truth for you.”
“But there’s only supposed to be one.”
Callie sank back on to the sofa behind her. “We have a theory about that, but it’s a little farfetched. I think it has to do with the shortage of women on Earth. There’s no way there’s one female for every male, even counting your people, so nature, or God, or whatever higher power you believe in, has decided we have to share.”
Jaci paused to consider her words. “I suppose it could be possible.” But she wasn’t convinced.
“Or maybe just one of the men you Hum with will turn out to be your true mate. Or worst case, neither will. Just because you Hum doesn’t mean you are mates.” Callie paused. “Test them. See what happens.
And I promise to keep your secret. I agree you probably should keep this hidden as long as you can.
Things are changing for my people, slowly but surely. If you can hold out a bit longer, you might find it all works out for you and your potential mates. Have faith.”
43
They talked a bit more and Jaci took the samples Mara had requested. She tried not to jump when a Breed man came into the room and pulled Callie into his kiss, but she did check the crystal glowing in her hand.
“This is Rick,” Callie introduced him with a smile. “Rick, meet Jaci.”
“Jaci 192,” she clarified, reaching out to accept the other man’s handshake as was customary between Breeds.
“I don’t hold with numbering people, so I’ll just call you Jaci, okay?” Rick seemed somewhat unfriendly at first, but when Jaci smiled at him, he eased up a bit, confusion on his face as he truly looked at her for the first time. “Have you had contact with a human healer recently?”
Jaci was astounded and not a little afraid. “How can you tell?”
Rick looked at her closely, putting Callie back on the couch. “That sort of energy is rare and it leaves traces another healer can sometimes sense. Your healer is strong. Very strong. What happened that he had to expend so much energy on you?”
Jaci was afraid, but Callie came to her rescue. “I’ll fill you in on all the details later, but suffice to say, poor Jaci has been through a huge upheaval lately. Is the healer one of the men you mentioned?”
Mutely, she nodded.
“Then he expended a lot of his energy on you. How is he doing?”
Jaci’s eyes widened in shock. “It could hurt him? Healing me can harm him? Why didn’t he say something?”
Rick tilted his head, watching her most un-Alvian responses. “It would weaken him. All healing does.
Some kinds of healing gifts work differently, but the few healers I’ve known have all experienced power drain of one sort or another. We give it to the people we heal, you see.”
“Oh, no.” Jaci collapsed into her seat. “He touched me earlier today, but he did it yesterday too. Several times. It felt so good. He calmed my turmoil. But I don’t want to hurt him in order to make myself feel better.”
“He’s a mind healer?” Now it was Rick who sounded shocked.
44
Jaci nodded. “He said he can do both. He can heal physical injuries, but also problems of the mind.”
“Wow.” Rick sat on the couch next to Callie, putting his arm around her shoulders, playing absently with the ends of her hair. “He must be something. I’ve heard rumors of mind healers, but they’re few and far between. The power needed is enormous, and the drain of that kind of work is serious.”
Jaci shot to her feet. “I’ve got to get back! I’ve got to check on him!”
Callie could feel the Alvian woman’s panic and she knew it would do her no good.
“Wait, Jaci. Think. You can’t show them your fear and I might just have a way to check on your man without your people knowing. Will you let me try?”
Jaci sank back down still agitated, but willing to listen. “How?”
“My brother is a strong telepath. You probably have heard of him. The Alvians call him Hara.”
“Hara is your brother? Holy shit!”
“She’s
“But there’s only supposed to be one.”
Callie sank back on to the sofa behind her. “We have a theory about that, but it’s a little farfetched. I think it has to do with the shortage of women on Earth. There’s no way there’s one female for every male, even counting your people, so nature, or God, or whatever higher power you believe in, has decided we have to share.”
Jaci paused to consider her words. “I suppose it could be possible.” But she wasn’t convinced.
“Or maybe just one of the men you Hum with will turn out to be your true mate. Or worst case, neither will. Just because you Hum doesn’t mean you are mates.” Callie paused. “Test them. See what happens.
And I promise to keep your secret. I agree you probably should keep this hidden as long as you can.
Things are changing for my people, slowly but surely. If you can hold out a bit longer, you might find it all works out for you and your potential mates. Have faith.”
43
They talked a bit more and Jaci took the samples Mara had requested. She tried not to jump when a Breed man came into the room and pulled Callie into his kiss, but she did check the crystal glowing in her hand.
“This is Rick,” Callie introduced him with a smile. “Rick, meet Jaci.”
“Jaci 192,” she clarified, reaching out to accept the other man’s handshake as was customary between Breeds.
“I don’t hold with numbering people, so I’ll just call you Jaci, okay?” Rick seemed somewhat unfriendly at first, but when Jaci smiled at him, he eased up a bit, confusion on his face as he truly looked at her for the first time. “Have you had contact with a human healer recently?”
Jaci was astounded and not a little afraid. “How can you tell?”
Rick looked at her closely, putting Callie back on the couch. “That sort of energy is rare and it leaves traces another healer can sometimes sense. Your healer is strong. Very strong. What happened that he had to expend so much energy on you?”
Jaci was afraid, but Callie came to her rescue. “I’ll fill you in on all the details later, but suffice to say, poor Jaci has been through a huge upheaval lately. Is the healer one of the men you mentioned?”
Mutely, she nodded.
“Then he expended a lot of his energy on you. How is he doing?”
Jaci’s eyes widened in shock. “It could hurt him? Healing me can harm him? Why didn’t he say something?”
Rick tilted his head, watching her most un-Alvian responses. “It would weaken him. All healing does.
Some kinds of healing gifts work differently, but the few healers I’ve known have all experienced power drain of one sort or another. We give it to the people we heal, you see.”
“Oh, no.” Jaci collapsed into her seat. “He touched me earlier today, but he did it yesterday too. Several times. It felt so good. He calmed my turmoil. But I don’t want to hurt him in order to make myself feel better.”
“He’s a mind healer?” Now it was Rick who sounded shocked.
44
Jaci nodded. “He said he can do both. He can heal physical injuries, but also problems of the mind.”
“Wow.” Rick sat on the couch next to Callie, putting his arm around her shoulders, playing absently with the ends of her hair. “He must be something. I’ve heard rumors of mind healers, but they’re few and far between. The power needed is enormous, and the drain of that kind of work is serious.”
Jaci shot to her feet. “I’ve got to get back! I’ve got to check on him!”
Callie could feel the Alvian woman’s panic and she knew it would do her no good.
“Wait, Jaci. Think. You can’t show them your fear and I might just have a way to check on your man without your people knowing. Will you let me try?”
Jaci sank back down still agitated, but willing to listen. “How?”
“My brother is a strong telepath. You probably have heard of him. The Alvians call him Hara.”
“Hara is your brother? Holy shit!”
“She’s
Similar Books
