Nibbling her lip, she looped the horse’s lead line through her hands, as the question whipped through her mind. Tatiana felt torn, but when she locked eyes with Dominic the chaos swirling inside her stilled, like leaves settling after a storm.
Dominic moved toward her with a concerned look as his energy signature whisked through the thick summer air with hers. Tatiana sighed as it swathed her in a soothing embrace.
“I don’t know,” she whispered through trembling lips. “How am I supposed to make that choice? Leave everything I’ve ever known? My home, my practice…” She swallowed the lump in her throat and fought the tears that threatened to spill over. “Or leave him.”
“Can I give you a piece of advice from one freak-show half-breed to another?”
Tatiana nodded but didn’t speak because it would likely release the tears she was holding back.
“Don’t let fear stop you. Put everything else aside for a while and simply ask yourself how he makes you feel. I’m all for being an independent woman, believe me, but don’t let your need for independence turn into an excuse to push him away. I’m still independent, and maybe even more so, since I hooked up with Dante. The question really is: Will you be happier with him or without him?”
Tatiana looked to her left and latched gazes again with Dominic. Her heart raced faster with every step he took as Kerry’s question raced through her mind. Will you be happier with him or without him?
Everything slowed, and her heartbeat thundered in her ears as the veracity of that question settled over her. Tatiana Winters had done the one thing in the world she swore she would never do. She fell in love with an Amoveo man—the Amoveo man. She loved him.
“With him,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Tatiana dropped the lead line, ran down the hay-strewn aisle of the barn, and launched herself into Dominic’s embrace. She linked her arms around his neck and buried her face against his throat as she breathed in his distinct scent. He smelled like soap and a hint of sweat.
“Hey,” he whispered, his voice laced with concern. He stroked the back of her head as his other arm held her snugly. “What’s going on? Did you connect with the horse? Tatiana, you’re scaring me. Say something.”
Dominic pulled back. Setting her down on her feet, he cradled her face in his hands as his worried eyes studied her closely. Tatiana’s body trembled, and she pressed his hand to her cheek, struggling to find the right words. Finally, she settled on the three little words that she’d never said to another man. It made sense. Although she didn’t realize it, she’d been saving them for him.
“I—I love you.”
Dominic’s body stilled against hers. His eyes flickered and shifted into the glowing amber eyes of his clan, but he said nothing.
“Did you hear me?” She dropped her hands to his chest and worried his dog tags between her fingers, the cool metal soothing her and keeping her grounded in reality. She held his stare and said it again. “I love you, Dominic.”
Growling, he ducked his chin and rested his forehead against hers while holding her close. I love you too, Tatiana. The words whispered into her mind like a caress as he kissed the tip of her nose.
Tatiana popped up onto her toes and captured his lips, gently at first, savoring the feel of them. Her hands curled against his chest as he held her closer, and the kiss quickly grew in intensity. She linked her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss as the now familiar fire flickered over her skin.
The sound of people clapping captured their attention. Dominic broke the kiss and laughed as he placed a kiss on top of her head and hugged her close. Tatiana, her head on Dominic’s shoulder, caught a glimpse of Kerry and Dante, who stood behind them applauding loudly. She grinned at them before burying her face into Dominic’s neck and giggling.
“Bravo,” Dante said.
“Well played, kids.” Kerry gave her them two thumbs up and laughed as Dante stood behind her and swept his mate into a sweet embrace. “Now, you two will have time to play doctor later, but don’t we have funky psychic shit to take care of? Like creating a mental link with one of these gorgeous horses?”
“You ready?” Dominic asked. His hands slid down her back and rested at the top of her butt.
“As I’ll ever be.” Tatiana let out a shuddering breath and kissed the cheek with the scar. “I’ve got to get Obsidian. Don’t go anywhere, okay?”
“Not a chance.” Dominic smacked her butt playfully and released her from his strong embrace. “Let’s do this.”
Tatiana stood in the stall with Obsidian and whispered soothing sounds to the young mare while sending her gentle waves of reassuring energy. The doors of the stable were closed, and the other horses were out to graze. While it made the space thick with heat and humidity, Tatiana felt it could be distracting for both of them if there were too many equine energies in the immediate vicinity.
Kerry and Dante remained close by. If Tatiana had trouble making a firm connection, Kerry’s psychic ability might solidify it. They gave Tatiana some space and observed from outside the stall. Dominic, however, stood inside with Tatiana, and even though she thought it might make Obsidian nervous, she knew there was no talking him out of it.
Tatiana closed her eyes and stood in front of Obsidian with both hands laid gently over the jibbah on her forehead. Her gorgeous black coat was pure midnight and shone almost blue when the light hit it. The mare’s energy fluttered around Tatiana in pale lavender waves, calm and peaceful.
Sharpening her focus, Tatiana worked on finding that elusive tear in the ribbon of energy, the spot where she could slip inside and touch the carefully guarded soul of the gentle beast. As the connection deepened, Tatiana’s body felt heavy and cumbersome. She concentrated on riding her own energy wave as it merged with Obsidian’s. As the two swooped through the thick, summer atmosphere together, a crackle of bright, white light captured her attention.
Swimming within time and space, Tatiana whisked along, and with one final mental push, she slid through the crevice like a thread through the eye of a needle. Her body jolted, and her breath rushed from her lungs as the bond was formed.
Obsidian? Tatiana barely recognized her own voice as she linked her mind with the mare. Can you tell me who killed, Spirit?
Not who you think. The words surrounded Tatiana in a fog of muffled moaning sounds. Bad man. Pretender.
Who, Obsidian? The light around her faded, and the voice seemed farther away, but she was surrounded by a rushing noise. It reminded her of trying to hear the ocean in a conch shell—loud, white noise that was frustratingly indistinct. Obsidian, what is his name?
The light was sucked from her in a rush, like water swooshing abruptly down a drain. Blood pumped in her ears as her heart raced, and the mare’s short, bristly hair rasped beneath her fingertips. Tatiana gasped for air as the connection was severed, and Obsidian whinnied loudly as she reared back. Tatiana lost her balance and was knocked backward, but instead of slamming into the wooden wall, she landed safely in Dominic’s waiting arms.
Clinging to him, she fought to get her bearings as the psychic connection faded. It took her a moment to realize she was once again sitting in his lap in a pile of hay. Tatiana pushed her hair off her forehead as she caught her breath and saw that Obsidian seemed no worse for wear. The mare was in the opposite corner of the stall chewing on a carrot Kerry had given her.