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bite.”
    For now…
    He added silently. Her eyes widened further, and Cael realized that he would need to guard his thoughts carefully. She had heard him. Of course she didn’t know that it was him projecting the thought, probably believing it to be intuition.
    Their connection continued to puzzle him, as did her past. As their psychic bond strengthened he should be able to see her life unfolding from beginning to end – as well as know those associated with her as she knew them. Oddly, he could not. Her early years were a murky jumble of shadow and haze, and those closest to her were distant, distorted. Almost as if someone had…
    “ I’m not sure I believe you entirely, Cael Maccinnis,” she answered half in jest after a minute’s pause.
    He knew she told true.
    Trust in me, lass. I’d never harm ye.
    Again he sensed the moment she heard him. Bewildered, the lovely lass shifted uncomfortably in her chair, the sight amusing him. Coming to know this woman proved thoroughly enjoyable. The faint freckling splashed on her high cheeks hinted at youthful vigor, the long straight line of nose, delicate womanhood. Pale green eyes kept him riveted to their startling beauty, and that luscious mouth – he had plans for that mouth later. The more he discovered the greater his desire became, and by the end of their leisurely dinner his hunger began to crack the well constructed facade.
    Drink and…
    He had a handle on his thirst – his lust - just hours ago. He cloaked his thoughts.
    Bluidy hell! Ye canna be needin’ her again already.
    But he did need her.
    Leaving her what he knew to be a few blocks from her home, Cael laughed as she disappeared around the corner. Following at a distance, he was pleased that she had been wise enough to keep her residence a secret from a stranger. After ensuring she arrived home safely he would await the curtain of sleep to aid his deceit. He would go to her again this night.
    *
    Brooke slid the coffee mug in front of Paige, their laughter lighthearted. Anna joined their smiles, but inside tendrils of fear threatened menacingly. Her enchantments were unraveling, the reason now becoming clear. Hairs on the back of Anna’s arms stood on end, her flesh tightening in dread. Anna was cold on the inside.
    Paige chattered in excited glee with her cousin about the man she had met, supposedly by chance. Anna doubted chance had anything to do with it.
    “ Brooke!” Paige whispered.
    It did not escape Anna’s ears.
    “ He looks so like the man in my dream the other night. It’s bizarre.”
    Brooke giggled.
    “ Did you tell him about what the two of you were doing in those dreams?”
    She winked, which sent Paige’s eyes rolling.
    “ He’d think I was a nutter!”
    “ Or a …”
    Anna had heard enough, cutting in. She needed to know more about this man. Much more.
    “ What dreams?”
    Paige blushed to the roots of her hair, and Brooke cackled in conspiratorial glee.
    “ Sissy! You know our Paige is practically virginal. You’re embarrassing her. She dreamed of a handsome man a few nights ago is all. Then she met one!”
    “ Did ye only dream of him the once, lass?” Anna inquired in nonchalance.
    “ Nope,” Brooke answered for her cousin.
    “ Did ye invite him in?” Anna probed further.
    “ I don’t know,” Paige answered. “What would that matter? It was a dream.”
    There was an edge to Paige’s voice. Anna backed off the topic, wanting to avoid sparking questions in her niece’s mind. Questions she was not prepared to answer. Questions that, if answered, would alter her life forever.
    “ What smells so good? Do I smell steak?” Paige changed the subject, going to the counter.
    Anna paled. She was defrosting steak in the fridge. It was still in the wrapper.
    After all these years, Agnes, do I finally fail you? Help me know what to do, sister.
    In truth, she’d failed her sister long ago. Anna needed help from beyond the mortal realm. It was time to renew an old