Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

his steaming mug, the fingers of his other hand holding on to El e’s hair as if to give her an anchor while he asked questions. “Is it possible he could reach out from a great distance without knowing where El e is and choke her?†He didn’t want to think it was possible for Gratsos to communicate with her, but he already knew it was because he had done so himself over great distances. “And the fog, could he be fishing? Throwing out a psychic trap, so to speak.â€
    Ilya hitched closer and exchanged a long look with Sarah. “Interesting idea. Sending out his energy to search for her. I suppose it could be done.
    I’ve never heard of it before. I couldn’t do it. What about you, Sarah? You read al the history.â€
    Sarah chewed thoughtful y at her lower lip. “I’ve not read about it, nor could I do it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Hannah can send the wind. Why couldn’t he send fog? Or something else?â€
    El e inhaled sharply. “Like a hidden current? A rip current?†A shiver went down her spine. That was exactly what Stavros had done. She was suddenly certain of it. Oceans away, he’d stil sent the fog and the psychic trap hidden within a current. “Hannah can do al sorts of things like that.
    She can build and direct a twister. Anything to do with weather. Maybe with Stavros it’s the sea. He has a shipping empire. He owns an island. I researched him thoroughly before I went undercover and he only travels to cities near water. Every house or vil a he owns overlooks water. It was a smal thing but it came up and we actual y discussed it.â€
    Ilya drew in his breath and looked at Jackson. “That’s why the sea was giving us trouble during the rescue. We thought Hannah had lost control of the storm, but maybe she was battling Stavros without knowing it. He can hide his energy.â€
    Jackson’s hands were once again tugging at her hair, a gentle steady rhythm that calmed her pounding heart as El e looked out the window.
    Bomber backed away and turned and came to Jackson’s side, lying down, pushing his head into El e’s lap. “The fog is gone,†she said, pressing her hand into the Shepherd’s fur. It’s interesting that Bomber is very relaxed now that the fog is gone. Do you think . . . “Ouch!â€
    Jackson’s hands gripped her shoulder hard and gave her a little shake. “Keep it up, Drake. You’l find yourself over my knee. Why the hel do you have to be so fucking stubborn?â€
    There was a smal shocked silence. Sarah cleared her throat. “Are you actual y threatening to strike my sister? We don’t believe in corporal punishment in our family. My parents never struck us.â€
    â€œWel , maybe if your father had, El e wouldn’t be such a little hel ion,†Jackson said.
    El e tipped her head back. “Stop saying the ‘F’ word. And Sarah, Jackson would cut off his arm before he actual y hit me. He just likes everyone to think he’s a badass.â€
    â€œI am a badass, damn it,†Jackson said. He picked up the comb and careful y started on the next thick strand of hair. “You seem to be the only one who isn’t aware of it.â€
    El e laughed. It wasn’t a huge laugh, but she couldn’t help the smal spurt of amusement at the idea of big bad Jackson combing the tangles out of her hair.
    â€œShe’s always been a little hel ion. What’s she doing this time?†Sarah’s voice choked with emotion; the sound of El e’s laughter caused tears to wel up in her eyes.
    â€œUsing telepathy again. Her brain has to rest, to heal.â€
    El e made a face at Sarah and rol ed her eyes. Jackson leaned down and whispered into her ear. “I saw that.â€
    â€œNo, you didn’t.â€
    â€œOkay, I felt it. I saw it in your mind.â€

    Kate stirred in her chair, picked up her mug of tea and blew on it, looking at her younger sister over the rising steam. “Jackson is right on this, El e.
    You have to stop using anything to do with psychic energy until your brain heals.â€
    Kate’s voice was gentle and kind, her eyes compassionate. The tension in the room immediately dissipated as if it had never been.
    Jackson smiled at her. “Our Kate. The peacemaker. You can heal psychic burnout, right?â€
    A col ective gasp went