Free ShiftingHeat by Lynne Connolly Page B

Nordheim moved away,
Andros could relax a little, let at least his telepathy free. He needed to, in
case Johann contacted him. But if he stayed in the mass of Talents here, no one
should be able to identify the telepathic signal as his.
    Nordheim gave him a thin-lipped nod and strolled in the
direction of the lecturer’s table. People moved aside or exchanged a word with
him, tried to attract his attention, but he kept moving until he reached the
table.
    The professor planted his hands and leaned forward as the
crowd fell silent. Andros felt his presence, identified it and opened his psi, careful
not to draw attention to himself.
    He felt Johann’s presence nearby. He hadn’t seen the vampire
as he entered, but that wasn’t surprising given the press in this room and
Johann’s ability to merge with others when he wanted to. Johann didn’t say
anything but kept his presence steady.
    “Last night I was in the STORM building,” Nordheim began.
“And it wasn’t from choice.” A few gasps came in response. “I was arrested and
taken in for questioning. It seems that STORM doesn’t like my revealing certain
truths, things they’d rather keep hidden.”
    Andros thought of some of the secrets he’d worked on since
he started with STORM. Yeah, that was true, as far as it went. But revealing
those truths could hurt people. There was always a good reason, as far as he’d
seen, and he’d seen plenty. STORM had saved his life, and Johann personally had
saved his sister’s life and then promised to love, honor and obey her for the rest
of his life.
    Nordheim scanned the crowd, especially the people at the
front. His own personal mosh pit, Andros guessed. A man as arrogant as that
would cultivate acolytes. “They stripped my mind, or rather, they started the
process. They sent one of their Sorcerers.” A grin twisted the corner of his
mouth. “But I have my own tricks. I resisted.” He got a smattering of applause
for that. “I got out.” More applause. “It wasn’t easy.” Andros’ lips thinned.
It would have been a fuck of a lot harder without Faye and what she did for
this bastard. Even if she’d asked him to keep quiet, he shouldn’t take the
credit for something he hadn’t done. Maybe said someone had helped him,
something like that. The denial stuck in his craw. “They want to stop me and
people like me taking the fight to Congress. They’d like the law put through
nice and easy. The law that says that shape-shifters should be treated like the
animals they are.”
    Big applause there. Andros felt Johann’s disgust, then the
vampire sent him a few words. You have me, Serena Duval, a Sorcerer, and
Ricardo Gianetti here. Nick Ivy is standing by to fly him out. We’ll take care
of Nordheim. We won’t take him here, where his Talented worshippers will start
a fight, we’ll do it afterward. You concentrate on the woman and call us if you
need help. Clear?
    Andros didn’t like Faye being referred to as “the woman” but
he’d take it up with Johann later. Clear.
    It was quite the team. Ricardo the shape-shifter. Johann,
who had a deeper connection with Andros. Serena, one of the most awesome
Sorcerers he knew, and Nick Ivy, the roc he’d met on the roof. Now he wondered
if that meeting had been entirely coincidental. No, paranoia lurked that way.
But just because you thought they were watching you didn’t mean you weren’t right.
Maybe Nick had been waiting, if not for him, then for someone else. Maybe he should have found Faye that night.
    The thought sent a shot of pure anger through him. Tough
luck, Nick. Because he wasn’t getting near her now.
    After a bit more rabble-rousing, Nordheim left the meeting
with an exhortation for the new Talents to join up. “I won’t ask you what you
are, or even if you’re a Talent at all. Unlike some people. The movement is
open to all and we invite you to join us. To fight for justice for man and
Talent alike!”
    Great huge cheers. Andros was forced to