Free thefiremargins by Lisanne Norman

knew? How?" she demanded.

"The Brotherhood has always been close to Vartra," he said ambiguously, helping her put her good arm through the sleeve of her robe. "Even an expelled member like me."

"Visions? You have visions?" she asked incredulously as he helped her take her injured arm out of the sling, then guided it carefully through the other arm of her robe.

"Now and then," he said, placing her arm back in the sling and adjusting it round her neck.

"The God told you about me?"

"Not in so many words," he admitted, swinging her legs around till they hung over the edge of the bed. "It only began to make sense when I heard that one of our telepaths had a Leska Link with a Human."

"What else do you know?" she demanded, watching him for any telltale movements that would give away his thoughts.

"Nothing," he said, reaching down to pull the two halves of her robe together so he could close the seal.

"You wouldn't tell me even if you knew," she said in disgust, looking up at him.

He blinked, then looked away from her for a moment. "No, I wouldn't," he said, bending down to scoop her up into his arms.

Aware that he was suddenly ill at ease with her, she reached up with her good arm to pull at his ear. "Look at me, Kaid," she said. "I won't bite you."

He looked down at her again. "I never thought you would," he said quietly.

"You're a strange person," she said, letting her hand slide down to touch his cheek. "So many dark stillnesses surround your mind, yet I know you've sent to me. Are you ..."

"You can pick up anyone's strong thoughts, Liegena," he said, interrupting her as he began to walk toward the open door. "Yes, I've thought in your direction when you've needed me. Don't read more into it than there is."

Carrie tried to relax against him as he carried her downstairs, letting the rhythm of his movements and his breathing lull her. There was more to him than he wanted her to know, of that she was sure. When she'd heard Kaid mind speak to her, Kusac had been unaware of him. That in itself was unique. Then there were his visions regarding her, before he'd even been aware she existed.

A wave of utter exhaustion swept over her. She closed her eyes, unable to keep them open any longer. Later. She'd think about it later. It was too much of an effort right now.

     
    * * *
     
    He felt all the tenseness suddenly leaving her body as she rested her head against him. He almost sighed with relief but stopped himself just in time. She'd caught him unawares on this occasion, probing a little too deeply for his comfort. He'd have to watch her: what she knew, Kusac knew at exactly the same moment, and between them, they were too damned sharp.

His mouth twisted at the irony of his situation. Vartra gave him visions of a future that must be, then placed him at the heart of the matter, where he would be at his most vulnerable. Oh, yes, here he could help shape matters, but he could also be discovered— by her. Rhyasha's kitchen door was ahead of him and it was with relief he tapped on it.

     
    * * *
     
    Choa, Ryasha's cook, opened the door to him. "You've managed to bring her down!" she said, mouth opening wide with pleasure. "Come in, in, come in! We've a chair all made ready for her." She stood back, giving him room to enter, then followed after him, hovering in case she was needed.

"Over there." She pointed to the soft chair that had been placed at the far end of the table. "Put her down gentle, now. Is she sleeping? Poor little thing, with all she's been through. We'll get her better, never fear." She bustled past Kaid as he gently lowered Carrie into the chair.

Choa picked up the lightweight rug from the chair back and placed it over Carrie, tucking it in around her legs, then looked up at him. "You can leave her with us now. She'll be safe. With your folk tramping all over the house and round the estate, a jegget couldn't get in!"

"I'll stay nonetheless," said Kaid, moving backward out of her way.

Choa sighed loudly.