Page 47 of Addicted in Blood
Bella nodded.“Not a problem.”
“Now we need something to keep Cressa busy.She’ll want to see Devon.”Simone touched Lyra’s shoulder, and she gave a start until she glanced up, her eyes out of focus.After a moment, she smiled and patted Simone’s hand.
“Ginger can keep her busy,” Lucas offered.“And she’s lost time in her training.She won’t sit for Anna’s lessons, but she won’t say no to the training room.”
“Excellent.”Simone nodded to the team.“Let’s meet again once Sergi and Cressa get home.Our one and only focus is finding who set Devon up, or at least, who murdered Boretsky.Second is keeping Cressa at home and too busy to get into trouble.”
When everyone began leaving the office, Lyra reached out to Simone.“Thank you for taking care of this.I need a small nap, and then I’d like to review the perimeter changes I’ve discussed with Lucas and Bella.I’d like your opinion before I share it with Sergi.”
Simone nodded, a bit eager to see what Lyra had put together.“That will give me time in the training room.How about a late lunch?”
“In the solarium?”
“I’ll let Cook know.”
Simone left the office, jogging up the stairs to her room to change.Lucas’s suggestion of hiding Devon at Oasis was brilliant but very risky.She was betting all her chips on Gheata being the one behind the murder.And while it felt right, proving it would be another matter.But, if he ended up being the key to clearing Devon, it was worth the favor she’d traded with Gaius.
ChapterTwenty-Four
It wasmy last day of training, and we’d been at it for an hour—assuming I had any correct sense of time.We jumped from one construct to another.Some I knew, others I didn’t.The ones I knew weren’t only of the Trelane manor, Oasis, or thankfully, the alley.One minute we were in my old apartment, the next my bedroom in Christopher’s mansion.Then we went to locations that only Colantha would be familiar with: landscapes of snow, expensive parties, sandy beaches, inner cities, and long-forgotten subway tunnels.Places that evoked horror and awe.
When the merry-go-round stopped, we sat in a small coffeehouse in San Francisco.It took me a moment to recall why it was familiar.Then it hit.I’d scored a big job and had just gotten the payout.I’d given a portion to Sorrento then took Ginger to the city for the weekend.
We’d been window-shopping and found this little out-of-the-way coffeehouse and bookstore.It even had a room in the back with boardgames.The place was busy, and though people were talking, I couldn’t hear their voices.
I stared at the cup of espresso sitting in front of me.“How did you know about this place?”
She sipped her espresso.“I didn’t.”
I’d expected that answer, but I’d been stalling for time to wrap my head around the idea that some of the constructs hadn’t been from Colantha after all, but from me.“I’m a bit confused by the whirlwind tour.”
She laughed and settled back in her chair.“I have to admit, it’s been some time since I’ve found a dreamwalker as powerful as you.”
I snorted.“Right.”
Her brow rose as she studied me.“You don’t take this seriously enough.”
I rubbed my face.“It’s hard keeping up with all of this when I don’t know what’s coming next.It’s like being left behind while the other kids boarded buses for the zoo.Maybe not knowing what’s happening back home has me distracted.”
She clucked.“Most likely a bit of each.I wasn’t prepared to battle for control, but it’s happened once or twice before.”
“Battle?”I considered what constructs I could remember.“I wasn’t consciously aware of most of those places.I assumed they were yours.But if they were mine, I expected something more recent.”
“That’s where the control comes in.The constructs were yours, and it’s quite common that past locations might burst forth, especially when moving so quickly.I took control, but each time I did, you wrestled it back.It took some time to tire your mind long enough to allow me to settle us.Otherwise, we’d still be location hopping to the point of doubling back to places that hold the highest emotions—good or bad.”
I shivered at that.Caught in a dreamwalker’s groundhog day.That was a first.“If I didn’t have complete control, how did I override your constructs?”
She reached for her medallion, and I hadn’t noticed it was of a different design, though the etchings appeared the same.It was larger than mine, made of bronze, and hung from a braided rope of similar colors.
“The medallion?”
She nodded.“It’s channeling your power to support the constructs and allowing you to take temporary control.”
I frowned.“Am I going to end up in another psychic coma?”
“What type of instructor do you think I am?”Her curt tone was enough to know I’d insulted her, but her gaze softened.“Whoever took control from you knew what they were doing, most likely understood the danger but didn’t care.My fear is that it was a dreamwalker who was either hospitalized or under some other duress.She somehow picked up the power of your psyche.She took unfair advantage, but she might have done it for her own sanity.Or perhaps she was already mad.”
My breath rushed out.I’d been afraid of putting the necklace back on.Even so, I thought the initial experience was behind me.Until now, I’d assumed someone took control because of simple animosity.It never crossed my mind it might be someone being held against their will, possibly terrorized, and simply looking for a small piece of freedom.
