Mind Game (GhostWalkers, #2)(56)

Breathe with me. He needed her to draw him back from the edge of some precipice he didn’t fully understand. Whatever anger had swirled in him so stark and raw and ugly had turned just as fast to a fierce, driving need to merge with her. To drag her as close to him as he was to her.

He wanted her to need him on the same stark elemental level. It was difficult for him to have to admit he wasn’t as in control of his thoughts and feelings or even his world as he had always believed.

Dahlia felt the change in the energy as they both began meditative breathing. Rhythmic, controlled, deep. She felt the dark anger evaporate, released with the air moving in and out of her lungs. Out of his lungs. A flash of excitement sent a fresh wave of energy spilling around them. She tried to breathe through that as well.

What is it?

You felt that? Dahlia watched him nod. We’re getting more in tune with one another. I feel the slightest change in your mood and now you’re able to do the same with me. You never felt energy like that before, did you?

Nicolas took his time thinking it over. He could catch thoughts at times. He could definitely sense emotions. If he had ever “felt” energy, it was prior to a physical attack on him. Perhaps black anger in a very aggressive person. Was he gaining strengths? He didn’t know if he wanted the same curse as Dahlia had been gifted with.

It’s just that we actually controlled the energy together, Nicolas. The excitement radiated out of her. Maybe our first try wasn’t that successful, but this really worked. I’ve never really controlled it. I’ve managed it. Kept it under wraps until I could find a place to get rid of it, but we actually breathed together and I found the tranquil little lake in your mind and the energy just floated away. Dahlia couldn’t begin to tell him what a breakthrough it was. She’d tried for years to do meditation and chanting practices and nothing had ever worked. The meditation had helped to ease the burden, but she had never managed to just allow the energy to dissipate. With Nicolas, she had finally accomplished it. It seemed a miracle to her.

I’ve noticed your ability to use telepathy has grown stronger. I don’t need to hold the bridge entirely by myself. You’re meeting me halfway.

Dahlia blinked. I am? That doesn’t make sense. I have no telepathic ability. I never have. I can send my thoughts if the other person is a strong telepath and they do all the work.

I’m not doing all the work. Nicolas put his arm around her. She’d gone from angry to happy to alarmed in the space of a few minutes.

What does that mean? Dahlia didn’t want to be telepathic. She had enough to handle with the “gifts” she had.

“Pull over,” Nicolas said suddenly, startling her. “Right here, let us out.”

Dahlia looked out the window and saw they were well out of town, just over a bridge near the water. The cabbie parked under a small grove of trees. Nicolas handed him several bills before getting out of the car. He was careful to retain possession of her hand and to keep the taxi between them and any observers. Almost immediately he drew her into the sanctuary of the grove of trees. They watched the cab drive off.

“Where is he?” Dahlia hadn’t seen either the blue Ford or its driver.

“On the other side of the bridge. He pulled onto a dirt road and got out of the car. He was walking up the road.”

“That’s not good. There’s no cover.”

“I didn’t expect them to make it easy. They’d want an out-of-the-way place they could use to get information out of anyone they bring there, and one easily defended. With no ground cover along the road they can see anyone approaching.”

Dahlia sank down gratefully onto the ground and drew off the sweatshirt. It was already hot, and the tank top she’d worn beneath was clinging to her skin. “I guess we wait here all day?” She braided her hair and tied it into an intricate knot to get it off of her neck. Her body desperately needed sleep, and it would allow her not to dwell on what had flared between them on the ferry.

“I’m going to scout the area closer to the road and make sure I’m right, but yes, we can rest here.” He lowered his pack to the ground beside her. “At least you’re outside and away from people.”

Dahlia bunched up the sweatshirt and curled up on the ground, her head pillowed on the thick material. “I’m going to sleep while you go do whatever it is you do. I’m exhausted.”

She looked vulnerable lying on the ground. His stomach tightened into a knot. Nicolas hunkered down beside her, handing her the canteen. “I won’t be long, Dahlia.” He pushed stray tendrils of hair from her face.

She gave him a faint smile. “Take all the time you need. I intend to sleep. I require a lot of sleep in highly traumatic situations. This would be one.”

He continued rubbing strands of her hair through his fingertips. “I thought you had a difficult time sleeping.”

“I said I require sleep. It isn’t exactly the same thing.”

“Are you going to worry about me?”

“Absolutely not. You’re a grown man.”

He laughed. “You have a little mean streak in you.”

She looked smug. “It’s what makes me so appealing.”

He started to rise. Dahlia caught his arm. “Did you bring that raggedy blanket with you?”

Nicolas could feel the sudden tension rising between them. She did her best to look nonchalant, as if it didn’t matter in the least, but he swore he could hear her heart pounding. Her gaze shifted away from his and her hand dropped away.