Psy & Changelings 06 - Branded by Fire

was going to need more training than anyone in either pack could provide. No one knew, however, just who might be able to train a cardinal with her destructive abilities. “She’s safe around the pack,” Sascha said. “Judd and Walker have an eye on her through the LaurenNet, and she knows to contact me for telepathic assistance the instant something happens.”
    “Can you calm her down?”
    “Yes, for a while. We decided that if she gets really bad, Judd will hit her with a telepathic blow that’ll cause unconsciousness. Not what I would’ve chosen, but it gives her the confidence to move about without worry.”
    “Which means we have the aerie to ourselves.” He grinned. “Kit said she could crash at his and Rina’s tonight since it’s closer, but I want you to check she’s comfortable doing that, with it being her first night.”
    “Hold on.” Her telepathy was enough for a quick conversation with Sienna, given the girl’s much longer reach. Sienna could “hear” the barest whisper.
    First, a polite mental knock. When Sienna responded, she asked, Are you still fine with staying over at Rina and Kit’s?
    Yes. Kit said I can have his room and he’ll take the couch.
    Be careful. His room’s probably a pit.
    No, Rina told me he’s soldier-neat. A pause. I’m okay, Sascha. I’ll ’path you if anything happens?
    Catching the rising intonation, Sascha said, Of course. Now go enjoy yourself.
    Dropping from the link, she pressed a kiss to Lucas’s shoulder. “She’s coping. But I can already feel her itching to return to the den.”
    “I don’t think that’s anything either of us can change.” Worry laced his tone. “Hawke called to check that she was settling in—I talked him into letting her stay with us indefinitely, with regular visits up to see Toby and the others.”
    It was more than Sascha had ever expected. “How?”
    “I told him the truth—she’s better down here.” He blew out a breath. “Keep an eye on her, kitten. That kid’s got a hard road ahead of her.”
    Sascha nodded. “Do you think . . . maybe?”
    “Even the panther doesn’t know the answer to that.” Turning, he looked down at her, bright green eyes gone night-glow. “But it knows it wants to pet its mate.”
    “Well, it just so happens that I need some petting,” Sascha murmured and was about to kiss him when he went hunting-quiet, then relaxed.
    “Dorian’s here—let me see what it’s about.”
    “I hope nothing’s wrong.” She sat up, sheets clutched to her breasts.
    Kissing her on the lips, Lucas got out and pulled on a pair of jeans, which, Sascha thought, was a shame. As if he’d heard the thought—and he might have, through the mating bond—he turned to throw her a grin. “You can bite my ass in a minute.”
    She threw a pillow at him but she was laughing. Falling back onto the bed, she realized she really did want him—quite desperately. The need between her and Lucas was a wild, growing thing, but she’d been extra aroused this past week. She’d never had a problem with letting Lucas know she wanted him—it was easy when the man could tell by her scent. But she’d all but ripped off his shirt an hour ago.
    He’d loved it. She thought she was turning into a sex ma niac.
    “Sascha.” The tone of his voice had her sitting up.
    She glanced over his shoulder. “Where’s Dorian?”
    “Gone.” Walking over, he sat beside her, a package in his hand. “He took Ashaya and Keenan out to dinner, popped into HQ to pick up something, and was there when this was delivered. There’s no return address, but . . .”
    “But what?” She swallowed, scooting closer to his warmth. “Lucas?”
    “It has Nikita’s scent on it.”
    Whatever she’d expected, that wasn’t it. “It’s not—”
    “Not dangerous,” he reassured her. “You know Dorian—he ran every diagnostic test he could on it. It’s inert. A book, from the weight and size.”
    “Why would my mother send me a book?”
    He handed it to her. “Let’s find out.”
    “I—” Her fingers were trembling too much to undo the packaging.
    Lucas’s hands closed over them. “She can’t hurt you here.” Panther-green eyes looking into hers. “You’re stronger, far stronger, than she’ll ever be.”
    He knew that for the truth with everything in him. Sascha was a healer of minds, of souls. She walked undaunted into darkness, into nightmare, for no reason than to help others. It took a courage Councilor Nikita Duncan