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you ve never been able to do before. He joined her on the sofa and took her hands
between his. All playfulness faded from his expression. Do you still hear their
individual voices or have they integrated into your mind?
The spirit is reluctant to let go, but the others have become part of me.
That should work to your advantage. Eautu knows Ceddrik better than anyone.
Allow her to guide you as you open your mind.
Sarah nodded and closed her eyes. The warm clasp of Fane s hands anchored her to
reality as she freed her gift. She sensed the spirit flowing with her, scanning through
her. Then gradually the dynamic shifted and she was guiding the search. The spirit
supported her, encouraged her, but Sarah was stronger, more capable.
The present was shrouded in mist, and the past was blocked by dense shadows. She
focused on the light spreading out before her, opening her mind to new sensations and
possibilities. Events whirled and twisted, shaped and reshaped by the choices affecting
them. It was fluid, changeable and mesmerizing.
Fane s hand squeezed gently. Don t be distracted. Focus on the pattern of Ceddrik s
energy.
The spirit provided the template, the familiar rhythm of the enemy. Sarah locked
the pattern into her gift and scanned the undulating events. A scene snapped into focus,
vivid and distinct.
A stark gray building was outlined against the murky horizon, with guard towers
situated at regular intervals. Light flashed on the marked path, which stretched from
the building to a departure ring. The light receded, revealing a man standing on the
walkway. Wavy blond hair surrounded a face with refined features and wide blue eyes.
This was Ceddrik? He was fine-boned and& pretty. How could this be the dreaded
dragon?
Then his gaze narrowed and loathing contorted his features. He raised his chin and
energy arced from his chest, driving into Chancellor Howyn with deadly accuracy.
Howyn screamed, writhing in agony.
Sarah pulled back, needing a setting, a timeframe and location. The sun had set,
casting purple twilight over the scene. Blaster fire drew her attention back to Ceddrik.
He blocked each shot with effortless precision, deflecting the bursts back onto the
guards.
The scene faded and Sarah pulled her hands out of Fane s, rubbing her eyes with
her fingertips. He s going to make a move on Howyn.
We already suspected as much. Could you tell when?
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Seer
She opened her eyes and sighed. It was dusk, but it could have been tonight or
three weeks from now. I couldn t sense a specific date.
What did you see? There might be clues in the details.
They were outside the detention center. It felt like an ambush.
Has Rayden been able to find out when Howyn is scheduled to be moved?
She shook her head, frustrated by the incomplete information. He spoke with his
brother yesterday, but Byod hadn t heard anything specific.
It might be time for another call.
I agree. She led Fane down the hall and tapped on the door to Rayden s office.
She pushed open the door when he called out but remained in the doorway. He d
dressed casually in jeans and a pullover shirt, which did nothing to disguise his military
bearing.
Did your guests leave? She didn t miss the hopeful note in his voice. Was he
uncomfortable with Fane, or did he just want to be free to touch her again?
Alice headed back but Fane s still here. She shifted, allowing Rayden to see the
mutant leader. I had a vision.
That s not surprising, is it? He folded his hands on his desktop as his gaze shifted
between her and Fane. You had visions before the energy transfer.
I did. Having a vision isn t the problem. It s what I was shown, or rather what I
wasn t shown. She moved into the office and sat in one of the chairs situated in front of
Rayden s desk. We need to know when Howyn is going to be transferred. That s when
Ceddrik will make his move.
Byod insists there s no plan to move Howyn or Bryson. Rayden s gaze followed
Fane as he approached the desk. I don t know where your spy got their information,
but my brother hasn t been able to confirm it.
My spy could be misinformed, but Sarah s visions have always been accurate.
Rather than sit, Fane stood behind the other chair and rested his hands on the padded
back.
Rayden returned his attention to Sarah with a subtle shrug. What did this vision
reveal? Is there any way you could have misunderstood what you saw?
Sarah tried not to let Rayden s skepticism anger her. His direct exposure to
paranormal abilities was still rather new. She couldn t expect decades of military
discipline to be overwritten in a matter of days.
I saw a large detention center shadowed by the setting sun. Ceddrik attacked
Howyn as he was being led from the building toward a waiting transport. He killed
Howyn and then the guards in a matter of seconds.
Where did Ceddrik come from? Most detention centers are surrounded by
electrified buffer zones. No one can approach without setting off perimeter alarms.
Rayden activated his computer and called up images of the most likely facilities. Were
any of these buildings the one you saw in your vision?
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Aubrey Ross
It was a test. He knew where Howyn was being held and wanted to gauge the
accuracy of her vision. She looked at the images and easily identified the one she d seen.
It s the one in the middle. And Ceddrik just flashed into view.
Rayden inclined his head, lips bowed in a reluctant smile. I asked Byod again this
morning about a potential transfer. He either doesn t know or isn t saying. We re on our
own.
Ceddrik must have tapped someone who can teleport, Fane mused. This will
make things even more complicated.
How long will the nanites allow him to retain each ability? Rayden asked.
Sarah wasn t sure who he was asking, but she replied, Allen would know. Where
is he?
He s still in the library as far as I know.
Fane had brought Allen a data-processing unit so he could continue his work. The
scientist had been thrilled with Fane s thoughtfulness and made a beeline for the library
with the DPU tucked under his arm.
Who would have the authority to order the transfer without your brother s
knowledge? Fane digressed, obviously uncomfortable with the unanswered questions.
Only a chancellor and there isn t one at the moment.
What about Director Krentz? Sarah suggested.
Rayden shook his head. He s determined to stay out of the specifics of the
reorganization. He intends to maintain order and assure that the election is aboveboard
then he ll leave the governing of Protaria to Protarians.
We have to be missing something. Fane s thumbs drummed on the back of the
chair.
Well, let s think this through. Rayden pushed back his chair and stood, moving
out from behind his desk. You know for a fact Howyn will be moved, and I know for a
fact it s not a legitimate transfer.
He s going to try to escape. Sarah stood as well. She turned and rested her hip
against the desktop, angling her body so she could see both men.
That would explain it, Rayden agreed. Byod has no reason to lie to me. He
wants Ceddrik stopped as much as we do.
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