Psychic Storm: Ten Dangerously Sexy Tales of Psychic Witches, Vampires, Mediums, Empaths and Seers

by Deanna Chase

  Cy rumbles his amusement into the phone “Of course she is. I wouldn’t love her as much as I do if she couldn’t. But you didn’t call to ask about how we’re doing.”

  “I need some help with a name.”

  “New potential guest?”

  “I wish.” I fill him in on what’s happened. I trust him to a point, even though I don’t like having to rely on others. Rafe listens to my recount as well. His sharp gaze locks on me as if he’s making sure I include everything, even the crescent-shaped scar on John Pierre’s cheek.

  “Got it.” Cy hesitates for a second, “Dria, I don’t like this. Let me send one of my security guys up there. He can fly up on my private plane and be there in twelve hours.” His voice sounds so adamant it throws me for a second. “I know how you feel about other vamps getting too close. You can trust him with your life. I’m talking about sending Cali’s nephew. He was turned in Afghanistan a year ago. He’s an ex-military munitions expert and a real nice guy.”

  In my continued silence he babbles on.

  “The skills he’s learned from Uncle Sam have made him a valuable security asset. Nothing gets past him.”

  Good enough credentials, but I’m not comfortable with the idea. “I’m not sure. This is not just about letting another vampire get too close to me. Some things I’m not going to share, even with you, Cy. If I can’t trust him, for even a minute, you know what that means, yes?’’ I’m asking him if he is sure, because if he’s wrong, I’ll have to kill Cali’s nephew and he knows it.

  Cy doesn’t hesitate, a good sign in my book. “I’m sure, Dria. It would be his honor to serve you. His undead life is yours, for as long as you need it.”

  I snort at his formal reply. It disturbs me that Cy doesn’t even stop to consider asking Cali or her nephew their opinion. Which could mean one of two things: either he knows him really well and they’ve already discussed the possibility, or he’s eager to get some intel on me and will pay this guy any amount to do the job. Cy has never been one of my pushier offspring, so I’ll take his offer at face value, no matter how hard it is for me to do.

  Rafe, able to hear both sides of the conversation easily, chimes in with his opinion privately. Listen to what he has to say, my love. You set him free not only because of his strength, but you knew you could trust him.

  Yes, yes. You’re right. I sigh, resigned in my decision. “Okay, Cy, if you’re sure I can trust him, then that’s good enough for me. What’s his name?”

  “Asa.” His voice carries an excitement I clearly hear. “My pilot can have him airborne within the next hour and they’ll land at your private airstrip within twelve hours. I’d like you to consider hiring him permanently, if you want to keep him longer than this crisis. He’s looking for a new seethe and would welcome a change.”

  “Rafe’s always talking about beefing up our security levels and such. If things work out, it’s something we might consider. Look, I’m on board with it, but don’t you think you’re overreacting a tad?” My current seethe is the size I like it: two. No vamp issues or group discussions.

  “No, Dria. I think you’re under-reacting. I know you worry security would hinder the guests’ enjoyment, but believe me, good security can go undetected.”

  That’s not what I think and not why I don’t have a vamp security force. Having to kill to protect my secret isn’t something I relish. But if it makes him happy to think I’m worried about the guests, then so be it.

  “All right, already. Tell him to come dressed casual. He’ll fit in better, more like an employee than a vamped-up Goth guest. And the employees call me Vivian or Viv, not many refer to me here by my true name.”

  Cy laughs at my requests. “Yes, Viv, whatever you want.”

  I have a feeling this might be one of those ‘laughing at me not with me’ moments but I let it slide. It’s the first time I’ve accepted any offer he’s made to send someone from his large seethe so I’m sure he’s pleased.

  We end things with him telling me he’ll have Cali follow up during the daylight hours if details are discovered on John Pierre while he’s sleeping for the day. Looks like all the bases are covered. Damn, it appears we’ll have a new employee soon.

  Rafe’s grunt of agreement signifies his satisfaction with the outcome. “Glad you agreed to Cali’s nephew. I bet he’ll work out great.”

  Yippie. The day keeps getting freakin’ better and better. Good thing Rafe’s optimistic. Maybe I’m being jumpy, but my gut tells me no.

  “Don’t worry Dria, I’ll keep an eye on Asa too, until you’re sure you can trust him.”

  He knows my fears. I’m grateful he recognizes them without dismissing them or me. Rafe wasn’t alive during the hardest times of my existence, but he’s aware of all that happened and has relived a lot of my nightmares through our mate bond. I've never been completely sure if he realizes he's my greatest weakness. To lose yet another lover would compel me to walk into the sun and never look back.

  My husband stands to stretch before moving to the sink to clean the pans from dinner.

  “I’m going to change for the bar.” I call out as I walk out of the kitchen.

  Rafe looks up from the pot he’s scrubbing. “Babe, wear something red.”

  Worth considering, I do have a lot of red. Not like I need anything to make me stand out more.

  “Oh, and suggest it to Olivia as well,” he adds.

  I see where his devious little mind is going. Oh, he’s good, I’ll give him that. I strip while I saunter down the hall, swishing my hips and ass for all I’m worth. Gotta leave ‘em smiling.

  I hear his voice enter my head softly, almost wistfully. My liebling, what am I going to do with you? His love and desire wraps around me like a warm breeze.

  “You want a list?” I call over my shoulder as I cross into our suite. He laughs, clanging a clean pan on the stove.

  Chapter Nine

  Once I’ve touched a mind I can zero in on it pretty much anywhere on the property. I want Olivia to feel good about herself, so infusing her with my confidence is the first step. Reaching out with my senses, I find her mind, a clear bright signature, on the second floor in one of the MacKellan’s suites. I start my mental projections to Olivia by sending the loving, desired feeling Rafe left me with a moment ago.

  I wander to our closet to stand in front of the full-length mirror. The myth about vampires not having a reflection always makes me laugh; a trait so distinguishing couldn’t go unnoticed by humans for long. Cocking one hip, I stare at my reflection. I push to Olivia’s mind, projecting the image in my mirror to her. Running my hands up my sides, I bringing them forward to cup my bra-covered breasts, then round them over the tops to slide up my neck into my hair. I’m able to blur my face in the illusion while replacing my copper colored hair with blonde.

  Olivia will see the pictures in her mind and think she is reliving an old memory of herself in front of the mirror, or a memory she dreamed. It’s like a strong sensation of déjà vu, though most people can’t tell the difference.

  If I’m timing my manipulation right, Olivia should be getting ready now. I allow the power of being desired to course through the vision. Every smart woman knows one important fact—you are sexy when you feel sexy. If I get her to believe in herself, half the battle will be done.

  Selecting an outfit from the numerous racks, I grab something form-fitting in fire-engine red. I love the way a corset top displays the girls nicely. I pair it with a pencil-thin skirt, which falls just below my knees, and a red bolero jacket accented with sequined trim. I send a memory of myself in the ensemble to Olivia, with the powerful confidence I experience when I look so damn good.

  With my influence she’ll want to wear something red too. Carefully, I insert in her mind an idea of calling the friendly, sexy, innkeeper if she needs to borrow anything. Slipping a robe on my semi-naked self, I belt it and sit by the phone. It takes about five minutes for her to call.

  “Hello, Olivia.”

 
; Her breathless voice greets me on the other end. “How did you know I was calling?”

  Damn, I may have freaked her out. Not good. “This phone shows the room you’re calling from.” I’m a smooth liar.

  She states her request for clothes in a timid voice and I reply with warmth and encouragement. “Come down to our suite. I’ve got something dynamite for you to wear.” I give her directions to find me then gently hang up the phone. Projecting reassurance she did the right thing by calling me, I settle back in the chair for her to arrive.

  In twenty minutes I’ve got Olivia dressed in a tight v-neck red cashmere sweater with a matching above-the-knee, equally tight cashmere skirt and ballet flats. Where are the corsets and leather you may ask? Know your prey and know it well. If I learned anything from seeing Antonio in the lobby, it’s this: Antonio dresses with flare and class. He has good taste in clothes and I guarantee any man who takes such care in his own appearance is going to judge a woman by hers. What he wants behind closed doors is anyone’s guess, but what he wants in public will be a mirror image of himself.

  He’ll want sexy, but not in-your-face come-and-get-it-while-it’s-hot sexy. There’s a difference. He craves subtlety. Antonio needs to notice her and not her clothes, but those clothes should still be fine. He may have initially reacted to the cheap type of Elvira dress I was wearing earlier in the lobby, but that’s not the look he’d choose for a mate. I bet he hasn’t even figured it out yet. Ah, to be old and wise does have advantages.

  The body-hugging knit shows the delectable curves on Olivia, and hopefully every man in the room will notice. If I can judge a man, and damn, after half a century I sure as hell can, then she’ll have to trust me. Good thing Rafe likes me in anything I wear, because at heart, I’m a chameleon.

  I pass on my unasked-for wisdom to the wide-eyed Olivia during her short visit. Cajoling her to confess her heart’s desire of attracting Antonio, without her discovering I already knew it. I offer to share my man-hunting skills with her tomorrow over tea at eleven, which she jumps to accept. She has a good heart and appears to love Antonio. After this, I’ll see if I can get the young vamp up to snuff as well.

  For now, I look Olivia deep in the eyes to give her some parting gifts of advice and suggest with a compulsion that she follow them. Poor thing doesn’t know she has no choice. My sly guidance requests for her to arrive in the bar at half past ten, not to dwell on Antonio at all for tonight, and instead, enjoy the company of the other male guests she’ll meet there. Little does she know what I have planned.

  She thanks me profusely, acting as though she’s known me for years. She leaves excited and flushed, planning to return to her room to adjust her makeup and hair accordingly to match the new clothes. The fireworks later are going to be damn fun and I can hardly wait. I think teasing Antonio will be one of the best times I’ve had in a while. It would be good for the gorgeous Adonis to not get the girl for a change. Make his blood boil.

  I take a brief shower, washing my body. Rafe hates when I remove his scent, but tonight I should. He finishes in the kitchen, coming into the bath as I leave the enclosure. I dry off slowly while he watches. He doesn’t say a word. His hot gaze follows as I put the towel on the rack. I see what watching does to him. It’s not like he can hide his reaction when he’s big.

  “Hey,” I say with an evil grin. “No fun on your own in the shower. I want you at full mast later on tonight.”

  His face appears set and serious; he must be having naughty thoughts. I turn to the side, bend over at the waist, and pick up my discarded stockings. His eyes take in my every move and he looks like he’d eat me up if given half a chance.

  His voice comes out in a growl, “Not to worry, dear. I’ll be out of the shower in a flash.”

  While he’s wet and soapy, I dress and smooth my hair, making it sleek like Olivia’s. I re-apply makeup with a heavier hand, similar to how Olivia’s will appear when she’s done. I broadcast the images to her, and like a good little student, she eagerly follows the new ideas in her mind without questioning their origin. When I hear Rafe finishing, I lay out his clothes for the evening. One great thing about him is that he lets me dress him up.

  It’s like having my very own Americana circa 1950s-inspired Ken doll: full-size and anatomically correct. I love to picture the fabric hugging his firm curves and clinging to his hard lines—makes me hot. The good news is Rafe couldn’t give a rat’s ass what he wears.

  On a day-to-day basis, or in a pinch, he can dress himself well. At least, now that is. After sixty-five years, he no longer needs Garanimal-type color pictures on the clothes to show what goes with what, but it was painful in the beginning.

  Upon seeing the red corset, his grin turns sly, like the cat that ate the canary. “You look vampy-trampy and hot as hell.”

  Chapter Ten

  Rafe dresses then we leave for the bar. Olivia has a little time before she arrives, so I hope Antonio appears before her. Sometimes all my careful machinations go awry because I didn’t tell the schmuck to be somewhere at a set time. We reach the third floor without coming into contact with anyone. I catch a shadow detach from a mahogany bookcase. A tall male figure steps into the light, moving our way. The mental signature approaching us is none other than the lonely Drew.

  “Good evening, Drew. So glad you could join us tonight,” I say.

  “Yes, I said I would, didn’t I?” There’s a twist of annoyance in his tone. “Vivian, there’s something I’ve been waiting to approach you about.”

  I motion to the sitting area across from our position on the landing. “Shall we adjourn to the reading parlor for privacy?”

  Drew follows my lead without answering and soon all three of us stand around a low, hand-carved coffee table with a grouping of chairs behind us. The tension in the loft feels high and none of us have moved to take a seat.

  This seems odd. Why the intensity? And why now? “Okay, we’re all ears.”

  “This is private, more like…vampire-related business.” He says it innocently enough, but the glance he casts towards Rafe has my gut screaming in angry reaction. “Perhaps without your human would be best.”

  My human? How dare he discount my husband so easily. Who the hell does this idiot think he is? Immediate rage fills me. My vision darkens and pinpoints on Drew. In a split second, my eyes bleed black while my hands twist into claws. The skin of my face contorts into a vicious visage, pulling back from my elongated canines. Power pulses out of me in a wave to slam into my opponent.

  My movements mirror my dark thoughts when I launch myself at him across the short distance. Instinct takes over, and the drive to protect my mate colors all I see: I will correct this insult within my territory.

  There’s a crunching of wood as the table gives way to my momentum and then I’m brought to an abrupt halt. I shake the haze from my brain to realize Rafe has grabbed me by my shoulders and pulled me back before I could make contact.

  Damn, Dria, step down! He is not ‘in your territory’ for christsakes. He’s our guest!

  Drew’s mouth opens in shock, then he hunches slightly away. I’m guessing a bit more of my monster came out than I would’ve preferred. The damn murder is messing with my head. Perhaps, I really do need a vacation when this fiasco is over—one with no other vampires nearby.

  “Vivian, Drew may not know you and I share everything.” Rafe’s voice sounds calm and detached, like one might talk to an enraged pit bull. “We are not the average bonded pair in that regard, dear.”

  I relax my hands from their claw-like positions while taking a steadying lungful of air. Logic eventually trickles in past the anger. I pull in my aura of power and glance at Rafe over my shoulder. The cool force of his energy flows from his touch down my spine. It soothes the savage beast within. Stepping out of the remains of the table, I reflect on my husband’s voice in my mind.

  Dria, you’re fine, baby, and so am I. Don’t let his rude slip bring you to the edge.

  My own inner mono
logue is much more simplistic: Kill him. He is a threat.

  But it’s Rafe’s voice I listen to. His steady timbre, and his alone, I can always count on no matter the situation. I straighten from what was almost a lunge while smoothing my skirt.

  “Please forgive my reaction, Drew.” I feel less in control than my voice sounds. “Rafe’s right. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and decide you’re ignorant.”

  Drew appears to be trying to back-pedal, literally and figuratively, as he moves away from the jagged table remains and bumps into a leather chair behind him. He’s just insulted his host and her mate, and the same mate barely saved him from getting jumped.

  In an effort to diffuse my anger even more, he wisely chooses a passive sitting position and lowers himself to the seat. Smart move. Without him standing to face me, the tension level in the room diffuses to normal.

  “I meant no disrespect,” Drew says. “Rafe’s right. My question was a personal one and I wasn’t sure how to proceed. I had hoped to ask in private, but did not mean to insult either of you with the request. ”

  “Spit it out, Drew. I’ve got other guests I’d like to see to as well.”

  He looks unsure of himself now, eyes downcast, shifting his weight from one hip to the other in the chair. Good. I move to brush past him. My patience is running out and I think he senses it.

  “I’d like to formally petition for entrance into your family, the McAndrew’s seethe,” he finally blurts. “Please consider adding my life to those who serve and protect you. I’d be a loyal addition and my previous seethe will give references on my character, if you desire.”

  Wow. Wasn’t expecting that in a million years.

  Shock registers on my face; I see an image of myself mirrored in his shiny black pupils. The reflection shows I actually have my mouth open like a gasping fish. Best to fix that now.

  I close my mouth. Open it again and nothing comes out.