THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

hold the child’s miniature fingers. “You have pretty hands and long fingers. Bet you could play a piano.”
    Be’tallia’s gaze moved from Gabby to Jaxxson who seemed intent on something then chuckled. His beautiful brown eyes twinkled at the child who nodded, lips curling into a half-smile.
    Gabby felt like an outsider. Again. But were those two really communicating telepathically? “Did you just talk to her mind-to-mind?”
    “Yes. Why?”  He seemed perplexed by her tone. 
    Refusing to sound like the terminally uninformed, she just said, “Isn’t that rude to do with me sitting here?”
    “No. It’s no different than if you were to ask for a word in private with me.”
    How could she argue with that? “Wouldn’t it be nicer for the three of us to talk?”
    Jaxxson kept working some sort of magic with his long-fingered hands, moving them up to the child’s neck as he spoke. “Be’tallia isn’t ready to talk. Her throat’s still raw from screaming when they kidnapped her. Speak to her with your mind if you want to communicate with her. It will help her relax around you.” 
    Oh. Dang. Gabby flushed with embarrassment over not realizing the little girl might be in worse shape than just having a skin reaction. Poor thing had been ripped from everything she knew.
    But talk to her mind to mind? Be serious. “I don’t know...I, uh, that wouldn’t be a good idea.”
    “Why not?”
    Her temper lived just below the surface on most days and the only thing stopping Gabby from yelling at Jaxxson right now was that she didn’t want to upset Be’tallia. But her words came through clenched teeth. “Because I don’t know how to communicate that way and I’m not messing around with anyone else’s mind.”
    “You can’t harm Be’tallia’s mind. She’s the second born of the ruling family over the House of Developers. She’s been trained since birth, how to both use and protect her mind. You could choose no better person with whom to test your skills the first time.” 
    Could she do that? Gabby swallowed hard at the idea of actually trying to use her mental ability instead of avoiding it. Then she remembered the weave on her wrist. “What about the bracelet you put on me?”
    “It’ll only reinforce what you want. You did not want to hear Be’tallia’s thoughts so the bracelet helped you avoid that. If you choose to communicate then the bracelet will also help.”
    Could she control mental contact and actually speak to Be’tallia with her mind?
    Was she really going to give this a try? Maybe. “You said it was wrong to enter another person’s mind so how do I talk to her without forcing myself into her mind?”
    Jaxxson nodded, as if she’d earned points with him. “Give me a moment to explain to her.”
    While he was silent, Gabby watched the interplay between him and the child. Be’tallia concentrated as she listened to something he told her telepathically then her eyes widened as if surprised. She finally nodded with a serious expression Gabby wouldn’t have expected on the face of a five-year old.
    Jaxxson explained, “I had to tell her that you’d never been trained to speak with your mind.”
    “That jolted her?”
    “Yes, but not in a bad way. It’s as much a part of our culture as learning how to levitate.”
    Of course he’d say that. Why had I been expecting him to say that telepathy was as much of his culture as something like learning to ride a bicycle? Did they even have bicycles? “Are you sure I can’t hurt Be’tallia?”
    “Yes.”
    “Okay, then tell me how to do this.”
    “I’ll first have her reach out to you so that you can feel her tap on your mind. When you do, allow yourself to relax and stop worrying about hearing someone else’s thoughts. You’ll hear her.”
    Gabby took a deep breath and relaxed her hands then nodded at Be’tallia. In the next moment she felt a light bump, bump, bump in her mind, just as if Be’tallia had used one of her tiny fingers to tap against Gabby’s forehead. Heart thumping wildly, Gabby slowly released her fear and opened her mind. She heard, Hello. Who are you?
    Goosebumps raced up Gabby’s arm at the sensation of hearing Be’tallia’s sweet voice really inside her mind. Tears pooled in her eyes. She’d never experienced anything so wonderful.
    Gabby replied, Hello to you, too. I’m Gabby. Thanks for letting me try this with you.
    Your parents have gifts?
    No .
    Be’tallia’s smooth forehead creased. You