talent you have and put it to good
use. No one can train you on your telekinesis; you must learn how to develop it on your own.”
“What if they catch us?”
“Simon knows their routine. You’ll have four hours to conduct a search and get out. I’d prefer if
you finished up quickly so that no residual energy is left behind. If the third man is a Sensor, he’ll
be able to pick up any emotions left behind. Be sure to keep that in check—no fights, and don’t
touch the equipment. I doubt the third man is a Chitah based on the descriptions, so we won’t
have to worry about anyone tracking your scent. Keep it clean, in and out. If you can’t find
anything useful in an hour, then leave.”
I smeared my fry across the plate, picking up pepper flakes. “I’ll give it a try, but that whole
hour could be wasted with me trying to get the lock open. I might trip the alarm.”
“The most self-damaging words in the English language are: try, might, and if. These are words
of uncertainty. Will you fail? That is possible. But continue doubting your abilities and you’ll never
succeed.”
“How do you know they don’t have security cameras?”
“Simon checked it out.”
“Micro cams?”
“Like I said, he checked it out. So did Logan.”
“Seems Logan has been up to a lot of things without telling me.”
His pale blue eyes brightened. “Likewise, I’m sure.”
Novis had a point, except Logan didn’t work for him and I did. Then again, Logan was a good
negotiator and might have received payment for his services.
“Have you warmed up to your name, Silver?”
I shrugged indifferently.
“It took time to get used to mine,” he admitted. “A name is only something you’re called, it’s
not who you are. Many of us retain our human names, such as Justus and Simon. If Justus had
been renamed Peter, would it change the man he is?” Novis tapped his long finger on his plate. “I
think I’m going to pick a new location next time. Do you like Chinese cuisine?”
Chapter 9
My winter wonderland was turning into a slushy nightmare. The novelty of fresh powder was
replaced by the reality of wet pants, dirty shoes, frozen cheeks, and slipping and falling on my ass.
Novis left the diner with his driver and I trudged out to my car, thinking about putting a blanket
and a few survival items in the trunk, just in case. Which struck me as funny, being an immortal.
I texted Justus that I was on my way home and offered some tips on how to starve a fever and
all that. The last thing that poor woman needed was a man shoveling a steak down her throat.
A cold blast of air snuck up from behind and caused me to shiver as I approached the car door.
The key wouldn’t go in the lock at first, so I jiggled it. That’s when I heard footsteps approaching
from behind. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
“I’m not hungry, Christian.”
“Well, I’m famished. I could really use a… bite.”
My heart didn’t just skip a beat; it froze and forgot how to work again. My blood pressure
plummeted and I nearly fainted. The gravelly voice, the way his words cut like razors at the end of
each sentence, and the deep intake of breath were the distinctive sounds of a person that I knew
all too well.
Tarek had just walked back into my life.
My eyes skipped around the empty lot, searching for Christian. He said he’d only intervene if
there were an imminent threat. Tarek had plunged three venomous fangs into my neck not long
ago, almost ending my life.
That felt pretty imminent.
“Tarek.” I greeted him, turning on my heel. The snow flattened beneath my boots and I tucked
my arms around my body protectively.
A tan coat with a fur collar replaced the sinister look of the black wardrobe he’d once sported. I
suppose that his new position entitled him to finer threads. He still had the short black Mohawk,
except now more hair grew from the sides of his head as if he might be growing it all out. Most
Chitahs had
use. No one can train you on your telekinesis; you must learn how to develop it on your own.”
“What if they catch us?”
“Simon knows their routine. You’ll have four hours to conduct a search and get out. I’d prefer if
you finished up quickly so that no residual energy is left behind. If the third man is a Sensor, he’ll
be able to pick up any emotions left behind. Be sure to keep that in check—no fights, and don’t
touch the equipment. I doubt the third man is a Chitah based on the descriptions, so we won’t
have to worry about anyone tracking your scent. Keep it clean, in and out. If you can’t find
anything useful in an hour, then leave.”
I smeared my fry across the plate, picking up pepper flakes. “I’ll give it a try, but that whole
hour could be wasted with me trying to get the lock open. I might trip the alarm.”
“The most self-damaging words in the English language are: try, might, and if. These are words
of uncertainty. Will you fail? That is possible. But continue doubting your abilities and you’ll never
succeed.”
“How do you know they don’t have security cameras?”
“Simon checked it out.”
“Micro cams?”
“Like I said, he checked it out. So did Logan.”
“Seems Logan has been up to a lot of things without telling me.”
His pale blue eyes brightened. “Likewise, I’m sure.”
Novis had a point, except Logan didn’t work for him and I did. Then again, Logan was a good
negotiator and might have received payment for his services.
“Have you warmed up to your name, Silver?”
I shrugged indifferently.
“It took time to get used to mine,” he admitted. “A name is only something you’re called, it’s
not who you are. Many of us retain our human names, such as Justus and Simon. If Justus had
been renamed Peter, would it change the man he is?” Novis tapped his long finger on his plate. “I
think I’m going to pick a new location next time. Do you like Chinese cuisine?”
Chapter 9
My winter wonderland was turning into a slushy nightmare. The novelty of fresh powder was
replaced by the reality of wet pants, dirty shoes, frozen cheeks, and slipping and falling on my ass.
Novis left the diner with his driver and I trudged out to my car, thinking about putting a blanket
and a few survival items in the trunk, just in case. Which struck me as funny, being an immortal.
I texted Justus that I was on my way home and offered some tips on how to starve a fever and
all that. The last thing that poor woman needed was a man shoveling a steak down her throat.
A cold blast of air snuck up from behind and caused me to shiver as I approached the car door.
The key wouldn’t go in the lock at first, so I jiggled it. That’s when I heard footsteps approaching
from behind. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.
“I’m not hungry, Christian.”
“Well, I’m famished. I could really use a… bite.”
My heart didn’t just skip a beat; it froze and forgot how to work again. My blood pressure
plummeted and I nearly fainted. The gravelly voice, the way his words cut like razors at the end of
each sentence, and the deep intake of breath were the distinctive sounds of a person that I knew
all too well.
Tarek had just walked back into my life.
My eyes skipped around the empty lot, searching for Christian. He said he’d only intervene if
there were an imminent threat. Tarek had plunged three venomous fangs into my neck not long
ago, almost ending my life.
That felt pretty imminent.
“Tarek.” I greeted him, turning on my heel. The snow flattened beneath my boots and I tucked
my arms around my body protectively.
A tan coat with a fur collar replaced the sinister look of the black wardrobe he’d once sported. I
suppose that his new position entitled him to finer threads. He still had the short black Mohawk,
except now more hair grew from the sides of his head as if he might be growing it all out. Most
Chitahs had
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