Richard’s face was carved with intensity as he turned to Marianna.
“That is why I especially needed to speak with you, Marianna. You spent time with Savannah and Moravian. I realize that it was a horrendous experience, but given your exposure, I thought you might be able to help us. You said that Savannah actually helped you while you were there. Do you have any idea where she and her father might be?”
“No.” Marianna shook her head, and a pained expression crossed her face as she looked at Courtney. “I would recognize her energy signature if I came across it, but I have no idea where she is now.”
“Wait a minute,” Tatiana interrupted. Everyone stared at her as though she had ten heads, including poor Matt, who looked like he might pass out again. “Courtney, you said you turned up here a few months ago. Right? So where were you during the time you were missing? Who was taking care of you?” She looked around the table at the rest of them. “Think about it, people. You said no one knows where the doctor and his daughter are. Did it occur to any of you that was who Courtney was with when she was missing for all those months?”
“Yes.” Courtney sniffled and swiped at the tears that fell freely down her cheeks. “I can’t remember anything.”
“Steven?” Kerry asked in a gentle tone. “I know you were opposed to letting me play peekaboo in Courtney’s head when she first came home.” She held her palms up and stopped him from protesting. “I get it. She was super-fragile and freaked out when she got here. Shit. You were in a damn coma until she showed up at the ranch, so I totally get how protective you feel, but—”
“No,” Steven insisted as his eyes shifted and glowed brightly. “She can’t risk it.”
Courtney quietly said, “I’ll do it.”
Steven and Courtney spoke in unison, and although Courtney’s voice was far softer than Steven’s, it carried a bigger wallop. Tatiana’s heart was in her throat as the drama played out before her. She fought the instinct to seek comfort and touch Dominic’s mind with hers.
The room fell silent. All eyes were on Courtney. Steven placed one large hand on her shoulder and turned her face toward him with the other. “Are you sure? It could be dangerous for you and the baby.”
“We have to.” Courtney squared her shoulders and looked around the room. “I want to know what happened when I was missing as much as the rest of you do. I can’t help but feel like I’ve been nothing but a burden on everyone, and I want to do this. It’s the least I can do.” She faced Steven again. “Besides, the baby is due in a month or so. If labor did start, he would be okay. Especially with his brilliant daddy to take care of him.”
“Then it’s settled.” Kerry clapped her hands and pushed her chair back. “You have second sight too, right?”
It took Tatiana a minute to realize that Kerry was speaking to her. She looked around for a moment, and everyone was staring at her.
“Who, me?” Tatiana’s hand went to her chest, and she shook her head as she laughed nervously. “No way. I mean, I can read animal energy…”
“That’s why you’re such a good vet,” Matt said as he looked at her through wide eyes. He looked slightly less frightened, but she thought he was probably in shock. “That’s really wild.”
“Fine. Call it whatever you want,” Kerry said with a shrug as she stood from her chair. “That’s still second sight, and I’m going to need help breaking through to read Courtney’s memories. I can read humans and hybrids easily, but pure-blood Amoveo are tougher nuts to crack. Pete used to be able to help me with that stuff, but now that he’s on Team Vampire, it doesn’t work that way anymore. So, whaddya say?” Kerry asked.
“I—I don’t know…”
An overwhelming sense of panic and suffocation came barreling back as Tatiana confronted the idea of diving headfirst into her Amoveo powers, of embracing what she was with no limits.
It was terrifying. She used her Amoveo abilities only on her terms, and breaking that streak unnerved her. If she accepted it and allowed herself to fully embrace her Amoveo heritage… how far behind was the life-mate bond?
How long until her life was no longer her own?
Fear and self-doubt swamped her, and just when she thought the darkness would pull her under, a strong, warm hand encircled her own, invoking an immediate sense of calm.
Tatiana looked down to see Dominic’s long fingers wrapped around hers. His thumb brushed her lightly as his voice drifted gently into her mind. You can do this, Tatiana. You are more than capable, and Kerry will help you navigate. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as her eyes met his. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. I’ve got your back either way.
Staring into the seemingly limitless depths of his warm brown eyes, a million thoughts raced through Tatiana’s mind, many laced with fear and uncertainty. However, in spite of that, one phrase rose to the top and drowned out all the rest… I’ve got your back either way.
Dominic meant what he said. She’d seen evidence of his devotion to his people, and in that moment she knew, without hesitation, that the same fierce loyalty applied to her. He had her back. Mated or not.
“Okay.” Tatiana squeezed Dominic’s hand in return and sucked in a cleansing breath. She looked at Kerry. “What do I do?”
Chapter 7
Tension settled in Dominic’s neck as he watched Tatiana get the lowdown from Kerry about what to expect on their psychic trip into Courtney’s memories. The table and chairs were gone, replaced by a pillow-strewn chaise lounge, which Courtney now sat comfortably on. Steven sat on the edge next to her, holding her hand and speaking soft words of encouragement.
Dominic inched closer to Tatiana but fought the urge to touch her, to reach out and place a reassuring hand on her lower back. She listened intently to Kerry, her face a mask of concentration as she absorbed the direction. He wanted to wrap his arm around her, hold her and tell her that everything would be all right, but somehow, he knew that’s not what she needed. She required enough space so that she didn’t feel suffocated, but not so much that she felt abandoned.
At least that’s what his gut told him.
Dominic ran one hand over his stubble-covered jaw as he wrestled with his conflicting emotions. Looking around the meeting hall, he observed the other men with their mates and bit back a surprising surge of jealousy as he watched how easy they were with one another. There was a seamless fluidity to the way they moved, spoke, and even looked at each other. He couldn’t help but worry he and Tatiana may never have that.
The two of them had been making decent progress, but he knew he’d blown up in the barn when he blurted out that she was his mate, announcing it for the world to hear. What a dope.
Dominic couldn’t blame her for being upset, but in that moment, all he could feel was fear. Fear that she could be stolen before he had a chance to really know her—for them to know each other.
Assuring Tatiana’s safety and happiness had quickly become his number one mission—it even ranked above being Guardian. His serious gaze swept across the room and landed on Richard, Salinda, and little Jessica. What would he do if he had to choose? If he was faced with protecting Tatiana, or the prince and his family…
“Is she gonna be okay?” Matt’s shaky voice interrupted his thoughts.
“What?” Dominic snapped. He looked to his left and realized Matt was standing next to him with a concerned expression.
“Tatiana?” Matt stuffed his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and jutted his chin toward Tatiana as she took her place by Courtney’s side. “Is this—this séance thing or whatever it is—is it going to hurt her?”