sure?”
“It’s not very complicated.” She crouched at the entrance of the cave, sending Ryshi a warning glance. “Stop when I say stop. Run when I say run. And stay close.”
Ryshi didn’t protest. Instead, he pointed toward a spot that was north of where they were hidden. Or at least, what felt like north to Sofie. It was impossible to know for certain surrounded by the strange illusion.
“Head toward the rock formation over there,” he said.
“Do you see something?”
“Not yet, but the lightning is driving everything toward this area.”
