Taken By Storm (19 page)

Vee joined her at the rail and Tal sat on one of the stone benches behind them. After a longing glance at Tal, she turned her attention to Vee.

“Intensifying the powers of another is only part of a catalyst’s capability.” Vee spoke softly, as if he were afraid of being overheard. “Such intensification can also be accomplished when two people with the same gift meld. Thou art able to amplify any gift, which is unusual, but the part of thy nature that is truly unique is what makes a catalyst so valuable.”

“And that is?”

“Many female Ontarians can sense latent abilities in others, but a catalyst can activate those abilities.

Some abilities remain latent indefinitely without the assistance of a catalyst. Others develop far more rapidly after a catalyst has triggered them.”

“And how does a catalyst accomplish all this?” She swallowed awkwardly and grasped the railing to hide the way her hands shook. All her life she’d battled feelings of mediocrity. She never felt good enough, smart enough or rich enough. Now the potential Vee described held her paralyzed.

“There is no need for thy fear,” Vee said.

She couldn’t suppress a little snort. “Can I give this to someone else? Can the power be exchanged like energy?”

“No. Fate entrusted this gift to thee and someone troubled themselves greatly to disguise thy true nature.”

Tal’s arms came around her, resting lightly on the railing on either side of her. Relaxing back against his warmth, she looked out across the exercise yard.

“So why am I here?” she asked.

“The Choosing took place not long ago. Many abilities have yet to develop in boys this young. I want thee to scan each child and tell me what is revealed to thee.”

Indulging a long, ragged sigh, Charlotte turned her gaze on the boy nearest the gallery. “The boy in red is telepathic, telekinetic and…” She blinked several times and leaned closer to the railing. “I sense a sort of receptiveness. He seems to be in tune to forces others cannot sense.”

Vee smiled. “Very good. Now scan the others.” One by one, she identified the abilities of each of the new recruits. Vee accepted her assessments and encouraged her to intensify her scan each time she hesitated.

She came to a fair-haired boy on the far side of the yard and chuckled. “Oh, you’ve got a firestarter.”

“Where?” Vee asked.

He moved closer, his robes lightly brushing her legs. Had she found her first latent ability?

“The blond boy in the turquoise tunic and black pants.” She pointed him out.

“Is the talent known to him?” Vee asked.

“I don’t think so.”

The mentor working with the boy suddenly looked up and nodded toward Vee. Without question or hesitation, the boy started across the yard.

“Lor is a pyrokin?” Tal sounded aghast. His hands left the railing and he stalked back to the stone bench.

Vee’s emerald gaze followed his agitated movements. “Is it not better that we teach him to control such a power than to allow him to experiment with it on his own?”

“If Charlotte does not activate the ability, who is to say it will ever manifest?” Tal snapped.

As the men argued, Charlotte noticed that activity in the practice yard all but stopped. The boys tried to gain the attention of their mentors then exchanged confused expressions with each other.

She felt heat spread across her skin and realized the Mystics were staring at her—every one of them male. “Are there no female Mystics?”

Tal slipped his arm around her waist again and pulled her snugly against his side. “None at the Conservatory.”

“Do they need to know that you’re mine?”

Even Vee chuckled at her wording.

“It might be wise,” Tal agreed.

Charlotte turned, wrapped her arms around Tal’s neck and kissed him thoroughly on the mouth. When she glanced back at the practice yard, the routines had resumed as if nothing had happened.

It took Charlotte a moment longer to recapture her nonchalant façade. Holding Tal, “claiming” him publicly, had thrilled and aroused her. She had never dreamed a simple kiss could be so stimulating. She wanted to drag him to her room and continue the

“claiming” in far more intimate ways. Forcing away the lurid thoughts, she steered her reluctant mind back to the task at hand.

The blond boy stood at the stairs leading to the gallery, obviously unsure if he should join them. He looked about six or seven and his wide, guileless eyes perfectly matched his turquoise tunic. Vee motioned him forward. The boy stopped in front of Vee and bowed his head. “How may I serve you, Head Master Vee?”

The Symposium’s lessons, combined with Tal’s mind-to-mind transfers, allowed Charlotte to understand the boy’s words.

“This is Mistress Shar Lott. She shall work with thee for a short time. Ye need not fear her but I expect thee to offer her the same respect and obedience that thee grant the other Mystics.”

The
other
Mystics? Charlotte gulped. When had she become a Mystic?

The boy turned to her and bowed his head.

Understanding a language and speaking it were two different things. Still she had to start some time.

Kneeling before the boy, she raised his face until their eyes met. Thick, sooty lashes framed his eyes, an ever-changing marbling of green and blue. He smiled hesitantly, a sudden flush coloring his cheeks.

“Your name is Lor?” she asked carefully.

“Yes, mistress.”

Apparently, he was able to understand her. “Well, Lor, shall we play a game?”

“Mage Rin has us play games, but he says that every game must have a purpose and every player must play to win.”

“I know a better place for this game,” Tal said.

Charlotte nodded and they set off along the gallery. Tal walked beside Vee, which left Lor with Charlotte. Her heart nearly leapt from her chest when Lor slipped his hand into hers and offered a nervous little smile. She carefully closed her fingers around his hand, ignoring the aching familiarity.

It had been a year since she felt a child’s hand in hers. The trust, the promise and the potential in Lor’s innocent face tore at her heart. She refused to think about the cruel injustice of such innocence snuffed out, never to be fully realized. She couldn’t change the past but she could rise above the ashes.

Tal led them to a small chamber. Charlotte couldn’t tell if it was a pantry or some sort of pharmacy. Vee took a wide stone dish from one shelf and placed a firestone in it. Setting the dish on the floor, he stepped back.

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Why had Tal become so agitated by the prospect of Lor’s abilities?

Each apprentice is closely supervised. Continue
. Vee’s voice sounded within her mind.

She motioned Lor toward the dish. “Have you ever ignited a firestone?”

“No, mistress. None of us can do that.”

“Well, it is dangerous and it must only be done if you are with one of the Mystics. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, mistress.”

“The game is simple. Pretend you’re cold and you need the firestone to warm you.”

Lor glanced at Vee, his forehead creased, his eyes narrowed. “But if I’m cold, I heat my blood.”

“Pretend Mistress Shar Lott is cold,” Vee suggested.

“All right.”

He closed his eyes and Charlotte smiled. At least she wasn’t the only novice who made that mistake.

She kept her eyes open while she sank into his mind, visualizing a closed door. As gently as she could, she eased the door open.

Energy burst out, shaking Lor’s entire body. The firestone exploded in blazing shards and everyone dove for cover. Flames erupted all over the room. The wooden shelves, the heavy curtains, even two thick tomes began to burn.

Lor clung to Charlotte, whispering apologies.

“It’s all right. This is not your fault,” she told the frightened boy.

Vee raised his hands and smothered the flames in one direction. Tal did the same in the other.

“See, nothing to fear,” Charlotte said.

Lor stepped back and stood up straight, his eyes enormous in his pale face. “I’m sorry, Head Master Vee. Please don’t send me home. I’ll do better. I’ll try harder. I will not…” His chin quivered and his eyes filled with tears but he stubbornly blinked them back.

“This was
not
your fault,” Charlotte said firmly as much for the men as for the child.

“There was no fault in thy actions, Lor,” Vee said.

“Ask Mage Rin to come to me. It would appear pyrokinesis must be added to thy training.” The boy darted from the room. Charlotte suspected he was losing the battle with his tears.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Apparently, it will work better if the person is not using their power when you activate it,” Tal said, his troubled gaze lingering on the spot where the boy had been.

* * * * *

Tal’s hair slid across Charlotte’s naked back, curling around her thighs and tickling her bottom.

She giggled and started to turn over.

“Lie still.” He eased her down to her stomach and continued the teasing massage.

“On Earth, you could have made a fortune doing this. I’ve never felt anything so heavenly.” A strand sneaked between her thighs and her breath hitched.

“Now you’d get arrested if you charged money for that.”

“I only care that it pleases you.”

Smiling dreamily, she rested her chin on her folded hands and enjoyed the sensuous caress. “Tell me about Lor.” His hair hesitated against her skin.

“Why do you ask?”

“I sensed a certain animosity in your reaction to the boy. Is he a pain in the butt or—”

“His name is Lor dar Joon. I cannot think of the Earthish term. His father is brother to Dez.”

“Nephew,” she provided quietly. “Dez is Lor’s uncle.”

“Yes.”

“Has there been any sign of instability in Lor?”

“He would not be here if there were.”

His warm hands wandered up the inside of her thighs, gently moving her legs apart.

“I thought you wanted me to relax.” She glanced over her shoulder and found him kneeling between her legs.

“Are you not relaxed?”

“I was until you…adjusted our position.”

“I have been contemplating our position.” She chuckled, more than ready to play. “Have you now? Is there a particular position you’ve been contemplating?”

His hands clasped her hips and pulled her up to her knees. The silken caress of his hair never stopped but his hands joined in. He stroked her hips, her sides, cupped her breasts, pressing his body against her back.

“I can’t touch you like this,” she protested.

“Is it not enough to be touched by me?”

She trembled. “More than enough.”

“Then revel in my caress. Accept the pleasure I give you.”

His knees nudged her legs wide and he rubbed her bottom, his fingers curved inward, teasing her. “You are so soft,” he whispered. “All of you.” He seemed fascinated by her bottom, stroking her skin and squeezing the resilient flesh. His fingers delved into the deep crease between her cheeks and Charlotte moaned. She had never thought of her backside as particularly sexy but this was downright erotic. He traced her crease, eased between her thighs, his fingertips skimming her feminine folds.

“So soft.” He teased her, carefully avoided her throbbing core.

“Please. I want you inside me. I
need
you there.”

“Here?” He rimmed her, tormented her.

Charlotte panted, stunned by the demanding pulsation he encouraged with his lightest touch. “Yes.

Please!”

The blunt head of his shaft nudged her entrance.

She pushed back against him urgently. He chuckled and grasped her hips. “Stay still. Feel me.” Resting her forehead on her folded arms, she closed her eyes and obeyed. His hair moved against her breasts, his hands gently squeezed her hips and his shaft sank into her heat. Deeper and deeper he pushed until his hips cradled her bottom.

He leaned over her and moved his hands to her breasts. Instinctively, she tightened her inner muscles around his hardened shaft. He groaned. She did it again, smiling when he repeated the throaty sound.

Dragging his hips back, he pulled nearly out. She braced for his first real thrust, tingling with anticipation. He sank back in at the same leisurely pace, frustrating her with his patience.

She arched and squirmed, finally grabbing a handful of his hair. “Move, damn it. Stop teasing me.” He laughed, a warm, rumbling sound that played havoc with her overstimulated senses. “I like teasing you. I love the way your body flutters around me and the sound you make deep in your throat.”

One of his hands left her breast, descended along her body and settled between her thighs. His fingers gently stroked her flesh, already stretched tight to accept him. He pulled back and thrust deep.

“Yes!”

His middle finger found her nub and feathered caresses across it, making her wild. She arched and bucked, driving her hips up into each downward thrust.

Harder, faster, she needed more. He thrust his full length into her and she shattered. Her core clasped him with violent spasms, unable to hold back her release.

Panting harshly, Charlotte trembled as the pleasure receded. He was still hard and throbbing inside her.

She had just experienced the most powerful orgasm of her life and it hadn’t even triggered his.

Her disappointment was short-lived as he rolled them to their sides, still buried deep within her.

Extending one of his arms beneath her neck, he reached for her hand and interlaced their fingers.

He guided her leg up and back, hooking her foot in the bend of his knee. His hand glided across her torso, demonstrating the advantage of this position. From her breasts to juncture of her thighs and back, he created tingling sensations. He worked her nipples into tight, aching buds then stroked her other bud with skillful persistence.

She trembled. “I’m going to…come again if you don’t stop teasing me.”

“I want to feel your pleasure.”

“You already did.”

“Do it again.”

He pressed against her aching nub and she surrendered to the spasms of pleasure coursing through her. Again and again he stroked her, dragging every last shuddering contraction from her body before he moved his hand.