Chapter Seven
Varrik released Echo’s cuffs and gathered her into his arms. “He must have moved her. He has nothing to gain by harming her.”
“I can’t sense her.” She stared at him, eyes wide, lips trembling. “Even if she were shielded, I should be able to sense her shield.”
“Do you trust me?”
“Hell, no,” she snapped. Then much slower, “Yes. Can you help me find her?”
“If you allow me into your mind, I can boost your telepathic range.”
“Is that all you’re going to do?”
“For now.” He grinned and took her face between his hands. “Form her image in your mind.”
She wrapped her fingers around his wrists and closed her eyes. Distracted for a moment by her unexpected touch, his gaze gravitated downward. She knelt before him, thighs parted, her position more submissive than she realized. He spared her delectable body one last look, then sank into her mind.
Control was not her strong suit. He smiled, wondering why the discovery surprised him. Chaotic images and flares of random emotions swirled around a perfectly formed likeness of E’Lanna.
Think of her expressions. Picture her eyes, her smile. I can project the scan beyond your range, but I need you to guide me. She didn’t need to know he could locate E’Lanna in a matter of minutes without her assistance. She was wary enough without knowing the full extent of his telepathic strength. Besides, Echo would never take his word for her sister’s wellbeing. It was imperative she experience it for herself.
I think… No, wait that wasn’t…
Concentrate.
The clutter began to clear and E’Lanna’s image focused. Much better. Echo turned her scan toward the faint signal and propelled them along the energy stream. Surprised by her sudden rush of power, he applied a subtle hindrance. Elder North would have surrounded E’Lanna with telepathic traps, easily triggered and hard to detect.
Varrik fused his signal with Echo’s, governing what she could see, a small, dimly lit room, not unlike the holding cell. E’Lanna lay upon a flat cushion, covered to the waist by a thin sheet. Her arms were folded over her stomach, and her eyes were closed.
Not too close, or he’ll know we’ve been here.
I don’t care if he knows, she objected.
There is no way you could have found her without my assistance. Helping you is a punishable offense.
He felt her sigh. Why is her signal so weak?
Elder North used a stasis compulsion. It’s harmless and allows a person to be kept in a remote location for several days with minimal supervision.
Can you free her from its effects?
A compulsion can only be deactivated by the person who constructed it. There was another way, but he wasn’t willing to tell her, yet. He had risked enough for one day. Are you satisfied that she’s unharmed?
Do you know where this is? Her mind shifted restlessly. It looks sort of like the maze, yet different, older maybe.
The maze was built over many cycles. Some parts are older than others. Let’s go. You can’t communicate with her. It will only frustrate you to try.
With discernible reluctance, she released her hold on the visualization, and they sped back across the metaphysical plane. Weightless and free, he relished the sensation of motion, unencumbered by the physical realm. They returned to their corporeal bodies, and she opened her eyes.
Will you help me free her? she whispered in his mind.
I can’t. They will be watching every move I make, trying to figure out why I chose you for my mate. If they realize my true purpose, we’re both dead.
Royal Obsession (Shadow Assassins 1) Page 16
