Page 36 of Touch Of Fate
“Is she your sister?” she asks, and I crouch down, intent on getting the books quickly. I didn’t expect the woman to join me. She reaches out, touches my arm, and I jerk back. A secondpasses before Mara is next to us, grabbing the woman's arm and flinging it away. The woman stands, jumping away.
“Shit,” I mutter, but it’s too late. Her emotions have leaked into Mara. Her gaze fills with memories.
“He’s mine,” Mara hisses, her voice filled with power.
“Damn, you didn’t have to hurt me,” she sneers, holding her arm to her chest. I see a red handprint on her skin.
“Freeze,” I growl my spell. Everyone except me and Mara becomes immobilized. Unlike Mara’s spell with Jerry, I make sure they are frozen in time and aren’t aware of anything. “Mara.” I step close and cup her face. “Look at me,” I order, and she blinks. “Give everything to me.” I see the woman in bed with a man. It isn’t her boyfriend.
“Rome,” she gasps, her expression clearing.
“Good, fight off the visions,” I encourage, and she grasps my forearms. They begin to fade, getting fuzzy. The woman's name is Stacey, and she has a very active sexual life. Good for her, as long as she points her desire in a different direction.
“At least she’s not a murderer,” Mara says, glancing at Stacey.
“Are you alright?” I ask, and she looks at me.
“Yes, thanks. I lost it when I saw her touch you,” she says.
“I guess,” I smirk, absurdly pleased. “You left a mark.” I step back and study Stacey’s arm.
“That’s never happened before,” she whispers.
“I think it was the severity of your emotions.” I raise my hand, hovering over the mark. “I can’t heal it, but I can erase the color. She’ll feel it, but won’t be able to see it.” I push my spell over her skin.Erase from all seeing.“Where’s Archer?” I ask and look at Mara when she doesn’t answer. Her cheeks are flushed, and I can see her pulse pounding. She’s staring at me. “Mara.”
“Huh?” She shakes her head.
“Archer, where is he?” I smile. My bond is turned on.
“He went outside,” she says, her hand cupping her throat.
“I need him. Lock the door after you get him.” She nods shakily, turning sharply.
“I can thank you for something,” I mutter to the blank face of Stacey. I complete the spell and step back just as Archer is jogging through the store.
“Do I want to know why everyone is suspended in time?” he asks. Mara is following behind him slowly, blushing.
“The woman touched me,” I explain.
“Okay,” he says, looking over his shoulder. “Mara didn’t like that.” He studies Stacey.
“I need you to convince her that none of it happened when I unfreeze her. The others won’t know anything changed when they move again.”
“Sure.” His lips twitch. “I think I need to worry about Mara killing someone, not you.”
“Probably,” Mara says softly.
“How far back should I go?” Archer asks, taking my place.
“Convince her she just came in, saw us on the couch, and wandered back here,” I say, walking toward Mara. Her eyes widen.
“What is going on?” Lace asks, coming out of the back and looking around. “Why aren’t the customers moving?”
“Are you done with Gavin?” I ask, sliding my arm around Mara.
“Yeah. He just left.” She looks at Stacey. “Mara?”
“I’ll tell you later,” Mara says, leaning against my side. “There is a container on the counter for you. The food should still be warm.”
