Free Try Me by Parker Blue

because it was supposed to help me with my so-called “gift.” Though how staring into a small bit of fire would help control Lola, I had no idea.
    "Try,” Micah insisted, as if he'd read my mind. “Blank your mind and think of nothing."
    I sighed and did as he said. But thinking of nothing was like trying not to think of a pink elephant. All you'd get was rosy pachyderms cavorting around in your head.
    "Watch the flame,” he said softly. “And go to a place inside you, a still quiet place where no one can reach you . . . not me, not Dan, not your mother, not even Lola."
    Now there was an attractive thought. But was there such a place? I'd tried finding it before, but was too easily distracted. Now, though, now that I'd fed on Shade, Lola had receded far into the background. I searched deeper . . . and deeper still. Somewhere, in the quiet of my soul, I found a tiny spot that seemed isolated, calm . . . whole.
    I slipped into it and just drifted there, drinking in the incredible beauty of aloneness, of feeling safe, protected, and very much at peace.
    Sometime later, I heard Micah's voice as if from far away. “Val? Val, are you okay?"
    I blinked and reluctantly withdrew from the safe place. As I focused on the candle, I realized it had burned down quite a bit while I visited Never Never Land. Clearing my suddenly clogged throat, I said, “Yeah, I'm okay. Really okay.” I'd been in some Zen-like fugue or something.
    I gave him a sheepish grin. “Guess you were right. Not a sign of Lola anywhere. But I'm not sure how it will help. It's not like I can carry a candle with me and ask every guy to wait while I stare into a flame and make like a yogi."
    "I don't expect you to. Practice this alone until you can go to your space easily, and you'll eventually be able to slip into it whenever you want. It'll take time, but don't worry, I'll help and so will Shade. He'll let you know when to reel it in. That way you can search for the thief together while you teach him to hunt vampires."
    I nodded. It made sense, and if it helped, I was willing to try it. But first I had to get over being squeamish about using Shade like that. “Did you talk to Ramirez about Shade joining the Special Crimes Unit?"
    "Not yet. Two reasons. First, I'm not sure how he'll feel about interacting with the rest of the SCU. He has a built-in advantage, but I don't know if he's willing to use it."
    Yeah, the boogie man factor could be a help in distracting the bad guys, but the good guys . . . not so much. “And second?"
    "Second, he'll only be able to help you if he can keep from losing his temper. If not, you'll have to help control him because—"
    A knock came at the door and Tessa peeked her head in. “Big problem, boss. One of your watchers at the downtown blood bank called in. Some vamps are going crazy and killing people. They need help."
    Fear thrilled through me. My God, it was broad daylight. They'd never been this bold before. “I'm on it.” Fang bounded into the room, looking ready for anything. But I wasn't so sure about Shade, who'd followed the hellhound in. “You up for this?” I asked him.
    He nodded sharply. “Gotta learn sometime. Let's go."
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Chapter Seven
    Shade had his own motorcycle, a sweet blue Ducati that was practically a piece of art. He quickly pulled on gloves, leathers, and a black helmet with a dark-tinted visor. No wonder he rode a bike—he looked quite normal with all of his skin hidden.
    I tried to help Fang with his goggles, but he said, NO TIME. LET'S ROCK AND ROLL, BABE.
    Ooookay. I saw Micah jump into his car somewhere behind us but we left him in a nanosecond as we took off. We weaved in and out of traffic, Shade having no problem keeping up with me. I normally wouldn't take the risk—it was the other drivers I was worried about, not me—but the fact that vamps were attacking during the daytime scared the crap out of me. What did it mean? Nothing good, I was sure.
    We arrived