Wolf Rain (Psy-Changeling Trinity #3) - Nalini Singh Page 0,74

in the process of taking off her royal blue coat with silky blue and white detailing at the cuffs. “Memory does have an instinctive ability to use her empathy offensively,” the cardinal murmured, “so an exercise designed to teach control to a martial mind makes sense.”

Stomach lurching, Memory tried not to let those words hurt.

She’d forgotten she was in the presence of two experienced Es. Sascha’s eyes widened. “Memory, sweetheart, that’s a good thing.”

The cardinal came to sit beside Memory, weaving one hand through Memory’s. “Do you know how many people want to use Es? Break us and manipulate our abilities for their own gain?” The stars disappeared from her haunting gaze. “If we can teach all Es to do what you do without thought, we give them a sword and a shield.”

Jaya nodded. “You’re an E we could pair with a more vulnerable one so you could protect that person.”

Memory’s entire sense of self altered at that instant. To be the protector rather than a victim? It filled so many broken spaces inside her. “I see now,” she said through the intense tightness in her chest. “Thank you.”

Sascha and Jaya both hugged her with empathic affection before stepping outside to chat about the compound’s wider training schedule. Ashaya spoke into the silence broken only by the faint murmur of the other two women’s voices.

“Don’t let the bastard who caged you continue to mess with your head.” Her voice was firm, the words an order. “I grew up with Amara—trust me, I know how subtle the manipulation can be, how it gets inside you and creates holes, weakness that a psychopath can exploit. Believe nothing he ever told you about yourself.”

Memory made a face. “I need to tattoo that on my forehead.” She kept falling back into old patterns, believing herself a monster—but that was Renault. Not her.

“I don’t think you need to go that far,” Ashaya said with a laugh as she began to pack up. “I saw the way Alexei was with you—trust me, when a predatory changeling that strong keeps expecting you to meet him toe-to-toe, strength is a given.” A wink. “Don’t give an inch. It’s much more fun that way.”

Blood hot at the memory of tangling with Alexei, Memory raised a hand and felt her curls all separate and glossy, each one full of bounce. Things cracked and broke inside her. “Thank you,” she whispered. “You’ve given me back a piece of myself.” Now, she had to claim the rest, claim the future she wanted for herself. Growly wolf included.

Chapter 27

Okay, a grumpy man. Here’s the thing, it depends on the changeling. Bears, for example, can be grump monsters—but pet them and tell them they’re wonderful and the best at everything and they’ll smile and grab you up in those big arms and the rest, as all of us mated to bears know, is delicious history.

Wolves, however, are a tougher nut to crack. It is the opinion of the Wild Woman team that wolves like to brood. They are the champions of changeling brooding . . . but crack that hard shell and oh my goodness. No one plays like a wolf—he’ll charm your pants right off your body. So if you get a grumpy wolf, we suggest a sneak attack.

—From the June 2077 issue of Wild Woman magazine: “Skin Privileges, Style & Primal Sophistication”

SASCHA SHOOED MEMORY out around two, after offering to put together sandwiches for them. “You need fresh air—and I need to call my cub.”

Fascinated by the idea of a little girl who shape-shifted into an equally little panther, Memory popped into the bedroom area first to see her hair in the mirror. Both her hands flew to her mouth. She looked like a picture from a magazine, all vibrant hair, glossy and perfect. Except that it wasn’t too perfect—Ashaya had left her curls to go where they would, and they erupted out of her head in a burst of wild joy.

Memory all but bounced back out to the kitchen area.

“You’re very smart,” Sascha was saying, a tone to her voice that made Memory’s heart hitch, it was so quintessentially maternal. The cardinal’s attention was on the small screen of her phone, but she lifted a hand in a wave as Memory passed.

Cold air kissed her cheeks outside, the bright sun no match for the fading edge of winter. Spotting a group of people seated on a rough circle of stones in the clearing to her left, she decided to go in