Whisper (Whisper #1)(48)

“I haven’t had to do that before,” I tell him, warily eyeing the glossy black walls. “Normally, I just open my mouth and whatever comes out is already powerful.” Too powerful.

“And that’s why we’re in here,” he replies, waving at the Karoel. “The mineral is a training tool that will help you learn how to actively control your words — as opposed to letting them control you.”

Mentally comparing the task to adding weights to an already arduous workout, I nod.

Closing my eyes again, I think of everything Ward has told me. I focus on the cat he described until it is pictured perfectly in my mind, and when I’m convinced I’m ready, I purposefully push power into my word as I Speak, “Cat.”

My eyes open just in time to watch the light fly out of me and a furry creature materialize on the floor in front of where I stand. I look down at the tabby and he looks up at me, each of us as shocked as the other, neither of us knowing what to do now. I jump a little when he opens his mouth and a soft, questioning meow comes out.

“Good,” Ward says.

I jump again, turning back to him with what must be wide, incredulous eyes. Despite knowing what I can do, this is … this is … something else. Something beyond reason.

“Now, do it again. A long-haired white one this time.”

I push past my shock and do as he says, forcing the word through the restrictions of the Karoel, and a Persian-like, squashed-nose cat joins the tabby.

At Ward’s directive, I create three more cats, until there are five pairs of feline eyes blinking in curiosity and confusion.

“Is there a point to this?” I ask, the words coming easily since I’m not attempting to power them. Impatience has begun to replace my shock, and I’m ready to move on from this strange cat-creating exercise. Or at least find out why Ward has me doing it to begin with.

My attention is pulled downward when an adorable black-and-white kitten rubs against my leg, a creature I took a few liberties with, making him younger than the rest just to test myself. It was a mistake, though, since I think I’m already half in love with the little guy. I draw him up into my arms, and he begins to purr contentedly, batting his paw at my hand for attention.

“Oh, you are cute, aren’t you?” I coo at him, forgetting, somehow, that I’ve just asked Ward a question. When I look up at him, there’s an unexpectedly soft expression on his face, but he masks it immediately when he catches me watching him.

“Of course there’s a point,” he states, annoyed. “Do it again.”

Biting my lip to keep from snapping back at him, I keep the purring kitten in my arms and Speak another cat into the room. Then another. And another.

“At this rate, I’m going to become known as the crazy cat lady,” I mumble, absentmindedly stroking the kitten. I’m just about to create the ninth cat, when Ward stops me.

“Enough cats. Try a dog this time.”

“Any preferences?” I drawl. This is getting ridiculous.

“German shepherd.”

I picture the majestic dog in my mind, not even having to close my eyes anymore, and Speak it into being. “Dog.”

“Good. Now a golden retriever.”

I do as he says, and then when he asks for a border collie, I call one of those forth, as well. I’m beginning to get a little nervous about the dogs and cats in the same room, but so far they all seem too busy checking out their new environment to think about attacking one another.

“Now try a pony, one of those miniature ones so it doesn’t take up too much space in here.”

I regard him with wide eyes. “You want me to create a horse?”

“A pony,” he corrects. Seeing my expression, he adds, “It’s your imagination, remember? You can make it as big or as small as you want.”

I bite my lip and concentrate on the image in my mind, thinking of a Shetland pony just a little larger than the German shepherd. When I say, “Pony,” it appears, just like all the other animals.

After that, Ward has me create three baby goats, half a dozen chickens and a llama.

“It’s like a petting zoo in here,” I say over all the animal sounds. “I hope you’re the one on clean-up duty.”

His mouth curls upward ever so slightly. “Clean-up duty?”

I gesture around the room. “It’s bound to happen sooner or later.”

Before he can respond, the door opens, and Enzo and Cami walk into the room. They both stop dead and look around with astonishment.

“Please tell me you’re seeing what I’m seeing,” Cami says to Enzo, rubbing her eyes as if that will change the sight in front of her.

In her defense, in the hour she’s been gone the room has filled up with farm animals. There’s no way she could have anticipated that.

“I wish I wasn’t, but I am,” Enzo replies, warily eyeing the llama ambling over to them.

The fluffy white creature stops right in front of Enzo and nips at the brown paper bag he holds in his hands.

“Get this — this thing away from me,” he says, using his free hand to push the llama’s head away. But the animal is intent on its goal, still trying to nip at the bag.

Cami lets out a peal of giggles, and I feel like joining her, especially seeing the look on Enzo’s face as he tries to shoo the llama away. But one glance at Ward’s crossed arms and cold expression stifles my bubbling humor.