Free Forbidden Fire (Forbidden #2) by Kimberly Kinrade

the swinging door carrying trays with sandwiches, fruit, juice and water.
    They set their trays on the famous ottoman, and Professor Shaw waved his hand over the food. "Please, help yourself."
    I greedily loaded my plate with food, and poured a glass of water. I hadn't realized how hungry and thirsty I'd been.
    Professor Shaw let us eat in silence, but once the last crumb had been licked off my lips, the questions began. "So tell me. What kind of trouble are you in and how can I help?"
    I froze. We'd told Brad our story, but he'd grown up with Drake. He knew this stuff existed. And yeah, we were about to spill it all on Brad's blog, but I didn't have to sit face-to-face with doubters and haters.
    Drake squeezed my hand. 'It's okay. If you hear anything off in his thoughts, we'll leave. We can overpower him physically or mentally. He can't hurt you.'
    I knew he meant that to be comforting, but it had the opposite effect. Professor Shaw didn't deserve to be "overpowered." We'd barged in on his life, uninvited and unannounced. How could we consider punishing him for not buying our story?
    All eyes in the room were on me, which I guess made sense, but I didn't have to like it. I took a deep breath and tried to still my shaking body. It didn't work.
    Professor Shaw's kind, understanding eyes held mine. "Just start from the beginning. I don't bite."
    So I did. I'd have thought that retelling my story would be easier. If anything, my vocal chords, as if working against my will, were more reluctant than ever to give up my secrets. All my life, I'd been told that if I revealed them to the wrong person, everything would be screwed.
    I talked for nearly an hour. No one so much as breathed too loud.
    My sweaty hand clutched Drake's cool palm. "So, that's the story. Whoever is after us is very dangerous. We didn't know where to go or what to do. Brad said we should come here."
    No one spoke for several minutes.
    A fly buzzed past my ear, startling me so bad I jumped and broke the silence with a chirp. I felt the blood rush to my face. "Sorry. Nerves."
    "Who wouldn't be nervous after all you've been through?" said Professor Shaw.
    'Poor girl. Can't believe she's been through so much. She must be exhausted.'
    My eyes flicked to him. "Professor, you believe me?"
    He harrumphed. "Please call me Bernard. And yes, I believe you."
    I couldn't help but grin. "Bernard Shaw. Really? As in the famous Irish playwright and novelist?"
    He smiled. "Yes. Actually, George Bernard Shaw, but I've always gone by Bernard. My parents had a sense of humor."
    "'A fool's brain digests philosophy into folly, science into superstition, and....'"
    "'...art into pedantry. Hence University education," Bernard finished. "One of my favorite quotes."
    So far, I liked him.
    My brain pounded from the lengthy connection. I rubbed my head.
    'Sam, pull out. If any red flags pop up, you can go back in, but you're going to kill yourself.'
    "Okay, for now. I just don't want any more surprises."
    The pressure eased as I slipped out of the Professor's mind, and I enjoyed the solitude of my own thoughts. "Why do you believe me? This story is preposterous. Don't you want to at least test us? Have me read your mind?"
    "All right, what am I thinking?"
    Drake frowned at me, but I slipped in and out just fast enough to grab his thought. 'Brad needs a girlfriend. He's wasting away as a bachelor.'
    "Ha! Really? Brad, apparently the good professor here thinks you need a girlfriend to fatten you up. Though I have to say that assuming the girl will feed him is a bit sexist."
    Brad sat up straighter. "I do not need a girl in my life right now. Are you kidding me? How would I even see her?"
    He made eye contact with me, then turned his head sharply and looked at Bernard. "I know you're open-minded, but I didn't expect them to win you over so quickly. What aren't you telling us?"
    Bernard picked up his coffee cup and took a sip. "I spent a lot of years writing for some pretty big publications: