Eliza Gayle Witch Bundle (paranormal romance), Eliza Gayle [books suggested by bill gates txt] 📗

couch Rena rested on. Her eyes were open, watching them both cautiously. Graelen paused before answering, realization slamming into him as he watched her lie there helplessly.

Oh, Goddess, she is right. How could he explain to his angry twin that when she absorbed his emotions, his darkness receded. Not only receded, but lightened him, giving him a sense of balance. A balance he had never known.

Could it really be true? Was his little vixen born for him? His balancing half. Did he dare hope that there was an empath out there for each one of them?

“Graelen,” her voice was fragile and shaking, “the pain.”

“I know, baby. I'm so sorry I did that to you.”

“No, Graelen, it's not you. It's him.” She looked at Cash. “I can't absorb his anger. His fury is beating at me, breaking me down. I can't take it.”

Graelen strained to hear her whispering voice.

“Give me a break.” There was a bitter edge of cynicism in Cash's voice.

“Cash, you've really got to simmer down. Your anger is painful for her.” He faced his brother. “Look at her. She can't recover as long as your anger keeps pushing her down.”

“I thought you said she could absorb the anger. Take it away.”

“She absorbs my anger, Cash, not yours.”

“So, you really are buying into this story. Well, if it's true, then why won't she tell you who sent her here?”

Graelen winced at his brother's tone. He didn't know what he could say that would convince him. He just needed some time to think this through.

“I'm taking her back to bed now. She needs time to recover and you need time to get yourself under control.”

“Wait,” she spoke with quiet, but desperate firmness. “Let me talk to your brother. Alone.”

Graelen hesitated for a second, letting her request sink in. “No.” He scooped her up. “That's not a good idea.”

“Graelen, stop. Put me down right now.” She wriggled in his arms, fighting like a hellcat and forcing him to put her down on her feet. “I want to talk to Cash and that is what I intend to do.”

Grae growled at her. Looking over at Cash, he noticed him struggling not to smile or worse, laugh out loud. Without another word to his twin or her, he left the room.

“I take it you're not to happy to see me here with Graelen.” She watched him roll his eyes.

“I think that's an understatement.”

She peered at Cash's face. If not for the slight shadowed growth covering the lower half of his face, it would be all but impossible to tell him and Graelen apart. Except for the eyes. Cash had a hard look about his eyes, probably born of the anger he carried around like a badge. It was difficult to see a face nearly identical to Graelen's looking at her with such hatred.

“What are you doing here?” He glared down at her.

“I—” she fidgeted. Something about him just made her nervous.

“What do you want with my brother?”

“I—”

“Who sent you here? When are you leaving?”

She gave up trying to answer as his rapid-fire questions continued. He was on a roll and she thought to let him finish, until his anger began to build to a painful level again.

“Cash, stop!” He stiffened as though she had struck him. “You're hurting me again.”

“Well, maybe if you would answer my questions, I wouldn't be so upset.”

“Are you kidding me?” Her hands went to her hips in obvious annoyance. “I tried to answer your questions but you just steamrolled right over me.”

As their voices rose, so did the emotional level in the room. With his anger beating against her body, weakening her, Rena desperately began building shields in her mind, weaving them layer after layer. She imagined strong bands of steel protection wrapping around her mind in a last ditch effort to stop the pain. He didn't stop with his accusations and she watched his eyes darken, and energy begin to crackle around him. She was running out of time before she would collapse under the onslaught.

“Rena, are you even listening to me?” His voice came to her as if muffled in a towel. Her arms and legs grew weak. She couldn't get her shields built fast enough and she was fading. It wouldn't be long before she would be unconscious. The dark heavy feeling from Cash raked over her skin as she frantically worked to fend him off. When the tip of the darkness edged across her belly, she knew there were only seconds left. With the anger and hatred oozing over her breasts she got the last of the shield complete, and with everything she had left she slammed it into place fighting off the wave of grim emotions.

When her guard crashed into place, shielding her from the hellish onslaught his emotions had become, all of his energy gathered and rebounded, slamming back into his body. He flew across the room, smashing into the wall above the fireplace. His body crumpled to the ground in a heap and Rena landed on her butt. “Holy shit! That was new.” She was too tired to move but she had to check on Cash, makes sure he was okay. Rena struggled back to her feet and staggered over to his limp form.

“Cash. Cash! Are you all right?” She moved his hair to check his pulse and found his heart thumping strong and wild. Oh, thank God.

He groaned in response before rolling over on to his back. “You forget to tell us something?” He winced when he sat up.

“Nothing like that has ever happened before.”

One eyebrow raised, he gave her a patent look of disbelief.

“Don't give me that look, you're the one who was beating me down with that hatred you harbor. Maybe you got what you deserved.” She moved back over to the couch. She didn't want to fight with him anymore.

“That was an impressive display of power from such a tiny woman.”

“Don't be such an idiot. That wasn't my power. I don't have power like that. That