Wolf Rain (Psy-Changeling Trinity #3)(76)

Yes, she would come when he called.





Chapter 36


Empaths do an overwhelming amount of good. But, as with any other group, those of Designation E have their flaws and their vulnerabilities, and these elements of their psyche can have a catastrophic impact on their mental health.

—The Mysterious E Designation: Empathic Gifts & Shadows by Alice Eldridge (Reprint: 2082)


MEMORY SAT IN a hard plas chair while hospital announcements echoed against the cool white walls. She was waiting for Alexei to return from the small café attached to the hospital—he’d volunteered to go down and grab coffee and food.

Two hours had passed since they’d found Vashti. Neither Clay nor Tammy had eaten dinner yet, and Memory’s bones were pushing up against her skin. Whatever she’d done to track Renault, it had required huge amounts of fuel. But Memory wasn’t hungry. A rock was lodged in her abdomen.

Stable at last, the small E Renault had hurt slept in a room on the other side of the wall at Memory’s back. Vashti’s father was inside with her while Tammy stood conferring with the medical team at the end of the hall—it turned out that Tamsyn “Tammy” Ryder, DarkRiver’s senior healer, was also a highly qualified doctor who had full privileges at this hospital.

Clay kept watch close by the medical team.

There was no need to keep watch at this end; Vashti’s room was the final one in this hallway, with only a wall to Memory’s right.

“Empath?”

Jerking at the unexpected voice, she found Vashti’s father standing in the doorway to his daughter’s room. It took her a second to realize he was addressing her. “Yes,” she said, though her insides twisted at claiming the title. She’d brought a monster to this man’s door.

“My daughter would like to speak to you.”

A sudden cold shivered through her blood when she entered the hospital room and saw Vashti’s small body in the middle of the bed, tubes and wires going from the girl to various machines. Tamsyn had reassured her that Vashti would make a full recovery, but seeing the little girl this way, knowing it was her fault, it had Memory bleeding inside.

She’d locked her guilt and pain behind solid shields for hours, not about to allow them to leak around this very young empath. If Vashti was anything like Cordelia and the others, it’d make her feel bad when Memory was the one at fault. “Hi,” she said from near the doorway.

The little E’s forehead scrunched up. “You don’t taste bad anymore.”

Exhaling, Memory dared walk closer to the bed. “I’m sorry about that. I had to connect with the man who took you to track him. It temporarily altered my psychic scent.”

Expression clearing, Vashti lifted up a small hand. “Are you Memory?”

Nodding as she closed her fingers around the girl’s with gentle care, Memory said, “I’m sorry the bad man took you.”

“It’s not your fault—he has a hole inside him. He’s empty.” Warm, delicate life in every breath. “He said he wanted to lock you up so you could never escape.”

And this hurt and scared child had remembered and thought to warn her. “Thank you for telling me,” Memory whispered, her throat raw. “I have no intention of being caught.” She looked at Vashti’s father. “You know you have to alter your living area so he can no longer get a teleport lock?”

“Yes. DarkRiver has moved us into one of their apartments while the changes are made.” His voice was cool, but the hand he placed on his daughter’s forehead gentle. “She needs to rest now.”

Releasing Vashti’s hand, the girl’s eyelids already fluttering, Memory rose. Vashti’s father wasn’t Silent. Emotions seethed beneath the intense calm of his surface. Memory felt his cold fury at what had been done to his child, knew he blamed her. But she knocked on his mind nonetheless.

His eyes were hard when they met hers. Yes?

She’s an empath, Memory reminded this man who loved his daughter so very much. You need to learn to control your emotions beyond the surface.

His pupils dilated. I’ll be far calmer once you’re out of the room.

Memory left at once, guilt clawing at her with vicious strength. After pulling the door shut behind her, she walked toward Clay. The DarkRiver male frowned. “Better you don’t wander around while a psychopath’s hunting you.”

Nausea lurched in Memory’s stomach. Vashti was simply the first victim. Renault wouldn’t stop. He’d keep spilling innocent blood to get to her. “Toilet,” she muttered.

Piercing green eyes took her in before he pointed down and to the right. “Alexei’ll be back soon—wolf is right, you need to eat.” A pause. “Don’t worry about the little kitten’s father. Man’s still in shock.”

Not replying, Memory headed the way he’d indicated, but when she reached the facilities, she glanced back to see that Clay had just turned to answer a question from Tamsyn. Memory kept walking. Around the corner, down a flight of stairs, and all the way out of the hospital.

Though it was well after the midnight hour, the streets still buzzed with festivalgoers heading home. A couple walked ahead, the woman carrying a paper lantern she must’ve bought from one of the stalls.

The red of it glowed from the light within.