Siren's Call (A Rainshadow Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page B

done a terrific acting job because one of the enforcers snorted in disbelief. But the other one contemplated Vickary’s prone body with a thoughtful expression. When he turned back she thought she saw a little wariness in his eyes.
    “You want to go through with the buy or not, Trent?” Rafe asked. “Because if you’re no longer interested, I’ve got a long list of clients who will be happy to take your place.”
    “I definitely want the artifacts,” Trent said. He gave Rafe a considering look. “I was hoping to establish a long-term business arrangement with Vickary but it looks like he’s out of the picture. And as it happens, I’m not in the mood to negotiate.” He spoke to the enforcers without looking at either of them. “Burn ’em and dump ’em in the tunnels.”
    The thugs responded immediately. Two violent balls of green energy coalesced in the chamber, charging the atmosphere. Ella’s hair was suddenly standing on end.
    Ghost fire. The small storms of lethal energy that drifted randomly through the catacombs were one of the many hazards underground. There was nothing supernatural about them. They weren’t real ghosts. But the early settlers hadbestowed the nickname on them two hundred years before and it had stuck.
    The technical name was UDEM: Unstable Dissonance Energy Manifestation. Only those with a unique talent could summon a ghost or control it. Flamers were useless against a UDEM.
    Ella watched Rafe, hoping for direction. He looked bored.
    “You’re an idiot, Trent,” he said. “We both know you can’t work those relics.”
    Something akin to lust flashed in Trent’s eyes. “Maybe not, but I’ve got the kind of money and connections that will allow me to buy the talent I need.” He moved one hand in a slicing motion. “Burn ’em. Now.”
    The ghosts moved toward their targets. Ella rezzed her talent and prepared to sing. She had used a lot of energy on Vickary but she had not exhausted her psychic senses. Her target would not be the ghosts but rather one of the men who had generated the fireballs.
    “You dumbasses.” Rafe shook his head. “You really think we’re that easy to kill?”
    “Don’t see what’s stopping us,” the first enforcer said. He was flushed with a disturbing excitement. Clearly he liked his work.
    “Try this,” Rafe said.
    Very casually he put a hand on Ella’s shoulder. She flinched at the heat and power of his grip—not because it was painful but because the physical contact sent a shock wave through her senses. The blue quartz ring on his finger sparked with a dark energy. She knew then that hewas rezzing his own talent. Whatever the nature of his ability, the power in his aura was breathtaking.
    A rush of excitement swept through her. It was not unlike the thrill she got when she jacked up her own senses, but it wasn’t quite the same, either. This exhilarating tide of heat was accompanied by a powerful wave of intense, erotic intimacy. She had never experienced anything like it. Vaguely she realized that her own talent was flaring in response to Rafe’s hot aura—not just flaring, but starting to
resonate
with it.
    A storm broke in the green quartz chamber. Dark energy swirled in the atmosphere. Her bells shivered on invisible currents of fire and ice.
    Out of the corner of her eye she saw that Rafe had picked up one of the crystal weapons. Another shock flashed through her when she realized that he had activated it. The artifact glowed with violent paranormal energy.
    Before she could grasp the implications of what was happening, jagged bolts of psi lightning danced in the chamber. A great darkness filled the space. In the strobelike effects created by the bolts of energy Ella saw the three mobsters stiffen and jerk about wildly, again and again.
    The green balls of ghost fire winked out of existence.
    “Well, damn,” Rafe said very softly. “It’s a little stronger than I expected.” He tightened his grip on her shoulder. “Don’t