Free Catherine Spangler - [Sentinel 02] - Touched By Fire (v5.0) (html) by Unknown

Belians. They—we—are the Sentinels.”
    The theme music from The Twilight Zone started playing in Marla’s head. “And you said that they—you—are psychic?”
    He slid back into his chair. “To an extent. We use psychic powers to track Belians. I can go to a BCS—Belian crime scene—and pick up the energies that were expended during the crime. I can manipulate those energies to create the Belian’s psychic signature. The more I work with the energy, the more bits and pieces of information I get about the Belian’s identity. I know it sounds complicated, which it is.”
    It sounded more crazy than complicated, but Marla kept that opinion to herself. “So, if you’re psychic, can you read minds?” Oh dear God, she hoped not. She’d been having some very erotic thoughts about Luke.
    He gave her a slow, knowing smile that made her want to sink beneath the table. “No, I can’t read actual thoughts. But I can sense feelings and strong emotions or disturbances. Like right now, I know you still have a headache.”
    How could he know that? “It’s getting better,” she said, relieved he couldn’t perceive her thoughts. “Tell me more about Belians and Sentinels.”
    “We’re both fairly evenly matched in powers and abilities. And we’re also both in mortal human bodies, so we can be killed. Fortunately for the Sentinels, there is a small group of humans who also have special abilities. We call them conductors.”
    And he considered her one of those people. “What kind of abilities?”
    “They’re able to link with a Sentinel and magnify his or her psychic tracking abilities. While linked, they can make it easier to unravel the Belian’s psychic signature. Usually, they have some psychic abilities of their own.” He paused, watching her. “Which I’m assuming you have. Tell me about them, Marla.”
    Her odd quirk was something she had never discussed with anyone. She assumed she had it because the trauma of Julia and her being attacked had done something to her psyche. It occurred to her that maybe it was better if she didn’t tell Luke, either. Although she couldn’t deny he had nonhuman abilities, she still hadn’t ruled out the possibility he might be one or two cards short of a full deck.
    “Marla.”
    She felt that same compulsion to obey that she’d experienced earlier, and realization jolted through her. She shoved back from the table. “You’re using your powers to manipulate me.” She stood, and Luke followed suit.
    “I’m not doing anything that will hurt you. I’m just trying to get your cooperation.”
    “Just like you did last night, and this morning. I’m well aware you did something to me every time I got upset or tried to fight you.”
    His gaze was steady. “I merely sent calming energy through you. There was no sense in you panicking and hurting yourself. Although I seemed to be getting the brunt of it.”
    “You’re controlling my thoughts.” Another horrifying possibility occurred to her. “You’re making me have these . . . feelings for you!”
    “No! Nothing like that. Sentinels follow a strict code of honor. We can’t harm innocents, and we can’t force a conductor to work with us. And we certainly don’t use our powers for sexual gain. Your physical responses are the result of the Sentinel/conductor reaction.”
    Anger flared through her. “A code of honor? One that condones terrorizing me and Bryony and then kidnapping us?” She turned on the wildly barking poodle. “Bryony, shut up!”
    “I’ll admit I pushed the boundaries with that. But only because you were too inebriated for me to explain everything last night.”
    “I was not drunk!”
    “All right. Tipsy, then.”
    Her headache was coming back full force, and she felt like screaming. And throwing something, specifically at him. “So I can’t trust you, or believe anything you say.”
    “Shit.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Marla, I’m sorry. I’ve already admitted I mishandled