Thin Air Page 0,38

hazarded.

He frowned. "Doubt it," he said. "They can inhabit a human, but if they can assume a semblance, I've never heard of it. Why?"

I shrugged. Shrugs were fine things for avoiding issues. "Second thing: Do you think I can do what I did with Cherise-that memory thing-with other people?"

Lewis looked toward me sharply. "From them to you? I wouldn't try it. What you did was...wrong, Jo. You shouldn't have been able to, in the first place, and I've got no idea how it happened. Earth Warden skills take years of training, even for the basics. What you're trying to do...no. I wouldn't."

We didn't have time for anything else. The Wardens, tired of waiting for us to come to them, were heading our way.

I was about to meet the family, and I was pretty sure I wasn't ready.

"Joanne's okay," Lewis said loudly. A preemptive strike that halted at least four of them who had opened their mouths to comment or ask questions. "She's been through some trauma, and her memory's a little shaky right now, but she's going to be fine. So give her some room, guys."

At least half of them looked irritated, and I wondered why. Maybe they hadn't wanted me to be found at all, or if so, maybe they'd expected me to be up to full strength and ready to dive right in to pull my share of the load. Hard to tell.

The Djinn, Rahel, had moved closer, too, and now those eyes were just plain eerie. A hot, metallic gold, with flecks of brass. Predatory eyes. She slowly drummed her neon-colored talons along her folded arms, and I couldn't tell what she was thinking.

Marion, in the wheelchair, was easier to read. She looked worried. And contemplative. And from the unfocused way she was examining me, she was doing that aetheric vision thing.

"Joanne," she said. She was the first to smile at me. "It's so good to see you safe." She held out her hand, and I shot Lewis a nervous glance. He nodded, so I took it and shook. Her skin felt warm, her grip firm. Her dark eyes held mine steadily. "I see you've had some hard times, but so have we all. It's good you're back with us again. We can use your strength."

It was, at the very least, a public endorsement. Probably more than I could reasonably ask for. "Thanks," I said. I had the feeling that I might not have been a friend, but at least there was respect between us. Respect, I could return. The others standing around were regarding me with varying expressions of wariness or hope, neither of which made me feel any too secure.

Marion's attention slid past me to focus on Kevin, and her expression changed to concern. "My God, Lewis, what happened to the boy? No, never mind. Not here. Let's get him to the clinic." Her eyes passed over Cherise, then came back, and she frowned, puzzled. She looked sharply at Lewis, an open question on her face, and he shook his head.

"Later," he said.

She pressed controls and wheeled the chair in a tight circle, leading the way to a small parked caravan of plain black sedans and vans. I started to follow.

The guy Lewis had pointed out as Paul caught my arm in a big, square hand and dragged me to a stop. "Not so fast, babe," he rumbled. He had an East Coast accent, maybe Jersey, if I had to guess. Olive-toned skin, dark hair with flecks of gray, dark stubble showing even though I was sure he'd freshly shaved. "No welcome for me?"

"Paul," I said, and he hugged me. Full-body. "Um, hi." I resisted an urge to struggle, because he seemed to want to hold on a little too long for comfort.

"Kid, I thought you were gone," he murmured, lips close to my ear. "Don't do that again, all right? You've given me plenty enough heart attacks already." And then he pecked me on the cheek and backed away. The way he looked at me, I wondered...No, surely not. Surely I hadn't slept with every guy I knew.

"I-I'll try to be more careful," I said. Awkward. I didn't know where I stood with this guy-kissing-close, obviously, but not much else. He was a little intimidating up close, which was funny, since I'd been spending time with Lewis and David, guys who defined intimidating. I swallowed and forced a smile. "I need to go with..." I mimed following Lewis. Paul studied me for a second,