about, I suppose I should be straight with you now.”
“What about?” A hint of suspicion flitted through Brogan’s eyes.
“Well, I can tell if you’re being honest, you see. Not just by your words, but in other ways.”
“You can read my mind? Like when you talk to Fergal?”
The fact that he so easily accepted her ability to talk to animals only solidified Kira’s decision to be up-front with him.
“Not quite. But I do have other abilities. I can see auras, for one thing. Another ability is a little trickier. I can read people, or items, through touch.”
“I… you’ll need to explain that a bit more for me before I can be understanding what you’re saying.”
Kira reminded herself that he was a scientist. “I can’t quite say how it works, other than magick. I suppose if you were to study it, there might be some way to maybe discern energy patterns… universal memories… I’m not really sure. But, for example, I could pick up someone’s hat or car keys and get flashes of the history behind them. Like where the hat has been, or who owned it. With people, I can touch you and see if you’re lying. Or see your memories. That kind of thing.”
“That must be handy,” Brogan said. “Or annoying. I can’t decide.”
“It’s both.” Kira laughed, warmth blooming through her. “So, I’ll ask of you – will you allow me to touch you? To read you?”
“What will you see if you do?”
“I don’t know. Sometimes, depending on the connection, it can go really deep. I can see your personal history. Your truths, your lies, your vulnerabilities. It’s why I’m asking you for permission.”
“But you kissed me. Didn’t you get all that already then?”
“Good question.” Kira appreciated his quick mind. “But I didn’t kiss you with the intent to read you, so no, I didn’t get anything other than how I felt.”
“And how did you feel?” Brogan’s eyes met hers and Kira felt her breath slow at the heat she found there.
“I felt lit up,” Kira said, her voice soft. “Like I’d been electrified. All my nerves stood on end and did a little dance.”
“I wonder if it would be the same. Again.”
Kira did too. She leaned in, tilting her lips up to his.
“Wait,” Brogan said, stepping back. “If you can read me as you say, then do that first. I don’t want you to kiss me again if you have any doubts about my character.”
“Are you certain? I may see things you don’t want to share.”
“I have nothing that I’m ashamed of.”
“People say that, but very rarely do they mean it,” Kira murmured.
“There may be things that make me sad. But not ashamed.”
“I don’t have to…”
“No. I insist. If you truly believe this is something you can do and it helps you, then go ahead.”
There it was, Kira thought, a subtle challenge thrown down. Brogan would need evidence that her magick was real. She didn’t blame him – he was a scientist, after all. Reaching forward, she silently held out her hands. Brogan took her measure before placing his palms in her own. Her first thought was that these were strong hands – used to manual labor, and with a great love for the earth. Closing her eyes, she pulled down her mental shields and allowed the flood of Brogan’s thoughts and memories to pour over her.
First, she could immediately see he was telling the truth of the development on his land. He’d been just as surprised at the discovery as she had been. Happy to know he wasn’t willingly destroying the land, Kira smiled. Then it disappeared as she was sucked deeper into his memories, where a sad little boy brought a limp bouquet of flowers to his mother. Kira gasped when a resounding slap sent the boy stumbling back, and she raised a hand to her cheek, breaking contact.
“Find what you’re looking for?” Brogan asked, his face devoid of emotion.
“I did. You were as equally surprised about the development as I was,” Kira said.
“But that’s not what made you gasp and put a hand to your cheek, is it?” Brogan pressed his lips together and looked out over her shoulder. “Tell me what you saw and I can confirm if it’s true.”
“Oh, Brogan. We don’t have to do this,” Kira whispered.
“Yes, we do. If you’re willing to be vulnerable with me and show me your powers, or whatever you call them, then I have to be vulnerable back.”
It shocked Kira that he would see it that way