Page 50 of Rogue Elves of Ardani

“Like a drug,” he said. “Like a sedative.” It was clear by his tone that he didn’t care for that idea at all.

“It wouldn’t be like that. It wouldn’t make you lose control over yourself. It would only make you feel better.”

There was another pause. She thought he would decline again, but then he said grimly, “If I were to let you do it this once, that doesn’t mean—”

“It’s just this once,” Crow said. “I understand.”

“And you won’t go digging through my thoughts.”

“No.”

“If I change my mind, will you stop?”

“Yes.”

He hesitated. “How can I know you’ll do as you say?”

She could tell that he already knew the answer—he’d resigned himself to it. “You don’t. That’s the way it always is with Ashara. You just have to trust me.”

Unsurprisingly, he didn’t look comforted.

“May I, then?” she asked.

He looked blankly upward and seemed to be gathering his courage. Then he nodded once, already looking regretful.

“Just try to relax,” she said, reaching for his hand.

“What else do you think I’m doing?” he muttered.

She rested her hand over his, and as their skin touched, so did their minds.

She did nothing at first, not wanting to startle him by immediately prodding around in his head. She quietly watched his mind from a distance, feeling the unease from what was happening now, and the lingering terror and dread that had been happening a few minutes ago.

Well? Are you here?he thought quietly, but with enough intention for her to hear clearly.

Yes,she said back.

He stiffened in surprise. He frowned up at her as fear and hatred spiked in his mind. She couldn’t help the resentment that was stirring in her own mind. It was always those feelings, when she read someone who knew what she was. Fear, and hate, even when she was trying to help.

I’ve seen into a lot of people’s minds, you know,she thought to him.There’s really no point in feeling self-conscious. It’s as normal to me as looking at someone’s face.

Just get on with it.

It took her some time to manifest the feeling of calm in her own mind. These days, she wasn’t feeling calm very often.

She focused on that feeling, nurturing and growing it in her mind. Then, gently, she pushed it toward him. Immediately she felt his mind relax. And then he went tense again as he realized what had just happened. She felt his guard go up again.

She paused, wondering whether she should stop, but he waited for her to try again.

She pushed again, letting tranquility wash over him. It seeped into his thoughts, quieting his fear and unhappiness. She watched, pleased, as his entire body relaxed. He allowed her in, relinquished control to her, and was rewarded when all the tension left his mind.

For the first time, she didn’t feel fear in him.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

She felt the spark of thoughts forming in response to the question. He felt much less angered by her presence than he normally did. She heard the words in his mind a half second before he spoke them.

“You lied,” he said softly, dreamily. “It is like a drug.”

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