to be responsible for hurting him.
Please. She couldn’t keep the plea from her voice.
Please what?
Tell me what I can do you make you happy.
A smile brushed the walls of her mind, but even the telepathic connection was fading. She wouldn’t be able to hold it much longer.
Tell me how you feel about me.
Feel? How did she feel? Her heart stuttered, missing a beat.
Quick, my love. Tell me.
The urgency in his voice infused her. My life never really made sense until I heard your voice. I never knew how much I’d crave a lover’s touch until you caressed me in my dreams. And I hate that I’ll never get to make love to you again. Without you I’d wouldn’t have survived and I’ve never known love until you held me in your arms.
Calmness settled over her. I love you, Simon.
Dana. Dana. No. Baby. Please.
She smiled. Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt anymore. She was already moving away from the pain from the hurt, from the incessant chanting. A single breath broke the silence. Then nothing.
****
No! The word echoed through the emptiness of his mind and his heart shuddered. He wasn’t going to lose her.
“Do something.” Danny clutched his arm.
Simon shook him off, frantic to hold the fading connection. Her essence was so faint he could barely contain it, but dammit, he held onto her with sheer will.
Moaning and chanting reached his ears. He glanced at the man by his side. Without waiting Simon raised a hand and the door exploded. A hooded figured knelt in front of an altar, arms raised.
The figure turned, the hood falling from his head. A wicked smile peeled his lips apart. “You’re too late.” He held a heart aloft.
Simon waved a hand, the heart went one way and the man the other. “Guard that heart!” He ordered Danny. “I’ll take care of him.”
Laughter rent the air. “Fools. Did you think it was that easy?”
Thunder rumbled through the room. Simon was having none of that. “Know your enemy, Tobias.” He raised his hand and sent a stream of energy flaring out. “You took what was never offered to you. You touched her.”
Tobias’ eyes widened and his mouth gaped.
Simon smiled. “Yes, you’re remembering now, aren’t you?”
The other man staggered back, held in place with the combined force of Simon’s anger and the long implanted compulsion.
“No.” He shook his head. “She can’t.”
“Did you forget who she was, why her family is always part of the Council? She had no intention of healing you and you touched her.”
“No. That’s not possible. I’m above such things.” Even as he protested, the fatal injuries of a week ago crippled his body. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I stole this body. It’s mine.”
When a hand grasped his shoulder, Simon glanced at Danny. “I’ve got it from here.”
Simon nodded and stepped away. He watched Danny a moment. The man seemed to become light so bright it hurt his eyes and Simon had to squint to keep the other in sight. Shrieks and curses punctuated the air. The illumination blazed with all the intensity of an exploding star until it reached out and consumed Tobias. Simon could no longer stand the glare and turned away. Silence.
The only thing that remained of Tobias was a scorch mark on the stone wall. Simon drifted his gaze around the room until it fell on the lone figure stretched on a stone table.
Dana.
Simon hurried to her side. The lips he’d kissed so passionately hours ago were cold, gray, lifeless. Nothing of her zest seemed to remain. He stroked her hair, but even that was dull and limp. Drops of tears plopped on her cheek and trickled down the side of her face. A flick of his wrist untied the ropes binding her wrists and ankles. Gently he removed the heavy cloth from her eyes. Finally he settled on the hole in her chest, the large knife impaled to the hilt.
Moisture trailed down his cheeks. He’d failed her. All the time he spent wooing her in her dreams, seducing her in reality and he failed
Please. She couldn’t keep the plea from her voice.
Please what?
Tell me what I can do you make you happy.
A smile brushed the walls of her mind, but even the telepathic connection was fading. She wouldn’t be able to hold it much longer.
Tell me how you feel about me.
Feel? How did she feel? Her heart stuttered, missing a beat.
Quick, my love. Tell me.
The urgency in his voice infused her. My life never really made sense until I heard your voice. I never knew how much I’d crave a lover’s touch until you caressed me in my dreams. And I hate that I’ll never get to make love to you again. Without you I’d wouldn’t have survived and I’ve never known love until you held me in your arms.
Calmness settled over her. I love you, Simon.
Dana. Dana. No. Baby. Please.
She smiled. Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt anymore. She was already moving away from the pain from the hurt, from the incessant chanting. A single breath broke the silence. Then nothing.
****
No! The word echoed through the emptiness of his mind and his heart shuddered. He wasn’t going to lose her.
“Do something.” Danny clutched his arm.
Simon shook him off, frantic to hold the fading connection. Her essence was so faint he could barely contain it, but dammit, he held onto her with sheer will.
Moaning and chanting reached his ears. He glanced at the man by his side. Without waiting Simon raised a hand and the door exploded. A hooded figured knelt in front of an altar, arms raised.
The figure turned, the hood falling from his head. A wicked smile peeled his lips apart. “You’re too late.” He held a heart aloft.
Simon waved a hand, the heart went one way and the man the other. “Guard that heart!” He ordered Danny. “I’ll take care of him.”
Laughter rent the air. “Fools. Did you think it was that easy?”
Thunder rumbled through the room. Simon was having none of that. “Know your enemy, Tobias.” He raised his hand and sent a stream of energy flaring out. “You took what was never offered to you. You touched her.”
Tobias’ eyes widened and his mouth gaped.
Simon smiled. “Yes, you’re remembering now, aren’t you?”
The other man staggered back, held in place with the combined force of Simon’s anger and the long implanted compulsion.
“No.” He shook his head. “She can’t.”
“Did you forget who she was, why her family is always part of the Council? She had no intention of healing you and you touched her.”
“No. That’s not possible. I’m above such things.” Even as he protested, the fatal injuries of a week ago crippled his body. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I stole this body. It’s mine.”
When a hand grasped his shoulder, Simon glanced at Danny. “I’ve got it from here.”
Simon nodded and stepped away. He watched Danny a moment. The man seemed to become light so bright it hurt his eyes and Simon had to squint to keep the other in sight. Shrieks and curses punctuated the air. The illumination blazed with all the intensity of an exploding star until it reached out and consumed Tobias. Simon could no longer stand the glare and turned away. Silence.
The only thing that remained of Tobias was a scorch mark on the stone wall. Simon drifted his gaze around the room until it fell on the lone figure stretched on a stone table.
Dana.
Simon hurried to her side. The lips he’d kissed so passionately hours ago were cold, gray, lifeless. Nothing of her zest seemed to remain. He stroked her hair, but even that was dull and limp. Drops of tears plopped on her cheek and trickled down the side of her face. A flick of his wrist untied the ropes binding her wrists and ankles. Gently he removed the heavy cloth from her eyes. Finally he settled on the hole in her chest, the large knife impaled to the hilt.
Moisture trailed down his cheeks. He’d failed her. All the time he spent wooing her in her dreams, seducing her in reality and he failed
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