captain would be a believer.”
“Oh, she gets it all right.” Olivia took out her XPhone and read through some notes she’d made. “She just can’t get anyone higher up to believe her.”
“We’ve got to find Volod.” I wished caffeine worked for me. I sure could’ve used a jolt. “Once again we didn’t get any info last night worth anything. Whatever his next step is, he is keeping it quiet. Too quiet.”
Olivia stopped flipping her pencil in the air and pointed it at me. “You know he’s coming after you, Nyx. He’s taken Rodán, he’s taken the council. He’s taking revenge on all of those who destroyed him.
“I think he plans to save you for last,” she added. “You need to be careful. You aren’t invincible and you have been bitten once. You probably shouldn’t even be here.”
“I can’t hide.” I sighed. “I’m being cautious and watchful. Volod won’t win, Olivia. He will not win. But thank you for your warning and for being such a good friend.”
Olivia resumed her pencil toss. “Oh, don’t go getting sappy on me, purple butt.”
The Fae bells at the front door did a gentle dance and tinkle, something that only happened when Megan, the new Witch Tracker, stopped by.
This time the pit bull Doppler, Bruce, and the falcon, Tate, weren’t with her.
“Hi, Megan.” It wasn’t hard to smile at the Witch. If I hadn’t seen her in action, I would have thought she was too sweet to be an effective Tracker. “What’s up?”
“If it isn’t Samantha Stevens,” Olivia said. “Do you sneeze when you wiggle your nose?”
“I need to talk with you, Nyx.” Megan parked herself in one of the two chairs in front of my desk, ignoring Olivia. Her shoulder-length blond hair swung forward. “I had a vision when I scried in my crystal this morning that involves you.”
“Okay.” I hated visions about me. I leaned forward, my forearms braced on my desktop. “What’s it about?”
She bit her lower lip as she folded her hands in her lap. “It was about a gift I thought of giving you the other day.”
“A gift?” I tilted my head to the side. “That’s what you scried about?”
She gave a single nod.
“What is it?” I replied.
“I’m going to give you the ability to read minds.”
“What?” As what she said hit me I shook my head. “No way. I don’t need or want that ability, and I don’t want any spells cast on me.”
She leaned forward, a look of utter seriousness on her face. “You are meant to have this gift, Nyx Ciar of the Drow. It might last twenty-four hours, a week, a month. But whatever the case, it will last as long as it is needed, and it may come and go.”
I raised my hands to ward her off. “No spells. Uh-uh.”
“You need to trust me, Nyx.” She spoke calmly, like a mother to her child. “As I told you, when I scry, I am never wrong.”
“Well, maybe this time you are wrong.” I stood up from behind my desk, afraid she was going to zap me with a spell before I could make my escape.
She got to her feet, too. Rather than a flowing dress like I was used to Witches wearing, she had on jeans, boat shoes, and a white-and-blue-striped blouse with a boat neckline. She was as fresh-faced and pretty as always.
“I can’t leave until you say yes.” There was a stubborn tilt to her chin that I hadn’t noticed before. “It’s important.”
When I glanced at Olivia she shrugged. “Go for it.”
“You’re not much help.” I turned to Megan again. “You’re sure I need this ability?”
She nodded. “Very.”
I let out a sigh, both nervous and resigned. “You promise this is temporary?
“Absolutely.” She gave a come closer gesture with her hand.
“I really don’t want to know what other people are thinking,” I said.
“You’ll appreciate it when the time comes.” She raised her hands as I reached her.
“I suppose it could be useful in learning what the enemy is thinking.” I furrowed my brow as I concentrated on what she wanted of me. “How difficult will it be to keep everyone else’s thoughts out of my head?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’ve never had this ability.”
I took a deep breath as I stood directly in front of her. “Have you ever done a spell to give it to anyone else?”
She took one of my hands. “No.”
If she hadn’t grabbed my hand at that moment I might have backed away. An electrical charge burst through my body.
I