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  “Oh, I see.” Nar’sa’s eyes widened. “We wondered why the alarm was set off.”

  “That’s why,” Stav said shortly. “Should I touch it now?”

  “Yes, you have both been granted access,” Ta’no said. He looked at Charlotte. “We are regretful that the Joined One felt it necessary to teach you in such a fashion. We prefer not to use pain in our own lessons.”

  “Well maybe that particular Joined One is a sadist,” Charlotte muttered.

  “Hush.” Nar’sa looked alarmed. “You must not speak so of Ye’ha’Na’ho.”

  “Who?” Stav asked, stepping closer to the panel. “Is that its name?”

  “It is.” Ta’no nodded. “Ye’ha’Na’ho is ancient—they were the original disciples of J’lorgan himself. When he was first establishing this resort, they were young and unjoined—at the same stage that Nar’sa and I are now.”

  “That was hundreds of cycles ago,” his mate continued for him. “After J’lorgan passed over to the other side of existence, they took over. Their wisdom is vast.”

  “If you say so,” Charlotte muttered. “But I still say they’re sadists.” She looked at Stav. “Are you going to touch the panel or do you want me to?”

  “I will.” Bracing himself for a burn, he pressed his palm cautiously to the panel. At first nothing happened, then his hand was outlined in green light and a small chime sounded from inside the door.

  “Good, good.” Nar’sa nodded at Charlotte encouragingly. “Now you, my dear.”

  “All right.” Lifting her chin, Charlotte pressed her palm fearlessly to the panel which had burned her earlier. The relief on her face when it lit green and chimed softly instead of delivering another painful burn was evident.

  “Good,” Ta’no said approvingly. “And now…” He and Nar’sa both pressed their palms to the panel at the same time and the purple door slid silently open.

  “Welcome,” Nar’sa said softly, “To the second circle—the Circle of Discovery.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Charlie wasn’t sure what reaction she was supposed to show. It wasn’t like the sight that greeted their eyes behind the purple door was wild or amazing or wonderful in any way. In fact, as far as she could see the long metal corridor on the other side of the door looked exactly the same as the one they were currently standing in. Except…was the lighting in the other corridor somewhat…pinker? But other than that…nothing.

  “Um…wow,” she said, trying to sound enthusiastic. Stavros was more direct.

  “I do not see much difference,” he said flatly. “Except that the lighting in the far corridor seems to be tinged with pink.”

  “You will feel the difference,” Ta’no assured them. “Here, step across the threshold with us.”

  He and Nar’sa stepped through the doorway and waited.

  Charlie shot a look at the big Kindred. He shrugged. What have we got to lose? the gesture seemed to say. Charlie nodded and they stepped through together.

  She waited to feel different but still…nothing.

  “Uh…” She looked at Nar’sa. “I don’t feel anything at all.”

  “It is subtle, my dear. We are still far from the Heart of Love but as we move closer and further into this circle, you will feel yourselves opening to each other—unfolding like flowers to reveal your most cherished secrets.”

  “If you say so,” Charlie said dubiously. “So where is our class being held? The guided meditation thing.”

  “Here.” Turning off the main corridor, Ta’no took them down a short hallway that ended in a dark pink doorway. It slid aside to reveal a small room with a raised platform on one end. The platform was perfectly round and about the size of a king sized bed. It had a red furry covering on it that looked to Charlie like something an old fashioned Bond villain might have in his evil sex lair.

  “What’s that?” she asked, stepping into the room.

  “The truth-saying couch,” Nar’sa said. “Come, you and your mate must come and sit on it together.”

  Charlie looked up at Stavros who shrugged again. Together they walked over and sat on the round, furry circular platform.

  “Whoa!” Charlie gasped as it rippled under them. “It’s like sitting on a water bed!”

  “It’s very…strange,” Stavros agreed.

  “Get settled, one on either side, facing each other,” Ta’no instructed.

  Charlie did as he said, trying to arrange her white robes modestly. Not that there could be much modesty with the nearly see-through white fabric but still, she tried. Stavros, who was wearing his Pharaoh-skirt again, did the same.

  “Good,” Nar’sa said. “Now look into each other’s eyes.”

  Charlie felt a little uncomfortable about this. When she’d heard the class was called “guided meditation” she’d thought it was going to be a piece of cake—probably just closing their eyes and saying “Ommmm” a lot while Nar’sa talked about beautiful meadows and serene mountaintops. But now, right off the bat, they were being asked to make prolonged and intimate eye contact. That was going to be embarrassing, especially considering what had happened between herself and her partner last night.

  Stavros also seemed to be made uncomfortable by the order.

  “I thought this class was supposed to be about meditation,” he said, not meeting Charlie’s eyes.

  “It is…in part. It is guided meditation and spoken affirmation. And what better meditation could you have than to look into the eyes of your lover and soul mate?” Nar’sa said softly. “Come now—do not be worried or ashamed. Simply look into each other’s eyes and let yourselves be.”

  Charlie took a deep breath and looked up at the big Kindred who still wasn’t meeting her eyes. Okay, it’s still better than being told to touch each other in some awkward, sexual way. We can do this—we have to do this.

  “C’mon, Stav,” she said, under her breath. “Look at me. We don’t want to get demoted back to the first circle, right?”

  “I suppose not,” he growled. “All right.” Slowly, he raised his eyes to look into hers.

  Just pretend it’s some kind of scientific exercise, Charlie told herself. Analyze the exact shade of blue of his eyes. Count the flecks of silver and look at the pattern around the edge of the iris. Look at his eyelashes—they’re so long for a man. An auburn so dark it’s almost black. Don’t think I’ve ever seen that shade before…

  But though she tried to stare at Stavros as though he was nothing more than a scientific specimen, she couldn’t stop the feelings that came over her as she looked into his eyes—couldn’t keep herself detached. Looking at him like this, into those deep indigo eyes, she could feel her heartbeat quicken and her pulse begin to race. He was looking at her so intensely, as though he could see into her soul and she could smell that warm, spicy fragrance that seemed to be his natural scent rising between them. Suddenly, with no thought or planning on her part, she began to talk.

  “God, your eyes are so beautiful,” she heard herself saying. “I’ve never seen a shade of blue like that—it reminds me of the color of the sky when the sun is going down and its almost completely dark but not quite. It’s—” She clapped a hand over her mouth and looked at Nar’sa. “What’s going on? I didn’t mean to say all that!”

  “Your thoughts and feelings are coming to the surface—good, good.” Nar’sa nodded approvingly and Ta’no echoed her gesture. “Go on.”

  “Go on?” Charlie exclaimed. “But I didn’t mean to say any of that in the first place? I—”

  “Charlotte…” Stavros’s deep voice sounded strained, as though he was speaking against his will. “I find you…most beautiful. In fact, you are the most desirable female I have ever seen.”

  “What? Really?” Charlie couldn’t help asking. “Or are you just saying that?”

  “He is speaking only the truth from the bottom of his heart,” Nar’sa assured her. “He cannot help it.”

  “But why can’t he help it?” Charlie demanded, looking a