Raintree Read online

  “Thank you, Mother,” Cael said, then spoke the ancient words of a potent spell she had taught him when he was only a small boy.

  He waited for the names to appear, until slowly as if imprinted on a puff of gray smoke, the first name appeared, and then the second, the third and the fourth. All were names of council members loyal to Judah. The fifth appeared. Nadine. Then the sixth. Claude. The seventh was Sidra. No surprises.

  But the eighth name puzzled Cael.

  Judah.

  He believed his brother to be his greatest enemy. How could there be someone of more danger to him than the Dranir?

  And then the ninth name appeared, a name Cael did not recognize.

  Eve.

  Who was Eve?

  The spell-induced vision ended, and Cael’s mind cleared.

  Eve, who are you? If you can hear me, open your mind to me.

  A vigorous surge of mental energy shot through him, bringing him to his knees. As the pain radiated through him and then quickly dispersed, he cursed loudly, damning whatever force had attacked him.

  Someone did not want him contacting Eve. Could that someone be Eve herself?

  You caught me off guard, Cael said. I am more powerful than any Ansara. You cannot win in a fight against me. Do you hear me, Eve?

  Another blow zapped Cael, sending him flying halfway across the room and landing him in a heap against the far wall.

  Damn you! I warn you. Don’t make an enemy of me. You will regret it.

  I’m not afraid of you, a child’s voice replied. I will not let you hurt my daddy.

  Cael’s heartbeat accelerated. Who is your father?

  I am Eve, and I hate you!

  Tapping into the child’s anger, Cael returned a psychic blow and laughed when he heard the little girl’s screams.

  Screaming, Eve doubled over in pain, then dropped to the ground as if she’d been hit by a giant fist. Sidonia, who had been sitting in the swing watching Eve as she raced around in the yard, playing with Magnus and Rufus, rushed to the child as quickly as her old legs would carry her. Mercy, who had been picking peaches from the lower branches of one of the many trees in the fruit orchard, saw in her mind’s eye what happened to her child the instant it occurred. Someone had attacked Eve! Running as fast as possible from the orchard, Mercy sent several powerful bursts of retaliation energy, disrupting the flow attacking her child and reversing the blows so that they would strike their sender.

  When Mercy reached Eve, she found her wrapped in Sidonia’s comforting arms.

  Her old nanny looked right at her and said, “This is Ansara evil.”

  “Mommy…” Eve’s voice was a mere whisper.

  “I’m here, baby. Mommy’s here.” She took Eve from Sidonia and held her close.

  “He’s a very evil man.”

  “Who is, baby? Who attacked you?”

  “The man who wants to kill my daddy.”

  Mercy’s heart sank. No! Please, God, no. How had Judah’s half brother, his former business partner and now his enemy, found out about Eve? Did it really matter? Apparently this man, whatever his name was, thought he could somehow get to Judah through his daughter.

  Half an hour later, when Eve had calmed somewhat, Mercy questioned her about what had happened. There was only one way anyone could have gotten past the protective barrier that Mercy kept around Eve.

  Eve must have let him in.

  “Why did you let him in?” Mercy asked.

  “I didn’t. Honest, I didn’t. I just heard him call my name. He said Eve. And I knew who he was. I blasted him to make him go away, but he didn’t.”

  No, it wasn’t possible. Only someone as powerful as she, as Dante and Gideon, could have broken through such a powerful protective barrier.

  “I knew who he was—my daddy’s enemy—so I socked him again and again.”

  “Oh, Eve, you didn’t.”

  “I did, and I warned him that I wouldn’t let him hurt my daddy.”

  “Oh, God, Eve, what am I going to do with you?”

  “He thinks he’s more powerful than my daddy, but he isn’t. I’ll show him.”

  Mercy shook Eve gently. “No more communicating with this man. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes, Mother.” Eve hung her head.

  “Now you run into the kitchen and have Sidonia get you some milk and tea cakes.”

  Eve grasped Mercy’s hand. “You come, too, Mother. We’ll have a tea party.”

  “You go ahead. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “All right.”

  As soon as Eve disappeared down the hall, Mercy headed straight for her study. After closing the door behind her, she used her cell phone to make a call.

  A gruff male voice said, “Why the hell are you—”

  “Your brother knows about Eve,” Mercy told Judah. “Less than an hour ago, our daughter exchanged psychic blows with him.”

  EIGHT

  Tuesday, 3:00 p.m.

  There were only two Ansara psychics loyal to Cael: Natalie, a girl of twenty, who had predicted that in the upcoming battle with the Raintree, many Ansara lives would be lost but they would not lose the battle; and Risa, older, wiser, more cautious, one of Judah’s discarded lovers who now often warmed Cael’s bed. Neither woman possessed half the ability that Sidra did. The old councilwoman, fiercely loyal to Judah, was the most gifted Ansara psychic. To his knowledge, the only Raintree psychic who had the potential to reach Sidra’s level was Echo. But that little bitch would be dead long before she could harness and control her gifts.

  At his request, Natalie and Risa, who intensely disliked each other, arrived at his home together. Cael greeted the two women cordially, then personally escorted them into the living room and offered them refreshments. After they declined his offer, they obeyed his command and took seats on the sleek leather sofa.

  He stood over them, glancing back and forth from one to the other. “I need information that I cannot gain by normal methods. You understand?”

  “Yes, my lord,” they replied simultaneously, then glowered at each other.

  “What I’m going to share with you is not to go beyond this room. If it does, there will be severe consequences.”

  Natalie’s facial muscles tightened. “I swear my loyalty to you. I’ll take an oath in blood if your require it, Dranir Cael.”

  Smiling, Cael reached down and caressed the blond girl’s tanned cheek. She returned his smile. He slapped her. Stunned by his actions, she reeled backward and gazed at him in shock.

  “I displeased you?” her voice quivered.

  “Not at all,” he said. “The slap was merely a test to judge your reaction.”

  “Yes, my lord,” Natalie replied.

  “I’d prefer not to be tested,” Risa told him when he turned to her. “I’m your loyal servant, but I am not your doormat. You’d do well to remember that.”

  Cael focused directly on Risa, tall, elegantly slender, with black hair and dark blue eyes. When he was Dranir, he would prove to her that she was whatever he wanted her to be. The thought of forcing her to lie prostrate before him while he walked across her prone body brought a wide smile to his face. “I will remember,” he told her.

  “Why did you summon us?” Risa asked, giving Natalie another displeased sidelong glance.

  “I want you to work together to find the answer to a question. I need you to seek a child named Eve. I believe she’s Mercy Raintree’s daughter.” Then Cael added, “The little girl has powers, so be forewarned.”

  “How old is the child?” Risa asked.

  “Six.”

  Natalie laughed. “A six-year-old with powers that we should fear?”

  Cael nodded. “Unusual, but not unheard of. Remember, she is a Raintree princess.”

  “What do you want to know about this child?” Natalie asked.

  “I want to know who her father is.”

  “What possible interest could the paternity of a Raintree child be to you, my lord?” Risa asked.