Read Meadow's Keep (The Gatekeepers Series) for Free Online Page B

shocking someone, but that took a lot effort. She knew Morgan and Dorian could heighten their perception of their surroundings, but she couldn’t quite get the hang of it, and was too embarrassed to ask. Suddenly, she wanted very much to learn all sorts of things.
    He watched, then as if reading her mind, he spoke softly, “Close your eyes. Let your other senses open. Feel your surroundings.”
    With only momentary hesitation, she did as he suggested. Immediately, she felt the warmth. Like a shell surrounding them—a protective barrier of energy. She could reach beyond it, but sensed others couldn’t penetrate it. She pushed and felt her energy brush against his.
    She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Thank you.”
    Her voice was quiet. Soft, a like a caress. Of course, to put the barrier up, he had to be open, so he was more sensitive to her projections. He took a deep breath and dampened his energy. The barrier dropped, taking hers with it.
    Jasm ine felt the change immediately The safety of their cozy cocoon was gone. Feeling raw and open, she rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “You’ve been doing that.”
    He nodded.
    “Not to be trite but, what else can you do?”
    “Unlike you,” he said and laughed, “I specialize in tricks.”
    “Eryk …Eryk!”
    Eryk stood, looking around. “Over here,” he called.
    A gangly teenage boy raced from the auditorium, his face beet red.
    Eryk moved toward him. Jasmine followed.
    “It’s Pops! He’s pinned his arm in a gear.”
    Eryk turned to Jasmine. “Call 911,” he ordered and took off running after the boy.
    Jasmine pulled out her phone and hit the numbers while running, hoping not to lose them. When the operator came on, she gave the location and running closer, saw the crowd. “It’s a ride next to the Ferris Wheel. Man has his arm caught.”
    She stepped closer and saw Eryk move in toward the working s of some sort of contraption. Parts lay on the ground. An older man, the color drained from his face, was on his side. His arm, up to his elbow, was inside a piece of equipment.
    Eryk knelt next to him. He moved his hands over the gears. He pulled back and placed a hand on the old man’s shoulder and said something. The man nodded and seemed to relax. Eryk turned to her.
    “I need your help.”
    She stepped forward, shoving her phone into her pocket.
    “When we touch ed before, my power surged. I need you to do that now.”
    She swallowed, but nodded. To get close enough to Eryk, she had to step across the man, straddling his body.
    “Wait ‘til I’m ready, Bobby,” he directed the young boy. “When I say, I want you to pull Pops toward you. Okay?”
    Bobby, tears streaming, wiped the back of a greasy hand across his face and nodded. He grabbed the old man’s legs and watched them slip. Wiping the grease from his hands on his own pants, he grabbed hold.
    “Not ‘til I tell you.”
    Bobby nodded again and planted his feet.
    Eryk, never touching the equipment, moved his hand near the surface of the machinery. Jasmine saw small sparks fly between metal and hand. His hand stopped. Without looking back, he stretched his other hand out behind him. Jasmine swallowed once and clasped her hand around his wrist. His hand immediately latched onto her wrist. She edged closer to Eryk, their bodies almost touching. She felt the kick of energy and current flowed back and forth. Her own heart beat in her ears. Then, she heard two beats. The current leapt. Their heartbeats synchronized into one strong beat. She imagined her energy flowing into him and closed her eyes.
    “Now , Bobby,” Eryk hissed.
    She heard the machinery groan but was afraid to look. Instead, she concentrated on the flow of current.
    A siren screamed in the distance, coming closer. She focused on the heartbeat.
    “It’s okay,” Eryk ’s whisper caressed her ear. She opened her eyes. He was standing next to her.
    The old man, Pops , was lying on the ground. He was pale, but color was