Free Enlightened (Love and Light Series) by Melissa Lummis

two?” Business-like, he walked over to the old reading chair by the bureau, sitting down as he rubbed his thighs. “Calisto wants you to stay with him at the ashram.” At Loti’s alarmed look, he added, “It’ll be safer. He said he’ll take you to meet the Travelers, too.” He paused, letting the information sink in. “He’s going to speak with Sri Gurudev. Maybe we can figure out what this all means and what you need to do.”
    “That’s not necessary,” Loti stammered. “I made reservations with the ashram a month ago and have a suite lined up. Rachel’s going to stay for a week.”
    “You should take Calisto’s offer.” His voice was stern, leaving no room for discussion.
    Loti’s nostrils flared. “What do you mean figure out what I need to do? Why do I have to do anything other than what I’ve already planned?” She snapped the top sheet over the bed. “I’m staying at the ashram for the next six months in their immersion program.” She tucked the sheet in around the edges with jerky, deliberate movements.
    “Do you want to figure out what’s happening to you?” Rachel raised her eyebrows.
    Loti glared at her. “You’re not helping.”
    The two of them stared at her until she couldn’t stand it anymore.
    “Yes,” she said, rolling her eyes. “But I do not need to stay in a nest of vampires.”
    “They’re not like others.” Wolf relaxed into the chair, his voice reassuring.
    “They’re different, Loti. From what Wolf and Nan have told me, they’re on a spiritual quest to understand their purpose in life. They’ve learned to control their dark side. Wolf’s been living with them.” She glanced at Wolf. “Well, sort of, for the past ten years. They’re different.”
    “You haven’t met them,” Loti argued
    Rachel reluctantly shook her head. “But they can help.”
    “They know things and people.” Wolf crossed an arm over his stomach, resting an elbow on his wrist while he hooked his chin with a thumb. “They’ll be able to help us understand certain things.”
    Loti looked from Rachel to Wolf, then back to Rachel, who gripped the quilt to her stomach. Her eyes and face shaped into a silent plea.
     Loti narrowed her eyes at Wolf. “Us? I can take care of myself. Why do you care?”
    “Loti,” Rachel chided.
    “Well, why does he?” Loti gestured at Wolf, but glared at Rachel.
    Wolf put up a hand before Rachel could protest. “It’s a fair question, Rachel. For now, can the answer simply be that I want to know why certain things are happening? And who might be after you?”
    The tightness in her chest eased and a silly kind of hope vibrated there. “Like the dream?” Loti said, her tone imploring. “And the presence or whatever was in my house? And—” Loti looked meaningfully at Wolf.
    He nodded. “And because Rachel’s reading of the runes suggested a journey. And you need to know what you are.”
     “What I am?” Loti tensed, a vein pulsing in her neck. “I’m just human. Nothing special.”
    Wolf raised an eyebrow. “You really believe that?”
    She shuddered, turning away from him and staring at the bed. Did she? She didn’t want to know what she was, or what she was capable of, because what she already knew was too much to bear. And she didn’t want to know what pain Rachel’s spirit had meant and if she survived— No, not going there. Rachel handed her the wedding ring quilt. She shook it out like she meant business and floated it over the bed.
    “We’ll talk tomorrow, Wolf.” Rachel put a hand on his shoulder, and he covered it with his, giving her a curt nod.
    “I’ll let you ladies get some sleep.” He stood and stretched to his full six feet, hands pressing into the ceiling.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~
    Wolf stared at the full moon as if it might reveal the answers he sought. He dug a pack of Camel’s from his shirt pocket and lit a cigarette with a wooden match. Shaking out the flame, he dropped the burnt stick and returned his apprehensive