A human normally developed psychic skills during puberty, and she was well past that. That it was happening now suggested nonhuman origins — as did her reaction to the Jadrone. Most nonhumans were slower in development, and for changers and shifters, at least, puberty hit at about thirty. So why hadn't Finley's tests revealed a nonhuman link? Or did Finley's tests only look for the obvious? Maybe they needed to go deeper. Much deeper, and look for things like gene-splicing.
"Send the disk to Martyn — he'll take care of it."
"I'm also sending her to Doctor O'Hearn." O'Hearn was a nonhuman and rare species specialist, and though she wasn't strictly in Federation's employ, she often worked closely with them. "I want Federation to pick up the cost."
"Are you intending to ask Sam to join Federation?"
"No. We can't afford to, not until we know more about her."
"Keeping her as a partner would be a sure-fire why of discovering more about her. Certainly better than trying to get rid of her."
"I'm not trying to get rid of her," he said, a note of frustration in his voice. "I never said I want her out of my life. I just don't want her as a partner."
"But you said it once yourself — Samantha's work is her life. Get rid of her as a partner, and you risk getting rid of her completely."
And if that happened, it would be a shame, because even from the beginning it had been obvious they had the potential to be a whole lot more than friends. But he would not go there with a partner, not again. He'd made that mistake when he was eighteen, and it had damn near torn his world apart.
The study door opened, and he turned around. Lyssa, looking pale and drawn, looked in.
"Gabriel," she said warmly. "How nice to see you."
He smiled. Ever the lady, even at three in the morning. "Liar. Hope we didn't wake you."
Her smile was as pale as her face. "No, I was upchucking my heart out and heard your voices. Everything okay?" She glanced at the two of them anxiously.
"Everything's fine, Lys." Gabriel glanced at his brother and saw the worry etched there. Knew then that Lyssa was in more trouble than Stephan was letting on. He wasn't the only one refusing to confide in his brother.
"Can I get you anything?" she continued softly.
"Yeah. Go back to bed and get some rest." He met his brother's gaze. "I can contact Karl later this morning, if you like. See what he recommends."
At the very least, he should have something to stop Lyssa's vomiting. If she lost any more weight, the child she carried would weigh more than she did.
"I'd appreciate that." Stephan rose from the sofa and placed his half-finished whisky on the table. "I'll see you out."
"I know the way by now. You take care of Lys."
Stephan gripped his shoulder, squeezing lightly. "See you tomorrow, then."
Gabriel nodded and walked away. On the front steps, he stopped and looked up at the stars. He wasn't ready to go home, nor did he feel like going to the office. The breeze tugged at his hair, throwing dark wisps across his face. Sometimes the answer to a problem could only be found when the mind was free from the clutter of thoughts.
It was a good night to surf the breeze, to relax and just enjoy the freedom of the skies. Changing shape, he let the wind tuck under his wings and rose swiftly into the starlit sky.
* * * *
Sam dreamed again of Joshua. This time, he ran ahead of her, up the moonlit slope, a phantom she could see but not hear. When he reached the crest, he flopped on the grass, staring up at the stars.She lay beside him, puffing like an express train. Joshua breathed so softly she could barely even hear it.
"The Southern Cross," he said, pointing to a kite-shaped formation. "A symbol of freedom."
"Not our freedom," she muttered. Only at night were they free to roam, and only then when the moon was down.
"People died under that symbol. They will die again." He hesitated, and she felt his shrug. "Soon."
She stared at him. His face was remote, cold. She hated that face. Feared it. "What do you plan?"
"Revenge. Freedom for us both."
"They will never let us go."