VISIONS OF HEAT

“It seems that Henry’s assertion is incorrect,” Kaleb stated. “They could conceivably take out a squadron.”

“Faith NightStar isn’t worth the loss of so many highly trained men, especially as she’s agreed to provide her services through her family group.” Ming’s glacial mental voice again. “These men are worth millions, both in terms of their training and the work they do for us. Added to the income we’ll lose if the businesses implement their tax strike, it’s an easy equation.”

“We can’t allow the changelings to keep getting the better of us.” Shoshanna clearly had no intention of conceding defeat. “How does it look if we lose two Psy within months and the most recent was a candidate? The populace is starting to talk.”

Kaleb cut into the small pause. “We say she ran when it became clear I had no intention of leaving a rival alive.”

“Perfect,” Nikita agreed. “F-Psy are known to be mentally weak. A few well-placed rumors will shred her credibility.”

“We need to know how the leopards are keeping the two women alive,” Tatiana said. “I’ve heard of no unexplained changeling deaths since Sascha’s defection and if she were feeding off them, there would’ve been at least two by now.”

Nikita conceded the other Councilor had a point. “They must have discovered a way to skirt the biofeedback issue.”

“I don’t think it’s that big a problem.” Marshall’s razor-blade mind. “If they had a foolproof method, we’d have lost more than two.”

“I’ll put some of our people on it nonetheless,” Tatiana said in response. “If we break the connection keeping Sascha and Faith alive, we wipe the issue off the slate.”

No one was in opposition.

“Then it’s agreed, we don’t move on Faith NightStar,” Kaleb stated with Tk arrogance, turning against the very Councilor who’d supported his initial nomination. “Any member who moves unilaterally will face eviction from their post.”

“You have no right to make that call.” Shoshanna’s psychic presence was icy with control.

“But we do as a unit. You and Henry appear to be the only ones who disagree; therefore you’re in the minority.” Marshall, the voice of experience, a Councilor who’d survived many others.

“He’s correct.” Tatiana. “Faith NightStar cannot be touched.”

“I agree.” Nikita added her vote.

“Then we have no choice. We concede to the majority.” Shoshanna spoke for both Scotts and if there was something a fraction eerie in the way she and her husband moved as one to leave the Council chambers, the Councilors were not close enough to their instinctive core to understand.

“We need to increase security for Councilor Duncan,” Kaleb said to the remaining minds.

“There is no need.” Nikita had no desire to be seen as weak by any member of this Council. Especially not the newest recruit.

“Then this session is closed.”





Several weeks and a hundred new experiences later, Faith found herself sitting in on a meeting at the aerie. As a member of the Web of Stars and Vaughn’s mate, she’d gained entrance into a very tightly knit group.

“So, what’s next? Nate, you had something.” Lucas looked to the oldest sentinel.

“I’ve got a couple of contenders to take over from me when I step down.”

“Which isn’t going to be for a while.” It was an order from the alpha.

Nate grinned. “Don’t worry, I’m not in any hurry. I have a few more years left in me.”

“More than a few, darling.” Tamsyn blew him a kiss from the cushion beside him.

“But I wanted to put the names forward and see what you thought. The first is Jamie. He’s one of the best soldiers we’ve got and he’s proven himself.” Nate paused and when no one spoke, he continued, “Then there’s Desiree. Girl’s got a mind like a razor blade and a tongue as sharp, but she’s good and she’s loyal.”

Something flickered in Faith’s consciousness, a quiet limb stretching awake. Curious, she followed it. And when it showed her pain and death, she didn’t flinch.

“Any other possibles?” Lucas asked.

“We’ve got a few who’ve got some growing to do,” Tamsyn muttered. “I swear the juveniles are giving me gray hairs.”

“How’s Jase?” Dorian asked, and his voice was a distorted rumble in Faith’s mind.

“Healed. Until the next . . .” Tamsyn’s voice faded.

Faith gripped her cup tighter, attempting to understand what it was that she was seeing. There was pain, things breaking, such terrible loss, but it wasn’t yet set in stone, it wasn’t yet done. It was a foretelling and it had nothing to do with business. “Seven children are going to die.”