Authors: Paige Cameron
Lang walked outside with them. “I’ll stay here and wait for Cad Quinlain.”
“The Quinlain?” Rae asked. “I’ve heard he’s a shark in court. He’s reported to be very good.”
“That matches what we know,” Lang admitted. “See you all later.”
Rae backed her car out of the drive and headed in the opposite direction of the main part of the ranch. “Our Priestess lives off by herself, surrounded by nature. She says it keeps her grounded.” Rae glanced at Cassie. “I’m sorry all this is happening to you, but I’m glad if it had to that you’re here where we can help you.”
“I don’t know how I’ll ever thank all of you.”
“By staying here and being happy.”
Cassie grinned at her. “I knew there’d be a catch.” They both laughed as Rae drove further into the wilderness.
Rae turned left and soon drove onto a long driveway. The Priestess’s house was a large A-frame, and lights spilled out of the windows into the dark surroundings. Nick pulled in beside them, and they all walked to the front door.
Cassie wasn’t sure what she expected. Certainly not the slim woman dressed in jeans, a long-sleeved red shirt, and cowboy boots. Her midnight-black hair fell straight to her waist.
“Cassie Venitia, this is our Priestess, Eleanor Benoit.”
“Welcome to our home, Cassie.” She reached out and took Cassie’s hand. “Please call me Elle. This is my husband, Pruet. Hello, Nick, It’s good to see you.” She gave Rae a hug. “How are you, sister of my heart?”
“Fine. I’m glad you wanted to see her tonight.”
“I am most interested in getting to know Cassie.”
“But—” Cassie started to speak.
“You are part of us. I sensed our kinship when I took your hand. Can you truly deny it?”
“I’m so confused. I don’t know what to think.”
“Fair enough. Come inside. We will go to my study and the others can visit.” Elle stopped on her way out to kiss her husband on the cheek. Their love was evident in their eyes and the way they touched.
* * * *
She led Cassie around the corner and into a large room lined with books. Many of the books looked old. There were rolled scripts in one area of the shelves. Soft flute music played in the background, and the air smelled of violets. Two leather chairs were arranged by the fireplace. Gold curtains had been pulled to keep out the dark.
“In the daytime I have a wonderful view of the prairie and mountains, but at night I prefer my bright-colored drapes. Sit by the fire. Then we will talk.”
Cassie sank into the buttery leather. The warmth of the fire felt good. This was a restful room. She looked across at the Priestess where she sat in the opposite lounge chair.
“You have heard about my blood test, and that some think I am part of the lost tribe?”
“Yes. Do you have doubts?”
“Who wouldn’t? This whole thing about you all being descendents of ancient astronauts who crashed on earth and having special skills, which I’ve seen, can be very confusing. Now to be told that through my father’s genes I am one of you—”
“It is overwhelming. But I assure you between the blood test and what I felt when you touched my hand, I am certain. What made you run away from us ten years ago?”
Cassie jumped up and paced the room. “I’m not sure. Lang and Nick were pushing me to marry them. My strong feelings for them made me want to, but whenever I was on the ranch I was too unsettled. I decided I was too young to marry, so I ran away.”
“How were you unsettled?”
“Inside of me, there was a constant hum, an uneasiness. I couldn’t identify it. I told myself I couldn’t live here. I had no special talents. Later Nick and Lang would regret having such a wife.”
“Sit. May I touch your head?”
“Yes.”
Cassie sat back in the chair, and Elle moved to stand behind her. She placed her hands on either side of Cassie’s head and began to hum a soft tune. As she did a quiet calm spread from Cassie’s head down through her whole body. Cassie’s internal hum went away, and her muscles relaxed. A feeling of well-being centered inside of her.
After what seemed only a few minutes, but Cassie realized later had been almost half an hour, the Priestess stepped back and sat in her chair. She closed her eyes, and someone knocked on the door.
“Come in, darling.”
Still distracted by what had happened, Cassie was surprised to see the Priestess’s husband walk in carrying a tray with two teacups. He sat the tray on the desk to the side and handed Cassie and then his wife a cup.
“Drink,” Elle said. “It will refresh you.”
“I hardly need it. I feel wonderfully refreshed and calm. What did you do?”
“I stopped the hum. You will learn how to do that. My husband will teach you.”
Cassie looked across at the tall, slim, dark-haired man standing beside his wife. “How can you help me?”
“Although my lovely wife and I are both telepaths, she mainly connects with our past and me. She does not do that with anyone else. I have the stronger talent in that area. Your ability is powerful. You must be taught to control that power for your benefit and the others around you.”
“I don’t understand.”
The Priestess took her hands and held them tightly. “The hum is other people’s words. You didn’t know how to receive them or how to shut the noise out.”
“That’s impossible. It never happened off the ranch.”
“No, because we have more telepaths on the ranch than there are anywhere else. One here or there you’d ignore as outside noise or something insignificant. Here the noise becomes louder, more insistent.”
Her husband knelt at Cassie’s chair and stared into her eyes. “I can help you learn to control what you want to receive and shut the rest out. Will you let me?”
“I’m finding this all hard to believe. But I’m willing to have you try to teach me. But how will this help me with my present problem?”
“I am going to visit your Peter Illingsworth. I will check that what you have said is truthful. Not that I don’t believe you. But I must be absolutely certain. Your first lesson is always make sure of the facts, regardless of who it is.”
He stood and leaned against his wife’s desk. “What I do then is put the thought into his head that he should confess. If though he is truly evil, it may not take. So the other possibility is that by talking with him, he’ll think of other women he has hurt. I can retrieve their names. Then we can track them down. Hopefully one of them will agree to testify.” He moved away from the desk to the door. “We start your lessons tomorrow morning at nine o’clock.” The door shut behind him.
“Do you have any questions?” the Priestess asked.
“I’m too confused right now to know.”
“Would you like for me to research as much information as I can on your father’s family?”
“Please.”
“Let’s go join the others.”
Nick suggested they leave shortly after Cassie and the Priestess returned to the great room. Cassie thanked the Priestess and her husband, hugged Rae, and followed Nick out.
He opened her car door. She got in, leaned back against the seat, and closed her eyes. It was wonderful to have the hum gone. She hadn’t asked how long it would last.
“Tired?”
When she opened her eyes, he was leaning toward her. “A little, but a good tired. Take me home.”
“I hope you mean the cabin, because that’s where we’re headed. Lang will want to hear what happened. Me too. That is if you want to share, if not, we’ll understand.”
“To be truthful, I just want to sleep. Can we talk tomorrow?”
“Have you forgotten your attorney will probably be at the house when we get there?”
“Cad. I did forget. I’m anxious to speak with him.” She gazed across at Nick’s profile etched by the night shadows and the moon’s light. A warrior’s mask. Now where did that thought come from? Lighthearted Nick had never seemed the type. And yet she was certain she was right. He glanced at her.
“You won’t shut Lang and me out again, will you?”
“Not at all. I’ll tell you everything that happened with the Priestess later.”
“I must admit to a bit of jealousy concerning this guy.”
She moved closer to him and put her hand on his thigh. She felt his muscle tighten. “Don’t worry. You and Lang are the only men in my heart.”
His large, warm hand covered hers. “That’s enough reassurance for me, but you’d better let Lang know, too. He may appear calm and reasonable, but that’s up to a point. It doesn’t include sharing you with anyone, but me.”
Chapter Eleven
Cad was sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee with Lang. “Cad.” Cassie ran forward as he stood. She threw herself into his arms. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“I told you I’d always come if you needed me.” His deep voice wrapped around her.
She stepped back. “This is Nick Kenric. I see you’ve already met Lang.”
“He tells me you are going to marry him and Nick.”
“Yes.” She held out her hand to show off her ring. “That just happened.” She smiled at Lang and found he was frowning at her. “They’re a little jealous of you. I’ve tried to explain we don’t feel that way about each other.”
“Certainly not. You are the sister in my heart.” He turned to Lang and Nick. “I recognized her when she came to my shop. Her vibrations hit me full in the chest.”
“What?” Cassie stepped back. “You knew? How?”
“I’m a member of the third tribe, Cassie. And I recognized you by your looks and your heart.”
She studied him. His wavy black hair was tied back and glistened in the overhead light. His face was a blend of high cheekbones, deep-set golden eyes, a firm mouth, and a square jaw. Cad was as tall as Lang, and his broad shoulders, lean hips, and long legs should have given her a hint that he might be kin to the men she’d left behind. Especially when he reminded her so much of Lang.
“Why didn’t I feel the unrest around you?”
“Do you around them?” He nodded to Nick and Lang.
“Not all the time.”
“You look like my family, Cassie. My guess is we are related through your father and my mother.”
Cassie sank into a chair. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You weren’t ready to hear me. But I knew you would have to return here. You couldn’t stay away forever, and when you did return, it would all come to a head. I did not foresee you getting into trouble with the law.”
“Can you help me with that?”
“Of course. I never lose.”
His warm smile comforted her. “I’m exhausted. Can I go to bed?”
Lang swept her into his arms. “I’ll be right back,” he said to the others. He took long strides down the hall to his bedroom. Setting her on her feet, he began to undress her.
“I can do it.”
“Doubtful. You’re almost asleep standing up. You’ve been through a lot in the past twenty-four hours.” He had her undressed and in bed before she could protest again.
“Turn over.”