Wolf Rain (Psy-Changeling Trinity #3) - Nalini Singh Page 0,155
month after each incident—because Theo’s psychic abilities had flatlined dramatically, and so had Pax’s. Their parents didn’t know what they’d done, but they knew the twins needed to be together for it. After that, Pax and Theo were monitored constantly on the PsyNet to ensure no connections ever took place.
“I don’t know,” he answered. “But I have no other option. Will you help?”
Theo stared at him for a long time before nodding. Because when their conscience had been divided in the womb, she’d gotten the lion’s share.
* * *
• • •
ADEN’S direct call code was one he shared rarely with those outside the squad. However, since signing the Trinity Accord, the squad had provided a way for others to contact them. Trinity was about building a stable world that was a true triumvirate, Psy, humans, and changelings working as a unit. That couldn’t happen without open lines of communication.
Pax Marshall had never taken advantage of that contact option until now. Neither had he ever asked to meet with the squad. But Aden knew who he was—the head of the Marshall empire. A powerful business unit, but one with no obvious military ties since the assassination of their last patriarch. Below the surface, however, Pax had access to a very well-trained black ops team.
“Pax,” Aden said when he met the Gradient 9 telepath on an isolated outcrop above the crashing ocean. “This is unexpected.”
The arctic blue of Pax Marshall’s eyes held his. “I may be able to assist the brain-damaged Arrow in a coma.”
Aden went motionless. Marshall had no reason to know of Yuri’s injuries and the heartbreaking decision Aden planned to carry out tomorrow. “Were you behind the attack?”
“Yes.”
Aden was leader of the squad partially because he was so calm, but at that moment, he came within a split second of executing Pax Marshall where he stood. “Why are you here?” Because no one ever admitted to harming the squad; it was a death sentence.
“My mind is failing.” Pax’s voice, with its crisp English accent, was steady, his eyes on the distant horizon. “When I attacked the compound, I did so without conscious volition—I am too intelligent to make an enemy of the squad. Right now, however, I’m sane and may be able to offer recompense.”
Aden had no way to know if Marshall was lying, but he couldn’t discount the offer on the minute chance the telepath could make good on it. “What’s in this for you?” Pax was too ruthless a negotiator for it to be otherwise.
“I need help from the dark E.”
“That’s not my call to make.” Memory Aven-Rose was very much her own person.
“I know. I’ll help Yuri first. Then . . . we’ll see if she decides to assist me.”
“Come to these coordinates in one hour,” Aden said, his murderous urge toward Pax under brittle control at best. “Yuri will be there.” He strode toward Abbot; the teleport-capable Tk was on light duty and had brought Aden to this meeting. The teleport distance to their next destination was also well within the capacity of his healing body. “Take me to Yuri.”
* * *
• • •
WHEN Pax Marshall arrived at the private hospital to which Abbot had shifted Yuri from the medical facility in their home valley, it was with a woman Aden didn’t immediately recognize, though she bore a startling resemblance to Marshall. Tamar, he telepathed to the surveillance and data expert he had on standby. Identify the woman.
Marshall’s younger sister, Theodora, Tamar telepathed only thirty seconds later. Gradient 2.7 telekinetic. Works as a comm tech, specifically shifting miniature components using Tk. A short pause before she said, Wait. Wait. There’s something shifty in these files. A whole lot of folks went to considerable trouble to hide the birth records, but Tenacious Tamar is on the case. Hell. No levity in her tone when she added the next words. Aden, she’s his twin.
Aden had never heard of twins with such divergent abilities. “Why is your twin present?” Especially since she appeared terrified of Aden and the Arrows on guard outside Yuri’s room.
She also swallowed hard at being ID’d as Marshall’s twin, while he remained unmoved. “This ability only works when we’re together.”
Aden gave nothing away, but hope flickered to life inside him. He’d heard of such abilities; his parents had mentioned them when he was a child. The “Harmonies” had disappeared with Silence, but prior to that had emerged in people who were closely linked. Like twins.
Aden had a distinct memory of his father mentioning how