Soul Whisperer (12 page)

Cesar stretched. Bess stared at the rippling muscles of his chest and arms and felt a stab of desire pierce her insides.

He grinned. “Why am I thinking of a shark?”

Bess moved away, bringing the blanket with her. That was her thought and he had read it. The same thing that made sex so great also opened some kind of portal between them. She didn't like it.

“Not sure,” she said, sitting up and recovering her bra, which lay on the coffee table. She located her sweater next and drew the cashmere over her head, then stood to slip into her thong and skirt.

Cesar made a sound of surprise. “They sold me this place on the view, but it's never been as good as right now.” Cesar still lay on his back, but was now looking straight up her skirt.

“What are you, twelve?”

“Closer to a hundred and twenty.”

“Me, too. Not quite a hundred.”

Cesar sat up, using the afghan like a toga.

Bess buckled her belt and then glanced to the foyer, spotting her purse.

Cesar stood, dropping the afghan. Bess sat back on the sofa to watch him get dressed, thoroughly enjoying herself. “It's like Chippendales only in reverse.”

“Don't feel obligated to stick a twenty in my G-string.”

“Thanks.”

He sat next to her. She turned sideways, curling her bare foot beneath her thigh and folding her hands in her lap to keep herself from brushing his thick hair from his forehead. She preferred his disheveled look. It made him seem more approachable, less fierce.

“I'm glad you came back,” he said, his voice low and intimate. He could still smell the perfume of her skin, but now it was on his clothing and skin.

Cesar wondered if Bess realized how lovely she was, with her lips swollen from his kisses and her usually perfectly arranged hair in a tangle all about her lovely heart-shaped face. Her high cheekbones, narrow nose and pointed chin all served as the perfect canvas for her wide, sloping dark eyes. Her lovely full red lips no longer shined, but still held the stain of red from the lipstick she'd applied.

He fingered the fuzzy sweater at her waist then slid along the satin of her short skirt until he touched her
toned thighs. She allowed it, but did not move to take his hand.

She wasn't aroused right now, but feeling anxious and self-conscious, worried about what he thought of her because of the last time.

“Damn,” he whispered, drawing back and breaking the connection. This was because she'd read his thoughts the first time, when he'd wondered about her animal urges.

“Bess? I'm sorry for upsetting you last time.”

She glanced away, looking toward the windows. The rain still pattered against the glass as it had all day.

Her voice was so low he had to lean forward to hear her.

“You mean for wondering if sex was good because I'm part animal?”

“Was it?” he asked.

“Was it what?”

“Was it because you are Inanoka and I'm Niyanoka that our sex was so off-the-charts spectacular?”

B
ess blinked at him in a look of open astonishment. He'd been trying to apologize for the last time they'd been together.

Now he waited, wondering if she'd fly away again.

She sat before him, perched at the edge of the couch cushion, her posture stiff and her knees pressed tightly together.

Cesar crossed one arm over his chest and used his wrist to brace the opposite elbow, balling his fist over his mouth to keep himself from saying anything else.

“I'm not sure,” she said.

He sat on the coffee table, his legs splayed on either side of hers. It would be a simple thing to touch her, but he resisted, not wanting to reveal the tumult of this thoughts.

“What do you think?” she asked.

Humor, you idiot. Say something funny and pray she lets you off the hook
.

“Me? I think I should send flowers more often.”

Her smile seemed forced as she studied him with her sharp, black eyes. He knew the instant he was in the clear, because she gave a slight nod. Then she tucked her hair behind her ears as if getting down to business.

“So tell me, what exactly did you see?”

He nodded his resignation. Their danger was past, but also their intimacy. Their coupling had been so damned good, he felt an ache that she could set it aside so easily.

“Well, we had a call. Something tore up a trailer.”

She leaned in. “Something?”

“It was them. The more recently born twins.”

“Tell me everything.”

He did, beginning with the trailer that the creatures had opened like a can of tuna fish to reach the dog and the curious behavior of the one, trying, it seemed to Cesar, to get a better look at him, while the other twin urged it away.

“Why didn't they attack you?”

“Not sure.”

“But you did see them?”

He nodded.

“And they saw you?”

“Yes, most definitely.”

“I don't understand.” Bess recalled that they had turned on her the instant she was spotted and with an unsettling ruthlessness. Yet they had let him entirely alone. It puzzled her.

“Do you think they recognized you as something other than human and other than animal, something like them?”

“Again, not sure. They were howling and barking back and forth. A disagreement, I think.”

Bess rubbed her sculpted thumbnail along her lower lip as she thought. “They were speaking to one another?”

“That was my take. But I couldn't distinguish any words. Just yowling and screeching.”

“Did you use your gun?”

“No, though it was out of the holster. I'm not sure they recognized the weapon as a threat.”

“And you don't know if it
is
a threat. They can turn their bodies to smoke, remember?”

“True. I really don't know what they know. In any case, they were already bigger than you described. Nearly four feet now and they did a kind of jumping, leaping gallop that reminded me of the way ring-tailed lemurs move on the ground.”

She gave him an incredulous look.

“Discovery Channel.”

“So they saw you, watched you and then took off?”

“Then sort of exploded into a black cloud of smoke and rose up into the tree canopy.”

Bess sat back. “You're lucky they didn't kill you.”

“I'm not sure it was luck.”

She waited, giving him time to formulate his thoughts instead of disagreeing outright.

“So far these two have killed a moose and a dog that we know of. But the campground was full of tourists in tents and RVs. It they had wanted to attack people, they surely had the opportunity.”

“They killed their mother, who was human.”

“All creatures have a right to be born.”

“By gnawing their way out of their mother's body?”

He didn't answer, choosing retreat instead. “You want a drink?”

She nodded and followed him to the kitchen, waiting as he retrieved two glasses. She chose one of the four chairs that lined the granite counter, and then tucked in facing him.

“Water, juice, cocktail?”

She asked for juice and he mixed seltzer with the pomegranate blend he had on hand, recalling Persephone's mistake, half hoping that the concoction would have the same effect on Bess. He'd like to have her around for half the year.

He offered the glass and she accepted it. The ice cubes tinkled as their hands brushed. In that instant he felt her true emotions rushing at him like a windstorm of agitation. He righted himself, looking at her. The calm demeanor was merely a facade, then. Had he not touched her, he might never have guessed.

He retrieved a dark beer and lifted the amber bottle, clinking it against her glass in a silent salute.

Bess lifted hers to him before drinking.

“So, in summary, unless they attack a camper, your people won't do a thing, because they are only killing animals.”

“Yes.”

“You're giving those things a lot more credit than they deserve.”

“Perhaps. But until we know what they are—”

“I know now.”

He held the bottle frozen in place for an instant before setting it aside. His voice turned grave as his expression.

“Niyanoka?”

She shook her head. “Before I tell you what the mothers said, I need to explain something.”

“Bess, you promised you'd tell me what you discovered.”

“And I will. Just listen.”

Bess's voice was breathless now and he had a hard time not staring at her lush mouth.

“I was in Montana three months ago helping a friend who was attacked by ghosts.”

“Montana? This have anything to do with the daughter of a Peacemaker and his wife, a Dream Walker?”

She nodded. “How did you know?”

“The Council of Elders sent me to Montana in May to interview them. They told me their daughter had broken our…” He hesitated, sensing another battle, but instead of turning back, he charged ahead. “Our laws against fraternization with Skinwalkers.” She did not take visible offense, but he knew now that her expression was not a good method of gauging her mood. He wondered if he should risk a touch and decided against it. “They said a Skinwalker had been discovered by a group of humans on a dude ranch. They reported that the Skinwalker wolf had caused injuries. But the Peacemaker reformulated their memories.”

“What! That's a lie. That's not what happened.”

“I sensed the Peacemaker was lying, but I can't use my Truth Seeking on other Niyanoka without permission and he was very thorough with the humans. I did see their daughter in the company of a Skinwalker, confirming that part of his story. So I reported to the Council what little I found. Jessie Healy was banished as a result.”

“His name is Nicholas and he saved their daughter's life. Did you at least speak to them?”

“Was there some reason I should?”

They stared at each other from opposite sides of the stone counter, but Cesar felt the distance separating them was suddenly much greater. He reached for her hands, needing to bring her back to him, but she slid them from the granite surface and onto her lap.

She stared at him earnestly. “I was there, Cesar. Are you willing to listen to what really happened?”

He nodded.

Bess blew out a breath and launched into her story.

“It was a battle in Montana against four Skin walkers and three Niyanoka, the two you spoke to and their daughter. We fought against Nagi's ghosts.”

“Ghosts can't attack humans.”

“Unless they have taken possession of humans.”

Cesar's unease grew at this revelation.

“Nagi captured the one you helped banish and used her in an attempt to get Nicholas—he's the wolf—to reveal the location of his real target. Nagi sent his ghosts to possess the men and women at the ranch. When we tried to rescue Jessie, they attacked us.”

She did not need to touch him to see the disbelief painted on his features.

“Tuff was there. He'll tell you the same.”

His expression told her that the word of another Skinwalker was no proof at all.

Cesar's voice held a note of the type one uses to explain something to a child. “Nagi doesn't allow ghosts to attack humans. He collects evil souls and sends them for judgment.”

Bess's frustration bubbled into her words. “He wasn't attacking humans! He was using them to attack us to try to find a Niyanoka.”

“Who?”

“The last Seer of Souls.”

Cesar stepped back. He bumped into the oven, then folded his arms protectively across his chest, avoiding her eye and Bess knew that he had heard of the Seer.

“Chatter on the internet is all. Some say there is still a Seer in the world.”

“I know her.”

“You've met the Seer?”

Bess nodded and Cesar's eyes grew wide. He covered his mouth with his hand, regarding her as if trying to decide how to proceed.

“I thought it was a rumor.” He spoke as much to himself as to her. “I didn't believe, that is, we thought the Ghost Clan had died with Michael Proud.”

“Michaela's father. He was also a Seer. He hid his daughter when he realized Nagi was stalking him and suppressed her gifts. Until recently, she thought she was human.”

“How is that possible?”

“I do not know.”

“And you say Nagi killed her father? Why does the Council know nothing of this?”

“I'm not certain they don't. Tuff told me that Jessie tried to tell them but they disregarded her words because she is living with one of my people.”

“And called me to investigate instead?”

Bess nodded. “To be certain she no longer has the right to speak to them.”

“Why didn't her parents back her up? Why turn her in?” he asked.

“They chose to protect their position instead of their daughter. And perhaps the Council does not want others to hear of this.”

She noticed he had no trouble accepting that the
Council was intentionally suppressing information from his people.

“Why doesn't that surprise you?”

Cesar lowered his chin. “I have some experience with them. They have their own agenda.” He tapped his first two fingers on his lower lip, staring past her to the empty room, but seeming to be looking back into his own thoughts.

Bess resisted the urge to touch him.

At last he dropped his hand. “So what really happened in Montana?”

She released a breath. At least, he was willing to listen.

“It began when her father ventured onto the Spirit Road while still alive. The journey tore his soul.”

“Making it easy for Nagi to find him,” Cesar finished for her.

“Exactly. Nagi had reasons to want him dead before he produced more Seers, but when he tracked the Seer, he discovered his wife was already with child.”

“The current Seer?”

“No, her younger brother. Nagi killed the Seer and his wife, but was unaware that they had hidden Michaela. Nagi did not know of her until her powers manifested.”

“Seers are invisible to all Spirits.”

“Yes, unless they walk the Ghost Road.”

“She nearly died?”

“Auto accident. Coma. She survived.”

“But Nagi saw her on the Ghost Road.”

Bess nodded. “Exactly.”

“But why would Nagi hunt Seers?”

“Because the Seer of Souls is the only living person who can see ghosts. So she is the only person who
would see him amassing those ghosts into his own private army.”

His voice emerged as a tight growl. “Why?”

“To take over the living world.”

 

Cesar gave Bess a dubious look, but she gave no indication that she was playing some elaborate joke. This didn't make any sense. “Nagi rules the Circle of Ghosts.”

She waved an impatient hand in the air. “I know. But he attacked the Seer. She suffered a Spirit Wound. He also attacked Jessie Healy, a Dream Walker. Same deal.”

Cesar couldn't keep himself from flinching. Spirit Wounds worked from within through madness or by killing the soul.

“Why aren't they both dead?”

“My friend Sebastian took the Seer to Kanka for help.”

“A Supernatural cannot heal a Spirit Wound.” He spoke automatically, pointing at the gaping hole in her story.

Again he received the impatient look. “I know. But she did heal her body. Michaela had to learn to repair the other one herself.”

“I did not know that was possible.”

“Her recovery means Nagi can no longer find her, but he still wants her dead, so he attacked her husband's best friend in hopes that the injured Skinwalker would come to them to be healed.”

“This Skinwalker, is a healer?”

She nodded. “A grizzly bear.”

Cesar understood now. Bears were the greatest of healers, respected even among his people.

Bess continued. “But Nicholas realized what Nagi was up to and sought another healer.”

“The Dream Walker in Montana,” finished Cesar.

“Yes. She healed him and he saved her from Nagi, with my help.”

Cesar couldn't suppress the half smile. Bess was not modest, but neither was she a braggart.

“How did you stop the ghosts?”

“We didn't. Couldn't. We only won because of the Seer. She figured out how to send them back to the Circle. Do you understand what that means?”

“It means she can defeat his ghosts but if he finds her, she'll die.”

“He can't use his ghosts. He can't win that way unless he finds and kills the Seers.”

“There are more than one?”

“She's recently delivered twins. Nagi is more desperate to find her than before. But I think he figured out another way to take over the living world.”

The look in her eyes told him that he sure as hell wasn't going to like what came next.

“Why didn't you tell me all this before now?”