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  She could almost hear his voice saying, Wouldn't have to scarf my food if you fed me more.

  She'd had Tripod since he was a pup, falling in love with him before she'd realized he'd grow bigger and heavier than her. Of course his size was a definite plus when he played with Tango. And the two old friends were inseparable.

  Good thing Tango couldn't speak human. However she understood dog somewhat – so his message didn't go unnoticed.

  Dropping her purse on the kitchen table, she smiled down at Tripod. She'd learned to communicate directly with some animals over the years because Tripod and Tango had insisted she learn. Not with words like people. And communication was different with each of them. With Tango, she often saw his emotions in colors while Tripod seemed more human than canine. He sent her both images and emotions although they could be hard to decipher. What wasn't hard to understand was when he told her off for being late.

  Or when he was hungry.

  Or when he was lonely.

  She stopped and bent to hug him. He whined and then almost growled. She stared down at him. "What's the matter, boy?"

  He nudged her waist. She bent and hugged him again. Waves of worry emanated from him. He missed her grandfather. She studied his energy waves. They rippled. Some higher, some tighter and still others were lackluster and almost flat. There was a buzz or a hum to them.

  She'd spent years trying to decipher those waves, but she hadn't been able to figure all of them out. The buzz happened when they were communicating and she was not listening. With so many animals on the reserve talking to her, she'd been forced to learn to turn it on and off at will.

  While most of the time it was a pleasant, almost comforting background hum, sometimes it hit an irritating crescendo and she was forced to shut it off.

  Tripod nudged her again with a whimper deep in his throat. Something was wrong but Tabitha didn't know what. She did know Tripod was worried about her.

  Then she felt a stab of hunger emanate from him and realized he'd switched from worry about her to worry about his food.

  She smiled. Now that was normal.

  "Come on, boy. Let's feed you."

  By the time she was done feeding the animals in the house and herself, Tabitha was running on empty for energy. She needed a shower and a nap. Since her grandfather's death, her emotions had worn her down. She would love twelve hours of sleep and would be lucky to get four and she had no idea why sleep seemed so elusive these days. She'd tried everything but drugs. Drugs and psychic abilities were so not good together. They left her groggy and disoriented. Herbs were fine and natural and didn't mess up her system. Only she was now out of those and had to go shopping to get more.

  There was so much they didn't know about energy work and the world was in desperate need of energy workers. Dr. Maddy was the best she knew, but there were others like Tabitha who had similar abilities. Tabitha's abilities and connections worked best on animals.

  Some of the people she knew were seriously talented. They could all communicate telepathically with their partners, and often with other people. Unlike her. Most seemed to have mastered something she could only dream about.

  Liar. Stefan Kronos's warm teasing voice rolled through her mind.

  She snickered. Except with you, and no one has said you're human.

  If not human, what am I?

  His dry voice was so deadpan she had to giggle. A god, according to most women.

  Oh, please don't get started. My feet are made of clay and I am as far away as possible from being anything heaven sent.

  She gave a small tired laugh at that. Okay, how about you're just a good friend?

  I can work with that.

  Did you have a reason for being here? she asked as she headed to her bedroom. She changed out of her clothes and into a housecoat. Sometimes, it took several showers to wash away the animal odors. Tripod sat at her doorway watching intently. He always got an intense look on his face when she communicated with Stefan and this time was no exception.

  He's probably listening in.

  She grinned. Thank heavens for Stefan and that relationship of acceptance and understanding. So few people would be able to understand this conversation.

  More than you think. And many more becoming aware that 'this' exists.

  True. She stepped into the bathroom and groaned at her appearance. Crap. Stefan, I look like I've been hit by a truck. You should see the circles under my eyes.

  Lack of sleep? Overwork? Stress?

  All of the above, I suppose.

  You've just lost your grandfather. And what else...? That knowing voice was calm and understanding. But...

  She stilled. And asked cautiously, What do you mean: What else?

  Do you think I don't hear you every time you cry out in pain?

  She winced. Oh, that.

  He waited, stoic and steadfast but unyielding.

  It's not more blackouts, she rushed to reassure him.

  Good.

  I don't know what they are, she answered honestly. Stabs of black pain. As if something was ripping into my skull. Then it stops. Comes on suddenly and stops suddenly. I can't figure out the triggers…

  He was silent for a long moment.

  Psychic attacks? he asked cautiously.

  I don't think so, but I don't know for sure. I can tell you that I've never felt anything like this before. She didn't add that she hoped to never experience it again. He'd know that.

  Are the headaches getting worse?

  The last few have been. And there have been a few more than usual. Weird ones. They come on suddenly and then just disappear. Like the pain. Then today, there's been a bizarre sense of waiting for something to happen. Then the sensation eases off again and I can almost forget about it.

  When did they start?

  She sighed. A couple of weeks ago, maybe longer. But today was bad.

  Silence.

  As in they happened before you spent a week in hospital and disappeared into the ethers – or after?

  Tabitha hated to be reminded of that week.

  And is that also when you started having trouble sleeping?

  Yes, but honestly I think it's just a residual problem from being in the hospital. You know how hard it is to come back to physical reality after a long stay out of body.

  Hmmm.

  She winced, not sure she liked that thoughtful pause.

  What are the chances that someone is trying to contact you and you aren't hearing them? Someone might have caught your signature while you were in the ethers and think you are still there.

  Her gaze widened in surprise. She hadn't considered that. Like who? And why wouldn't they be able to communicate with me? When I'm working with the animals, I'm always open.

  Again that irritating pause.

  Curious, she asked, What are you thinking?

  Just considering the information.

  I'm sure I'll be fine, she said. A good night's sleep and I'll be much better. At least she wanted that to solve everything.

  I hope so. I'll say good-bye then. But let me know if anything changes.

  Stefan drifted out of her mind. Sometimes he snapped out and other times it was similar to a good-bye hug. She loved the latter.

  She stepped under the hot spray of the shower and scrubbed the smell of animals off her skin. The heat washed over her in comforting waves. She bowed her head and let the day and fatigue drain away.

  Then it started again.

  Pain ripped through her head.

  She cried out and clutched the glass doors of the shower. Agony screamed through her nerves and her knees threatened to buckle.

  What was going on?

  Images slammed through her, but they were woven with emotions that twisted the pictures into sensations. Pain.

  Rage.

  Panic.

  Fear.

  The rage was bad, but the fear was crippling.

  Tabitha sank to her knees in the shower and could do nothing but ride out t
he storm. So far the attacks had never lasted long. Water sluiced down her back. The waves of agony wouldn't stop. She had no anchor to hold her safe. She had no protection from this. Her shields were up, but it didn't matter. This energy had stormed right through them and grabbed on tight.

  While her mind raced to understand, she felt something so horrific she couldn't understand what was happening. It was as if someone had reached into her head and grabbed her energetic body from inside her skull...as if they were trying to rip her soul from her body.

  Noooo! She screamed and tried to fight whatever demonic energy had so much power that made such a thing possible. She was caught in a struggle to stay grounded. To stay attached to her body.

  She curled into a ball and tried to focus. Tried to center herself. She mentally kept her silver cord tucked up inside, but it was hard.

  The pain was so strong. The sense of being yanked out of her body…intense. She felt stretched so finite she cried out in terror.

  And each wave of pain and violation was stronger than the last.

  There was a sense of desperation to this energy. She could feel the need of this thing pulling at her. Its panic. Its terror along with her own.

  Somehow it had hooked onto her and she knew it needed her – or something she had.

  She struggled to hold on, struggled to find the strength to be stronger than it was.

  This...thing was desperate.

  But then so was she.

  Stefan! Help!

  The next wave could be the big one. When it came, the pull was shockingly aggressive and too powerful to stand against. Her grasp slipped.

  Once that bit of weakening started, she lost the advantage of being the one in possession of her body. An advantage she desperately needed.

  And she started to slide.

  One more tug and half of her was lifted upwards. She stared down at her bent-over body, as if she were twins joined at the hip. Her physical twin was bent over her legs, her etheric twin was sitting up. She screamed in panic and tried to lean over, tried to return to her body.

  But this entity had a formidable hold. A panicked hold. And its panic had become hers.

  His rage streamed through her blood.

  His fear turned her emotions to icy panic.

  Suddenly she was no longer alone. Stefan's powerful energy wrapped around her, supporting her, strengthening her. Keeping her safe.

  Remember to love. Fear is the tool of failure. Love is the tool of success.

  She struggled with his words. Struggled to grasp his meaning. And she struggled to find her center. That part of her that knew all energy was good. It was the emotions people poured into the energy that made it other than good. Her attacker was afraid. And angry. If she could help it by easing his pain...

  Yes. Do it.

  Her attacker gave one more tug. But Tabitha's energy had warmed and thinned, heating up more as she tried to send out the right thoughts to help her attacker. Thoughts to calm herself.

  With a roar of rage and pain and loss, the link snapped.

  Tabitha recoiled from the force with a final cry before she blacked out. Her last vision was that of her empty-shell of a body folded in half in the shower, the hot steamy water slowly cooling as it beat down on her back.

  Then she knew no more.

  Chapter 2

  Saturday, mid-afternoon

  Stefan Kronos bolted upright in his bed. His heart screamed at him to run. His body refused to move. His bedroom had disappeared into the foggy dreamscape of a different reality. Waves of energy wrapped around a tornado of emotion. A cry ripped through the air.

  Stefan!

  Someone was in trouble. Only it was more than trouble. A scream echoed loud enough that he clapped his hands over his ears and tried to block it – but there was no way he could. Finally the volume ebbed enough and he recognized the voice. Tabitha.

  He'd just been talking to her. Even as he emptied his mind and called for her, he double checked the energy signature, hoping he was wrong.

  Of course it was her. She'd been on his warning system for weeks now. Ever since her hospital stay. He called out to her again.

  No response.

  He closed his eyes and sent his consciousness to her house. Not knowing what he'd find, he didn't want to leave his body. He'd met too many strange individuals who would attempt a takeover in a heartbeat if he gave them an opening. That was the problem with being a strong psychic – he knew what existed in the shadow world.

  Remembering Tabitha's earlier words about headaches and blackouts, he slipped over to her bedroom and found a pile of clothes on the floor. There was no sign of her. A weird faint roaring sound filled the air waves. From Tabitha or the house or something else?

  Tripod howled at the edge of the bathroom, a loud physical mourning that poured ice into Stefan's non-existent veins. What the hell had happened here? In the background, that roaring sound grew louder and louder. If he'd had a body, the sounds and vibrations would have overwhelmed him, sending him to the floor. In this energetic form, he did the best he could and pushed clouds of energy between him and it, trying desperately to distance himself so he could think.

  As the roar faded slightly, he sensed a cadence to it. It was animal. Shit. That had to be Tango. The tiger's voice was deep and raspy, as if he'd been screaming.

  Stefan shuddered. Something bad had happened. He moved into the bathroom but could barely see for the steam and condensation. The shower door was closed. The rest of the bathroom empty.

  Dreading what he'd find, Stefan shifted to the other side of the shower wall.

  Shit.

  What the hell was happening to her? He hovered over her. Her cord lay hidden protectively in the circle of her body. He could see the rise and fall of her chest as air slipped out of her body with each breath.

  This was bad. Like seriously bad.

  He backed up slightly and searched her etheric energy, looking for other entities in the small room, trying to get a read on what had happened. The kicked-up emotional cloud of fear and panic said she'd feared for her life. Fought for her life. His only conclusion was that she'd been attacked but won...this time.

  But the cost of winning had been devastating to her.

  There was no sign of an attacker. No foreign energy that he could see. Unfortunately, her aura was swollen with so much else. Grief for her grandfather, anger that he had left her, a sense of loss as she looked to her future – and then there were the animal energies. So many. Each and every one of them lived in her heart.

  Her capacity for caring was huge.

  And left it difficult for him to make sense of what should be there and what shouldn't. Adding to the effect, and in response to Tabitha's state, the animals had all responded with their own pain and rage.

  What a mess.

  And for all he knew, she was still in trouble psychically as well as physically.

  Swooping lower, he could see the blue cast over her skin. If she caught hypothermia, that alone would kill her. Her body functioned at the absolute edge of survival level. Her biological system was on rapid shutdown.

  Holy hell.

  She was under siege from the inside.

  And she needed help. Now.

  ***

  Ronin had spent all afternoon working and gotten nowhere. Chasing down leads on a trafficking case that had led to zero progress. Carmichael, another detective in the office, had stopped by to discuss a different case and now Ronin was way behind.

  His damn desk was overloaded with his active cases and what had appeared to be a quick stop into the police station had turned out to be anything but. He stared at the stack of files in front of him. Too many files. Again. Always.

  He glanced at his watch. He should be able to head out in a few minutes. For Tabitha's sake, he didn't dare stay too late. She needed him.

  Now getting her to see that was a different issue altogether.

  She was smart and sassy and distrustful of men...

&nbs
p; Figures. He sure could pick them. Not that he'd had much choice. Attraction had smacked him up side the head when he'd first met her. Green-eyed leggy brunettes had never been his type. But this one... He'd had to move slowly given her trust issues. He'd made huge steps before her grandfather had passed away. He'd been there for her every day since.