The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

She paused, her eyes wide. “Oh! Did I say that out loud? I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me tonight. I don’t usually connect with new people so easily. Especially men ...”
    Ethan laughed. “I’m happy to be the exception.” What am I doing, laughing like an idiot? She’ll be disgusted and repelled as soon as she finds out what I am. What the hell is happening to me?
    Grace nodded towards a small couch against the wall. “Shall we be comfortable while we talk?”
    Ethan grinned. His idea of being comfortable involved a lot less clothing, but sitting was a good start. It wasn’t likely he’d be taking her home to his cardboard box. But who knew what would happen? He’d never been so attracted to a human before. He bowed. “Excellent idea. After you.”
    Keeping their gazes locked, they moved to the couch and sat close.
    “What you did tonight was extraordinary,” Ethan shared. “How can you be sure the woman’s cancer is gone? Can you sense it?”
    Grace smiled. “Gee, smart and gorgeous.” She rolled her eyes. “Sorry, my mouth seems to have a mind of its own. I’ll just go ahead and apologize in advance for anything else I might blurt out. But to answer your question, yes. I can sense it. Sort of. OK, this is going to sound weird, but it’s as if I can feel the obstructions - or misalignments - in the body or the psyche as the sound flows around and interacts with them. Then, I imagine the disruption smoothed out by the vibrations and it seems to happen.” She paused. “Now you probably think I’m a complete deviant! Not a normal person, right? You wouldn’t be the first.”
    Ethan frowned. She doesn’t think she’s normal? “I think you’re incredible. I wish I had your skills. I used to sing and play music years ago, but I never explored the healing aspects of music. Your talent fascinates me.”
    She shrugged. “I’ve just worked hard to build up my skills. I think anyone can heal with sound. It’s natural. You can do it, too.” She blinked a few times and stared at him, tilting her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember if you ever answered my question about whether or not we’ve met before. I swear I know your face. In fact, I dreamed about it.”
    This was it. He’d run out of time to avoid the inevitable. He sighed, bracing for her horrified reaction. “What did you dream?”
    She shifted her gaze to the centre of the room, ill at ease. “I dreamed I was attacked on the trail by my house. A monster with fangs pushed me down and was about to kill me, when you grabbed him and flung him aside. You stared down at me, and I thought I’d died - literally - and gone to heaven. You looked like a beautiful angel.” She laughed. “An angel wearing a Rolling Stones T-shirt.” She focused her gaze on his for a few eternal seconds, her expression serious. “That wasn’t a dream, was it?”
    “No. It wasn’t a dream,” Ethan whispered. He stroked his hand down the side of her face.
    She leaned into his touch. “What was that thing you rescued me from? How were you able to control him?” She lifted a finger and slid it across his lower lip. “You told me you aren’t an angel, but all I sense from you is good. What are you?”
    He didn’t want to answer. He knew his pleasant fantasy would end the moment he said the word. Her radar must be jammed, because he was far from good. He’d never killed anyone who didn’t deserve it, but what could possibly be good about a walking corpse? He hesitated so long she cradled his face in her hands and began chanting. She closed her eyes and turned her head slightly from side to side, making glorious sounds for a moment. Suddenly her eyes flew open and she dropped her hands.
    “There’s no life force present. You aren’t really here. I knew it was a dream . . .”
    “This is no dream.” Ethan leaned in, pressed his lips to hers and pulled her against him. Eagerly responding, she opened her mouth for him and moaned softly, as their tongues slid together in a sensuous dance.
    “Well, well. What have we here?” A deep voice rumbled in the silence. “Ethan has been a very bad boy.” Alexander - a dead ringer for a young Arnold Schwarzenegger - stood near the doorway, watching with amusement.
    Ethan jerked back from Grace, his mind snapping to attention as he reacted to the sound of his master’s voice. He cringed — prepared for the worst — as he waited for Alexander to take control of him. The master enjoyed