Training Rain Read Online Free PDF

“I never wanted to go with you to Las
Vegas, but I couldn’t say no to Adianca. She saved me and so when she asks
something of me, I say yes. Your people didn’t want me along either. They
thought I would get in the way, and I could understand their concerns. I’m not
trained for combat. I know nothing of psychic battles. Yet Adianca was sure I
would be needed and she was right as she always is.
    “I’ve never been as frightened as I was that day. I had no
weapon. My job was to get close enough to Banta to stop the flow of psi energy
so that others could reach him with weapons, psychic or otherwise.
    “Stealing power through the abomination of gathering
weakened the madman and I saw my chance. Your friend Trip was already drained
of his aura. He lay dead on the cold marble floor. I could see the life drawing
away from you. I crawled on my belly across the floor. Banta was so distracted
and thought himself so invincible he didn’t notice me. Tessa distracted him, he
released his hold on you and when he attacked Tessa I blocked his psi.”
    Everything she said, he remembered as a hazy nightmare. Once
he and Trip attacked and Banta countered, everything became out of focus. His
life ebbed away and his world began to collapse in on itself. “Then what
happened?”
    It was warm in the room, but she shivered. “Tessa killed him
and I started to heal you.”
    “I was dying.”
    For the first time she looked at him. “No. You would have
lived. Though perhaps you would have wished you were dead. The pain that the
leaching of your aura had caused was extreme enough that when I looked in your
eyes, there was nothing there.”
    “I don’t remember anything after Banta released me until you
were hovering over me.” Jess watched her carefully.
    Her cheeks flushed a fresh pink under the warm tan that was
her natural color. “Joshua tried to give Banta one last chance to give himself
up. I could tell he didn’t want to kill him, though I can’t imagine why.”
    Jess said, “Troth Banta and Joshua Lakeland were good friends
a long time ago. They served together. I’m sure Josh hoped he could save some
part of his old friend.”
    Rain’s mouth turned down. “Tessa took the decision out of
his hand. She fired and killed Banta. She is a fierce warrior.”
    He smiled thinking about Tessa Clark. She was a warrior. She
was also one of the only people in the world that he completely trusted. At one
time he had thought that he and Tessa belonged together. Now she was with Josh
and it was for the best. “She’s a great agent.”
    Another deeper frown marred Rain’s pretty face. “I don’t
know if I could have made that decision.”
    He didn’t argue with her. It was too soon to tell what she
was capable of. Still, there was something about her. “What happened after
Tessa shot Banta?”
    “I came to you. Your eyes stared up at nothing. It wouldn’t
be long before the ambulance came and took you away. I knew I had to act fast
or it might not have been possible to help you. It is dangerous to be detached
from your aura for much time.
    “I held your body in my lap and took your pain. I mended
your soul.”
    “What do you mean, you took my pain?”
    Her gaze locked with his. “In order to heal I must take the
pain. I told you that. I knew it would be terrible. I understood the price.”
    His palms were damp. It would have been easier to let it go,
but he couldn’t. “What was the price?”
    A single tear pushed out of her eye, tumbled over her bottom
lid and slid down her face. Jess’ heart tightened painfully.
    Rain closed her eyes and spoke slowly. Her low, resonant
voice vibrated as if it were coming from inside him. “My hands touched your
face. There was a day’s growth of beard on your cheek and chin. All the other
sounds in the casino stopped. The other agents talking faded into nothing. The
calls of your friends were blocked out. No sirens sounded outside. There was
only you and me, trapped in a pain so