He released her and stepped back. Do ye have any shoes?

Yes.

Put them on and meet me outside. He headed for the front door. We have work to do.

Chapter Twelve

When Marielle stepped outside, the cool mountain air instantly lifted her spirits. A bird sang in the forest, and the scent of pine wafted toward her on a breeze. Glory to God in the Highest!

There was no answer, but she refused to let that get her down. She had a plan now for getting back to heaven, and even though she was stuck on Earth for a short time, she had to admit she was enjoying it. Especially her time with Connor.

The porch light was on, making it easier to see the clearing in front of the cabin. Connor was moving quickly back and forth from a woodpile to the clearing. The moon, over three-quarters full, gleamed off his red hair. His kilt swished about his knees as he stood cut logs on end in a large circle.

While digging through the clothes from Emma, shed found socks and shoes and a hooded jacket. She was glad now that shed put them all on. The night air was chilly, and apparently, she was going to be outside for a while.

Come. Connor motioned for her to join him.

She descended the steps, mindful of the odd strings dangling off her shoes. She glanced at his shoes. Oh, I need to tie myself up like you.

Excuse me?

She pointed at her shoes.

Och, yer laces are untied. Sit and Ill show you.

She sat on the porch step. When he knelt in front of her, her heart rate quickened. His head was bowed so close to hers, she could see how fine and shiny his hair was. His gaze was focused downward at her shoes, and the thick fringe of his eyelashes cast shadows across his cheekbones. There was something about the shape of his face, his cheekbones and jawline that made her feel strange inside, as if her innards were quivering. It was hard to breathe, too, and she wondered if he could feel her shaky breaths against his face.

Watch carefully so yell learn how. He glanced up and his smoky blue eyes widened.

Her heart lurched. Shed been caught admiring his face. Heat crept up to her cheeks.

His jaw shifted. Ill start again. Watch.

She focused on her shoe as he tied the lace and described the act, but her heart kept pounding. What was wrong with her? She shouldnt exacerbate her situation by developing strong feelings toward Connor. She was hoping to return to heaven as soon as possible. She couldnt fall prey to human desire and longing.

There. He finished. Ye want to try?

Yes. She leaned over to mimic his movements. Her hair fell forward obscuring her view. She pushed it back and was halfway through tying the second shoelace when her hair fell forward again. She made a small sound of frustration. She couldnt see, and if she let go to shove her hair back, shed have to start over.

He gently gathered her hair and held it back. Her heart leaped up her throat. With trembling fingers, she completed the bow.

He released her hair. Ye did it. Ye learn quickly.

You gave good instructions.

He jerked to a standing position. Och, well, that was the sort of instruction ye were supposed to receive. He walked stiffly away.

She wondered what was bothering him as she joined him in the middle of the clearing. Maybe Brynley was right about men and the Three-Step Rule.

Ive set twelve logs around us like the numbers on a clock, he began.

It reminds me of a stone henge. She pivoted in a circle. Ive always loved those.

Tis no like a henge.

I think it is.

He gave her an impatient look. Nay. I know what a henge looks like. I have one at home.

You do? Can I see it?

A pained look flitted over his face before he turned cold as stone. I never go there. Forget I said it.

Her mouth fell open. Why would a man refuse to go home? It must have something to do with the black pit of pain in his soul. Now that she was alone with him, maybe she should ask him about the blond woman Darcy. Or she could discover more about him by embracing him. That strategy made her heart race.

Stand here in the center. He clasped her shoulders from behind and moved her into position. He pointed over her shoulder at the large log straight in front of her. That one represents twelve oclock, yer target. Our goal is for ye to learn to knock down yer target and only yer target. Agreed?

Yes. She nodded, frowning. She would have to be careful to conserve her energy if she was going to do this over and over.

All right, Connor said, standing behind her. For yer first attempt, try to narrow yer blast to half the circle, nine oclock to three oclock. Can ye do that?

Ill try. She looked from side to side, concentrating on the logs. Could she actually control the scope of the blast? And the intensity? Maybe you shouldnt stand right behind me.

Why? Are ye planning to fail?

She glared at him over her shoulder. Ive never tried this before. And if she didnt manage to turn down the volume, shed run out of energy in just a few attempts.

Verra well. He moved back till he was standing between two logs. Have a go then.

With a groan, she extended her hands. She wasnt sure how to do this other than using her thoughts. Less power. Half the circle. She squeezed her eyes shut, and let loose what she hoped was a small spurt of energy.

She heard some thudding noises and a muffled curse behind her. She opened her eyes. The logs in front of her had moved about twenty feet, crashing into the forest, but she usually averaged forty to fifty feet, so she had managed to decrease her energy output. Not bad, she thought with a grin. She turned and winced.

The logs behind her had flown twenty feet, too. And so had Connor.

She ran to where he had landed on a snowy patch beneath a tree. He was flat on his back with a stunned look on his face and his kilt blown up.

She looked away, but the image was still seared into her mind. Somehow, he looked even larger tonight than he had last night. Brynleys description of oral sex came rushing back, and her cheeks blazed with heat.

What the hell was that? He sat up, glaring at her as he pushed his kilt down. Ye were supposed to knock down only half the circle.

I . . . missed.

His eyes narrowed and his mouth thinned. If ye want to see my privates, lass, just say so. Theres no need to keep knocking me down.

I didnt do that just to look at your She grabbed one of the fallen logs and returned it to the clearing. These logs only moved about twenty feet, and thats half the distance I usually move things, so I actually did have some success.

He hefted himself to his feet. Verra well. I believe you. He went along the forest edge, locating the logs and returning them to the clock formation, his actions speeding up until she could see only a blur.

She returned to the center of the circle. You move so quickly. Is that one of your skills as a vampire?

Aye, we have super strength and speed. Heightened senses. He walked toward her. I can hear it when yer heartbeat quickens.

She stiffened.

He gave her a knowing look. Like it is now.

Her heart lurched. Im excited about helping you locate and defeat the Malcontents. It will make the world a safer place.

His mouth twitched. Wed better not achieve world peace. Ye could have a heart attack. He stopped beside her. So do ye plan on knocking me down again?

Ill try to do better, but I cant guarantee it. You might be safer on the porch.

One end of his mouth curled up in a half smile. Doona fash. Tis my choice to stay close to you. I know it comes with a risk.

Once again, he positioned himself next to the logs behind her. She concentrated on the half circle in front of her and released a small burst.

This time the logs moved only about five feet before toppling over. She glanced over her shoulder, and four logs were still standing, along with Connor.

Yere doing it! He strode toward her. Excellent, lass.

Her heart swelled with his praise. She turned to face him, and he grinned. Her breath caught. He looked so young and handsome when he smiled like that, as if a few centuries of despair had rolled off him. His smile faded and his eyes narrowed.

Good heavens! She faced front. He must be able to hear her heart racing. She pressed a hand to her chest. How could she stop it? She didnt seem to have any control over it.

He dashed around the circle to stand up the fallen logs. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves.

Again and again she practiced. After about a dozen attempts she was knocking down only three logsthe target and a log on each side of it.

She swayed. IIm sorry. Im out of energy.

Come and rest. He led her onto the porch and settled her into a rocking chair.

She rested her head back and closed her eyes. A few minutes later, she heard his footsteps approach.

Here. He pressed a bottle of water into her hand.

Thank you. She took a sip. Are we done for the night?

Nay. He leaned against a wooden post and crossed his arms. When ye sense death, will ye be able to tell which ones are caused by Casimir and his minions?

She drank some water. Not directly. I can tell how many are dying, and if there is a lot of fear and terror involved, I can sense that.

He nodded slowly. Theyll feed right after they awaken at sunset, so the timing will give us a clue, too. How well can ye pinpoint the location? Can ye give us coordinates like GPS?

She frowned. It doesnt work like that. Normally, I just feel where to go and my wings take me there. She sighed. I may not be of any use to you without my wings.

Ye can feel it in yer mind? When she nodded, he pushed away from the post and stepped toward her. Then I will be your wings.

How? Can you fly?

Ill teleport you. I have a tracking device embedded in my arm, so the other Vamps can follow me.

How will you know where to go? I dont know how to tell you.

Vampires have some psychic ability, so I should be able to slip inside yer mind.

Her eyes widened as she gazed at him, stunned. Shed felt so empty and lonesome without the constant voices of the Heavenly Host filling her mind with song and praise. She missed them sorely, yet somehow the thought of Connor being in her mind was . . . troubling. His thoughts would not be angelic. And having only one other person in her mind made it seem too . . . intimate.

She swallowed hard. That works both ways. If we make a connection, Ill see into your mind, too.

His jaw shifted.  Tis a risk Ill have to take. He glowered at her. Ill expect you to cooperate. When I enter yer mind, focus all yer concentration on the location ye wish to go to. As soon as weve teleported, Ill break the connection. The whole procedure should only take a few seconds.

I see. He was hoping it would happen so fast she wouldnt have time to peek into his black pit of pain and remorse.

We need to practice, he continued. Every night that Casimir and his Malcontents are allowed to roam free, they will feed and kill.

She set the bottle down and stood. All right. Lets do it.

He nodded. We should start off with something easy.

She gave him a wry look. An easy death? Tell that to the person whos dying.

I meant a nonviolent death. And one close enough that therell be no risk of me teleporting into daylight and getting fried.

I understand. She closed her eyes to slowly access her sense of death. Shed learned years ago not to fling the door open, otherwise she could be overwhelmed by the amount of death that occurred worldwide at any given moment. She reached out gently to the nearest town where a death was occurring.

I found one. She opened her eyes and for half a second caught Connor watching her intently before he shifted his gaze. Theres a town nearby where an elderly man is dying in a nursing home.

Can ye focus on a place close by? If we teleport straight into the nursing home, well cause a fright. Or ye might end up accidentally brushing against someone and causing more death. Some place outdoors and isolated would be best.

She nodded, frowning. Shed never purposely missed the mark before. Ill try.

He checked the dagger in his sock. We shouldna run into any trouble, but I like to be prepared. He looked her over and grabbed the hem of her hooded jacket.  Tis a wee bit chilly out here. He connected the zipper and zipped it up to her chin.

Oh, I was wondering how that worked. She smiled sheepishly. I knew it looked like the fastener on my pants, but I didnt how to get it started. She moved the zipper up and down. I love this. Humans are so clever.

Lass. He covered her hand with his own to stop her. Are ye ready?

To let him inside her mind? She swallowed hard. Shed always been an open book before, sharing everything with the Heavenly Host. But shed never had these quivery feelings of desire before. She didnt want Connor to know that he was causing them, that even now she wanted him to pull her into his arms and kiss her.

She took a deep breath. She would focus all her thoughts on a place in the vicinity of the nursing home. That would be all he would sense. Im ready.

He grabbed her by the upper arms and pulled her close.

She gasped. Good heavens!

Ye need to hold on to me, he said softly. So I can teleport with you.

Oh, right. She slipped her arms around his neck. Her heart thundered in her chest. Concentrate. Think about the location. Not about being in his arms.

His arms enveloped her and his cheek pressed against her temple. Open yer mind, he whispered. Let me in.

She shuddered when she felt a cold stab at her brow.

Marielle. His voice echoed in her mind.

He was with her, his presence strong and determined. So masculine. And bold, as if he were staking a claim on her soul. Marielle, he repeated, and she wanted to melt around his voice.

She rallied her thoughts and focused on the location.

I have it, his voice said, then everything went black.

Connor scanned their surroundings quickly to see if anyone had witnessed their arrival. Marielle had stumbled a bit when they materialized, so he continued to hold her. They appeared to be in a dark alley.

Good. No one saw us. He glanced down at her pale face, and his heart squeezed like it always did when he looked at her. Only now, it was stronger. Hed been inside her mind, and it was a beautiful place filled with love and compassion, so much so that he wondered if she could ever forgive the monstrous things hed done in the past.