Page 23 (1/2)

He shook his head "That’s co to take ti"

"I know, but there’s only soaround the kind of power it’s going to take to help her Not yet Our connection is too new and s her"

"Then let’s stretch it out"

"It’s not that si so you’re not tellingyou"

"I don’t need you to protect me I need to you protect Nika"

He pressed his hand to her cheek and the touch felt good Right A huth flowed into her and she wanted et enough power to help her Without her, I have nothing"

His rim, flat line "It’s too soon We shouldn’t force it"

"Screw that I want to force it" She couldn’t sit here in his lap anyet up and put soret, like punch hi

Paul followed her up His eyes darkened to a rich, chocolate brown, as if the idea of rushing things appealed to hiht do yourself har to do whatever it takes to help Nika It doesn’tet that?"

"I do More than you know"

"Then help ainst her chest, just below the luceria and above the swell of her breasts

"What are you doing?" she asked

"I’ you what you want More power"

"This seeh her, streaking fro hovered near her skin with only the fabric of her shirt between them The jolt wasn’t exactly pain, but it was one hell of a close cousin

Andra was left breathing hard, shaking Weak She felt like she’d just run a ?" asked Paul with a sh?" she asked, praying it was so "I sure don’t feel stronger"

"Hardly That was ato take a lot more than that Plus, you’ll have to learn to channel it"

Andra wasn’t sure how oing to h to fix Nika "Then teach me"

He stared into her eyes, his expression deadly serious "Be sure, Andra"

"I’round"

She knelt on the ground and speared her fingers through the dry grass so she could feel the dirt He knelt beside her and his hand pinned hers in place

"Now, close your eyes What do you feel?"

"Weeds It’s warer"

"That’s just the surface Go deeper"

"I can’t touch anything deeper"

"You also can’t touch Nika’s mind, but you have to learn how to feel your way around inside it"

Andra got his point She didn’t tell hihts of lost children for years Whatever she was able to do with them didn’t ith Nika--she’d tried--so she ainst hers It was easier to feel his round, but she kept trying She thought about what it round, all dark and heavy, but she sensed that she still wasn’t getting it right

"Sorry I’ it on your own You have to use my power Pull it from me"

"I don’t kno"

"I’ll help," said Paul His hand cupped the nape of her neck and she felt his ring hit her necklace and stick like a net He leaned down over her until she could feel his breath fan her cheek, and he placed his free hand next to hers on the ground Her neck warmed beneath the band, and that warertip It wasn’t like the jolt before It was gentler, orout of her into the ground

"Can you feel the soil just below your fingertips?"

Andra nodded That part was easy

"Below that is a layer of broken rock The roots of the plants have dug their way in through tiny cracks, soaking up the water that’s trapped there each time it rains"

Andra squeezed her eyes shut and tried to see what he described

"About thirty feet down there’s a thick slab of stone Old stone that’s been here since before randpar ents were born" With every word, the power flowing into her seemed to increase She could feel it expand to fill up her ar second

"Can you see it?" he asked in a ine it, but I can’t see it"

"You’re not lettingit"

"I’ The inadequacy is mine, but I can fix it" He pulled in a deep breath "Don’t fight "

She didn’t knohat he meant until she felt a pressure inside her skull as if so to bore its way in Her instincts were to fight the invasion, but she tried to let it happen

"Relax," she heard hirate out in a pained tone

She let out the breath she was holding and urged her tightto hurt her Paul would never hurt her