“Bert examined Shaina extensively,” Alexander said. “He saw how withdrawn she was. That comes from trauma. He knew. He probably knows all of it—the physical part anyway—and he can guess at the mental and emotional trauma. It does not touch him once she is no longer his patient. That bothers you.”Miah turned away from him and began to walk along the sidewalk. “Maybe you’re right, Alexander. I don’t know. I’m very confused.” He had torn out her heart. He would again when he left her to follow his twin, as he must. She could feel the touch of his mind gently reaching for hers. She hastily forced herself to think of Shaina and focus on the teenager.“I know you’re confused, love, and it is no wonder that you are,” Alexander said softly, but he was watching her with his intent black gaze. “For now, we should concentrate on how to bring Shaina home and provide a decent home for her. We will need to decide which memories to erase completely and which to minimize.”“I don’t think we have the

Her eyebrow shot up. “I thought there was something erotic in the way your clothes melted away and left me to explore where I wanted.” Her voice teased him, was sultry with invitation. She stepped away from him, her arm dropping slowly to her side, her fingers brushing the hard length of him as she did so. Miah tilted her head so that her long hair slid in a silky black curtain over her shoulder. Her hands went to the small pearl buttons on her sweater. She eased each through its button hole so that the edges began to gape open to reveal the satin swell of her breasts.Deliberately her hands traced the path of the opening, pushing the sweater slowly from her shoulders and allowing it to fall on the floor unheeded. She was rewarded with the darkening of his eyes, the swelling of his body to alarming proportions.She eased her slacks from her hips to reveal her silken panties, a scrap of fabric that barely covered her tight black curls. She kicked off her sandals as, she stepped out of t

“Alexander?” Miah had thought he’d gone into the city looking for evidence of Luther. He had read the newspaper, given a quick exclamation, and was gone before she could ask. When she picked up the paper there was an article about an unidentified man found in an alley with his throat slashed. He had been found in a part of town where few decent people ever went. Miah was certain she would have recognized Alexander’s touch in Shaina’s mind. She reached for Alexander and found him at once.“You are safe?” She asked it softly, a little hesitantly, knowing from his deep concentration he was in the middle of something important. “He was here. Luther. This was his kill. He is still in the city. I do not know why he was not waiting for me as he should have been.”“Were you here with us just a moment ago? Shaina says she felt the presence of another while we were talking.” There was a moment of silence. Alexander examined Miah’s memories of the conversation she had had with the teenager.“It

Chapter 47“So you see, Shaina, if you want to live with me, the judge is willing to agree, but you’ll have to talk to him,” Miah coaxed gently. She was not using her voice to sway the teenager in any way. The judge moved to within a few feet of the bed. Shaina was visibly trembling. Alexander reached automatically for her mind.She was under his protection, a female child with psychic ability, a precious treasure to be guarded at all times. He did not like her agitation, the terrible distress on her face. Miah was also in her mind, bolstering her courage, soothing her, aiding her to face the male strangers invading her room. The terror of her childhood was far too fresh in her mind to be able to handle such an event alone.At once he gathered Shaina into his mental arms, pouring his strength and power into her so that she blinked in amazement. He was surrounding her mind, repeating a healing chant in the ancient language of their people, whispering teasing nonsense so that Shaina cou

She had no idea of her own feelings, how deep, how intense they ran within her, but he could see the truth in her eyes. It looked as if they lived in their own secret world. They seemed to communicate without words. His fingers bunched tightly at his sides, curling until his knuckles were white, and his body shook with anger and disappointment. He had courted Miah for so long and devoted himself to her, yet never once had she looked at him in such a manner. And she was more beautiful than ever, more alluring. Watching her, he realised she was sexy beyond anyone he had ever encountered.He had always thought she was beautiful, the perfect ornament to display in the social circles he intended to travel in. Bert had never thought of her in terms of hot, steamy nights and sex, yet now, looking at her, he could hardly restrain himself. Just then Alexander lifted his head and looked at him—a long, cold look that sent a shiver racing down Bert’s spine. Bert turned on his heel and walked away