by Donna Steele
Using the Essence as a guide, Cael homed in on the pair. The Essence was rarely any distance from the female any longer, but the Essence made no response to any of Cael’s attempts to communicate.
“I have found her,” she exclaimed.
“Can you see where she is located physically, and communicate the information to the male?”
“A moment.”
Cael changed perspectives, observing the space around Dee. Having never done anything remotely like this, she took some of the precious little time to ensure she could convey the information to Dusty accurately.
“I have it.” Cael opened her eyes to see the Elder watching her and nodding.
“Rather than attempt to reach the male alone, continue the link. It will be stronger,” the Elder advised.
Cael bowed her head at once and began forming a link with Dusty.
~ ~ ~
Dusty drew a deep breath. Nothing. He was a fool, the woman probably didn’t even exist, merely a shared hallucination.
He started to rise, maybe splashing some water on his face would help. He had to back out there to continue the search.
A blinding headache came out of nowhere, rocking him almost to his knees.
His vision clearing, he saw her, the woman in the robes. Instantly he knew where Dee was. It wasn’t possible.
Neither was time travel.
Dusty was on his feet, racing to the living room.
“I know where she is.” He grabbed his fob from the coffee table where Leonard laid it after confirming the GPS was down.
“Wait a minute, what do you know?” Sherry insisted before Leonard had the chance.
“I just, I know where she is. I’m going to her.”
“I’m going with you,” Sherry declared, snatching up her bag.
“You don’t—”
“You may need an M.D. more than a Ph.D. at this point.”
Dusty blinked, then nodded.
“Leonard, stay here in case we’re wrong. If she comes in, call us,” Sherry demanded, Dusty was already out the door.
“Report back to me and be careful!” he called after her.
~ ~ ~
Dusty started his car as he raced toward it. He saw Sherry grab for the bar, barely in the car when he shot out into thankfully little traffic.
Probably should have let her get seated.
He placed his vehicle on manual. In the back of his mind he knew Sherry had never experienced a ride like this. It had been a while since he’d used this skill.
As he left the city, he noted his speed, but he wasn’t approached by law enforcement. Okay, he wasn’t going at jet speed, but as close as he could.
The ride seemed endless even driving this fast. Sherry had not asked their destination, remaining silent, he noted with wry amusement. She hadn’t tried reassurance, probably not wanting to distract him from his driving. He was scaring her but no way could he slow down.
The woman had given him this information. It hadn’t occurred to him to doubt it, trusting her completely.
“Ping Leonard, will you? See if he’s heard anything.”
“He hasn’t. Dusty, where are we going?”
“Here.”
Sherry lurched for the bar again as Dusty hurtled the car into a rest stop.
He was out of the car before it came to a halt, racing to Dee’s car and flinging her door open.
The front seat was empty, but Dusty heard her, a mix of a moan and a groan coming from the backseat. He wrenched that door open. “Dee? Baby, can you hear me?”
She moaned again, curling in around herself.
“Move.” Sherry shoved him aside, no small feat with their difference in sizes, but she was in charge now. “She’s in labor.”
“Labor? I’ll call 911.” Dusty’s voice had gone up an octave.
“91 . . . don’t be an idiot, call 767 and hurry.”
Refusing to wonder any further, Dusty had the numbers punched in fast, connecting with the dispatcher.
“Let’s see if we can get you into Dusty’s car. It’s warmer.” Sherry’s tone was meant to soothe, but Dusty doubted Dee could even hear her. Sherry motioned him to open the door on the other side, but Dee wouldn’t be able to walk. He’d have to carry her.
When Dee’s feet touched the ground her water broke and Sherry waved Dusty to stop. “I need to examine her.”
Dusty forced himself to nod.
“Crap!”
“What?” Dusty’s voice strangled. “What!”
“She’s crowning. Crawl in and hold her against your chest. She has to push.”
“Here?”
“Unless you have a transporter on you. Dee, listen to me. We’re here, Dusty’s here. You’re not alone. I need you to push.”
“Dusty.” It was barely a whisper.
“I’m here, Dee. We’re here.” He caught a glimmer of the nearly transparent female watching them. There was another, something in blue, behind her.
Dee blinked, her eyes glazed and unfocused with pain. She blinked again and her eyes cleared, concentrating on him, on his face.
She linked her fingers with his and at his nod, pushed.
Epilogue
Home World of the Malvek
Braxal and Gsark stumbled back, blinded with pain, as the two mind talkers crashed to the floor, screaming out in agony.
“What happened!” Braxal bellowed, shaking his head to try to collect his thoughts.
Even that did not provoke an immediate response from the two lesser Malveks writhing in pain on the floor. Braxal made a move toward them when Gsark lightly touched his arm.
“We were nearly overcome. Give them a moment.”
Braxal quickly scanned the space. The four of them were alone. No one would see his hesitation. He nodded to Gsark, and settled back to give the two on the floor some time to recover.
The older of the two slowly sat up. He was Braxal’s spawn and nominally in charge of the project due to his age. His head was still in his hands and Braxal saw life fluid had leaked from his nose.
“What happened?” Braxal spoke mildly for him and the mind talker turned toward his voice, eyes still unfocused.
“I do not . . . our minds were thrust away from the planet. It is now shielded.”
“Shielded? Can you break through?”
“I believe if all of the mind talkers on our world worked together, we could not penetrate the existing shield.”
Braxal blinked several lids, then met Gsark’s eyes. “The Guardians.”
THANK YOU for reading A DIFFERENT TIME, Book Two of Guardians of Now. If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review.
Did you miss Book One, ANOTHER TIME? You can get it here!
BUY LINK: https://tinyurl.com/ybhaljlx
Dusty’s and Dee’s story concludes with Book Three, A NEW TIME:
The relationship between Dusty and Dee is strained with the traumatic birth of their child—conceived in the past and born in the new future they created. Neither is able to bridge the gap that other, unknown forces have thrust upon them.
Can the Guardians, with their knowledge, help set things back on track?
Please enjoy an excerpt:
“She is born.” The Guardian Cael sank onto the closest bench. She had never sat in the presence of an Elder before, but her legs would no longer support her.
Rather than reprimand her, the Elder took a seat beside her on the bench, and to Cael’s shock, slipped her arm around Cael’s shoulder.
“Is she well?”
“Yes. She was confused and frightened, but she now feels safer. She has shielded the planet.”
“Shielded?”
“Yes. The Malveks no longe
r touch anyone with their ‘mind talkers.’ Her mother’s thoughts are now clear of their interference. I should have seen what was happening to the mother, advised the Essence, but she is so strong and untrained.”
“Rest, my child.” The Elder drew Cael’s head down to her shoulder. “You have done all you can for now.”
The Elder was right.
The Essence was safe for now.
Cael closed her eyes.
Where to Find Donna:
www.steelestories.com
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Also from Soul Mate Publishing and Donna Steele:
ANOTHER TIME
When Dusty Williams walks into a strange bar to contemplate the ruination of his career, the last thing he expects to find is a compelling woman. He’s not even in the mood for a one-night stand. He just wants to escape from all humanity.
Dee Stevens can’t believe she’s in a bar at all. She’s just lost two patients due to drunk driving. Whatever could have drawn her into a strange bar tonight, of all times?
When the two meet, and they feel an odd vibration that seems to pull them together, they have no idea what’s ahead, or behind, them . . . and what it can mean for mankind.
Available now on Amazon: ANOTHER TIME
