Trying to keep her fear from showing, she said a silent prayer in her head as they marched her over the burnt ground to the cave.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

KENNAaS HEART WAS pounding so wildly that she was surprised it didnat break through the wall of her chest. Struggling to keep her expression composed, she entered the great cave that housed Vandar and his slaves.

As she walked down the corridors, people glanced at her, then quickly away, and she wondered what theyad been whispering about her. Did they know where shead gone? Or did they just know Vandar had sent for her, and maybe she was going to be his next meal?

That might still be true. She had no way of knowing. She shuddered, then tried to make her mind blank as she followed Wendon toward the masteras private quarters.

Her terror flared when they stopped at the door of his lair.

aCome in,a a harsh voice called in answer to the adeptas knock.

As he had done before, Wendon opened the door and pushed Kenna inside, then closed the barrier behind her, trapping her.

All at once she was facing Vandar, struggling to catch her breath.

In his guise as a handsome man, the master was sitting in the same easy chair, staring at her.

For a long moment he simply sat where he was, his dark eyes glittering as he looked her up and down, making her want to turn and run. But she knew that route was folly. He had superhuman speed, and he could grab her before she reached the door.

aIave lived among humans for a long time,a he said, and she was surprised by the words, because she hadnat expected him to speak about himself. aA man and a woman found me abandoned on a mountainside. A small boy wandering through the scrubby vegetation, crying.a She wanted to ask why he was telling her his story, but she knew that if he wanted to, he would explain.

aI had no memories of my own people. And no hint of what I might become. The year their crops failed and they had nothing to eat, they sold me to a neighbor who wanted a slave. My new master, a man named Halendor, worked me to exhaustion and beat me so badly I could barely do the backbreaking labor he expected. But one day, I lashed out in anger with my mind and he fell to the ground, convulsing in pain. Do you think that was fair?a he asked.

She tried to swallow, but her mouth was too dry to speak.

aYou tried to break away from me.a When she still said nothing, he continued, aTell me why I shouldnat kill you.a She raised her chin and found enough moisture to answer. aBecause I know more about the world on the other side of the portal than anyone else. And if you want the information, you need me.a A smile flickered at the corners of his lips. aWell said. You have spirit.a She waited for him to ask a question; instead, he stood and glided toward her in a way that was so nonhuman.

Despite her resolve, she backed away. Then, suddenly, she was unable to take another step, as Vandar clamped his hand over her shoulder. As he held her in place, his other hand rose and pressed against her forehead.

She felt a jolt of pain, like the jolt when she had tried to tell Talon the truth about herself. The pain resolved into a sucking sensation, as though everything she knew was being pulled out of her brain.

aDonat,a she whispered.

The terrible process went on and on, dragging the life out of her. Then, in blessed relief, the world went black.

aGOOD meal. I didnat think you could make a decent stew from a package of dehydrated ingredients.a aTechnology is amazing,a Talon told one of the five men who had hired him to take them down the Clarion River from Ridgway to Cooksburg, a forty-five-mile stretch of easy-to-navigate water. It wasnat a remote area. Several bridges crossed the river that had once been in danger of dying. Fortunately, careful management had brought the waterway back. Now he was gratified to see all kinds of wildlife. Head pointed out warblers, ducks, and geese, and even an osprey and two eagles. And theyad also seen a mother racc.o.o.n with two youngsters, wading in the shallows looking for food.

The night before, theyad eaten fish theyad caught. Today Talon had seen the men were tired after a long day of paddling, so head gone for a quicker option for tonightas dinner.

Ed Bangle finished washing the dishes. Peter Welsh crawled into his dome tent and brought out his dopp kit, then headed for the place where Talon had set out a container of purified water.

Welsh and James Fitzgerald had taken canoe trips before. Bangle, Trent Dalton, and Jake Presley were all newcomers to the sport. But they were taking to it with enthusiasm.

aWe want to get an early start,a Talon advised as he checked the stove.

aI guess we should turn in,a Dalton said. aIam beat.a The others agreed.

Talon crawled into his own tent, listening to the sounds of the men getting ready for bed.

When the camp had settled down, he climbed out and stretched, looking at the darkened silhouettes of the other tents. Standing in the quiet of the night, he listened to the familiar sounds of the forest. The insects. The animals who were drawn by the smell of food. But none of them had invaded the campsite.

Talon was doing his job, but his heart wasnat in the trip. He hoped he was giving this group of men the experience they deserved, the experience theyad paid for.

He couldnat be sure because he was functioning on automatic pilot. Half his mind was on Kenna. No, more than half.

Head been angry when he left, and putting some distance between them had seemed like an excellent idea. Now that he could think more clearly, he knew he should have made sure she was safe before he walked out. And he should have given her his cell phone number, in case anything happened at the lodge.

Or would she even be there when he got back? When he considered the possibility that she might have walked away while he was gone, he had trouble breathing, and he admitted what head known for days. He had bonded with her.

With a woman he couldnat trust!

Because she had secrets she was afraid to reveal. Or couldnat reveal. He wasnat even sure which was true.

He clenched his fists, fighting the impulse to tell the guys he had to cut the trip short. That there was an emergency at home.

But he couldnat do it, not when he prided himself on giving his clients more than theyad paid for. And cutting the trip short wasnat that easy. There werenat that many road-accessible places to put boats into the water and take them out again. Head arranged to have his van driven to Cooksburg. If they got off the river early, there would be no transportation for them.

But should he do it anyway?

Cursing under his breath, he slipped into the woods thinking he could change to wolf form and run off his frustration. He stopped when he was only a few yards from the campsite. The safety of these men was his responsibility, and he couldnat just disappear into the night.

Too bad he couldnat free himself from the agony coursing through his veins.

ad.a.m.n you,a he muttered, speaking to Kenna, because she was the source of his misery.

He had made love with her, and it had been different from his experience with any other woman.

More intense. More emotion-charged.

Head been sure it had changed everything between them. Then the disappointment of discovering she still didnat trust him had been like a knife plunged into his heart. So head fled. Now that he was alone, he knew he couldnat run away from her. Instead he had to transform the terms of their relationship. Because there was no question about it. He had to make her trust him, or he was doomed to a life of agony.

SOME time later, Kenna woke. She was lying on a narrow bed, not in her old dormitory, but in the room where she had lived while she was being trained for her mission.

As she remembered the moments before shead blacked out, she shuddered.

aYouare awake.a She focused on the speaker, a woman she had seen around the compound who sat on a chair in the corner.

aHe wants to speak to you again.a aCan you give me a few minutes?a she asked, struggling for calm.

Instead of answering, the woman exited the room.

Kennaas chest tightened. She didnat want to be anywhere near Vandar, but at least she was still alive. That must mean something.

When she pushed herself up, she had to fight a wave of dizziness. But the pressure inside her bladder made her climb out of bed and stagger across the sleeping chamber to what pa.s.sed as a bathroom in the cave. There was a kind of toilet with a collection pot underneath. She used it and grimaced as she thought how primitive it was, compared to the other universe. Well, shead better get used to it, because this was her world again.

Feeling grimy, she glanced toward the door, then took off her clothes and washed quickly, using a cloth and the bowl of cool water on the washstand. A change of clothes hung on a rack at one side of the room, similar to what shead just taken off.

Her brow wrinkled. Why was she supposed to dress like a woman from the other world?

At least she didnat have to put on her slaveas white tunica"yet.

After pulling on her clothes, she slicked back her hair and inspected herself. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her skin looked pasty.

When the door opened, she tensed, expecting Vandar to walk in, but it was only her guard, returning with a covered tray. aYou must eat.a As the woman spoke, Kennaas stomach growled, and she realized she was starving. aHow long have I been sleeping?a she asked.

aThree days.a Kenna tried to absorb the information. Three days! That seemed impossible, but she a.s.sumed the woman wasnat lying to her. What would be the point?

The guard set down the tray on the table across from the bed. When Kenna pulled off the cover, she found roast chicken, some cooked vegetables, and a mug of water. Because she knew the woman was watching her, she tried to eat slowly. But once she started, it was almost impossible not to gobble the fooda"not that she tasted much of anything as she ate.

When she finished, she wiped her mouth with the cloth.

aCome with me,a the guard said.

With no other option, she stood and followed her escort out of the room. She thought she was going back to Vandaras private residence.

Instead, they walked into another part of the cave. As she stepped through a doorway, she gasped, feeling a wave of sadness and wonder. She was standing in Talonas kitchen.

aHow?a she whispered as she hurried toward the counter. As she approached the stove, she realized that it wasnat real. It looked like the appliance she remembered, but on closer inspection, it seemed to be a wooden box with painted controls and burners.

There was a drawer next to the stove, and she pulled it open to find knives, forks, and spoons. When she picked them up, they felt real.

In the cabinet underneath were pots and pans but not exactly like Talonas. Above the counter were plates, cups, and bowls, similar to his.

Moving to her right, she came to the sink. When she turned the faucet, no water came out. The refrigerator was similar. Although the door did open, the interior was not cold. And the afooda on the shelves was only a representation of the expected packages.

Taking out a loaf of bread, Kenna held it up to the light and saw that it was made of some kind of composite that she guessed wasnat even edible. She had just put it back when she heard a noise behind her. She whirled around.

Vandar was standing in the doorway, dressed like a man from the other universe: he wore jeans, a b.u.t.ton-down shirt, and running shoes. Although she wanted to cringe and turn away, she straightened her shoulders.

He tipped his head to the side, studying her. aYouare looking well.a aThank you.a aWhat is this place?a he asked.

aThe kitchen in Talon Marshallas lodge.a She pressed her hands to her sides, then said, aIf you donat know what it is, how did you build it?a aFrom your memories. I know itas his kitchen. I want you to tell me about it.a She dragged in a breath as she remembered the terrible sucking sensation before shead blacked out. He had dragged this picture from out of her. Not just a picture. It was more like . . . She thought for a moment and came up with the words: astage set.a And workmen must have scrambled feverishly to construct it.

Before she could think more about it, he went back to asking questions.

aWhat is a lodge?a She struggled to put the word into context. aItas like a house, but bigger. He has a lot of spare bedrooms because he has guests,a she answered, thinking that he had gone off on an expedition without the guests a.s.sembling at his headquarters.

Had her presence altered his behavior?

Before she could ponder any more about Talon, Vandar made another demand. aTell me the functions of the furnishings of this room.a She looking around. aEverything?a aYes.a As she thought about the daunting task, he crossed to the sink and pulled the lever up, then pointed to the spigot. aWater comes out of here?a aYes.a aHow?a aThere are pipes under the sink. They bring the water. I donat know where it comes from.a aI suppose not. Long ago there was something like that in this universe. In the houses of the rich.a aThere was?a aYes. And toilets that flushed. Like the ones at Talon Marshallas house.a She nodded, wanting to ask about the past of her own world but knowing that Vandar wasnat here to give her information. Instead, she went around the kitchen showing him the various appliances and smaller things like the packages of food and cans of soup.

She fumbled to explain the microwave. And the dishwasher.

Finally, Vandar waved a hand to cut her off. aI wanted to see the kitchen for myself. As I thought, the other universe is a better place to live. Much more comfortable, with all sorts of conveniences like running water, central heat, and air-conditioning.a He continued, sounding like he was speaking to himself, not her. aAnd the population will be completely unprepared for anyone like me.a She couldnat stop herself from asking, aHow do you know?a aItas obvious the other universe developed differently. With machinery instead of people with paranormal powers.a Kenna nodded. There were a few psychics in Talonas world. Occasionally, shead seen TV shows about them, but they seemed to have no revered place in the society. They might try to help the police find a missing child or solve a murder, but they were as likely to be wrong as right.

As she thought about that, Vandar turned to her. aYouall be going back there.a She went very still, suddenly filled with hope and at the same time with despair. aI thought . . .a He waved her to silence. aIall want some more artifacts from you. Not random objects. Things that will be useful for the invasion. I have my powers, but it will be better if my men are armed. With some of those guns.a She swallowed. aGuns?a aYou saw them on television programs. Talon Marshall has a lot of magazines that feature them. And someone shot at him one night.a aHow . . . how . . . would I get guns?a she asked, hearing the quaver in her own voice.

aYouall figure it out. I want fifty of them. The small ones. Handguns, theyare called. And the bullets.a aFifty.a aYouall get Talon Marshall to buy them for you.a She was about to tell him that wasnat possible, when the coldly calculating look on his face stopped her.

aYou f.u.c.ked him.a Kenna felt her cheeks heat as she lowered her gaze. That certainly wasnat how shead put it. But Vandar must have pulled that from her mind, too. Did she have no privacy from this monster?

He was speaking, his voice a buzzing in her head. af.u.c.king with a man is a good way to control him. If he questions you about where you have been, take him back to your bed.a She wanted to refuse, but there was no way to defy Vandaras wishes. Not if she wanted to survive.

He laughed, obviously enjoying her discomfort. aYou called his member his arod.a Probably, he calls it his ac.o.c.ka or his ad.i.c.k.a When it gets hard, thatas called a hard-on. Use the right words.a He had stopped speaking, yet she felt information pouring into her heada"the reverse of what he had done before. He was giving her more orders. Orders that would destroy her relationship with Talona"if she still had a relationship with him.

Yet she must obey.

TALON and his group finished stowing the canoes on the top of the van in the Cooksburg parking lot.

aFantastic trip,a Trent Dalton said. aYou know the river like the back of your hand, and you know a lot about the wildlife in the area.a The others voiced their agreement.

aIam glad you enjoyed it.a aWhenas the next time youare running this trip?a aProbably in the fall.a aIall definitely be coming backa"with my son,a Jake Presley said.

aThatas a good idea,a James Fitzgerald said. aMaybe Billy and I can do it with you all.a He and Dalton began discussing times they might get together with their sons.

The group of men had bonded on the expedition, and Talon had promised to provide them all with an e-mail list so they could keep in touch. He knew they were savoring the last few minutes together, but his own anxiety was reaching critical levels. He had to get home.

To make sure Kenna was still therea"and make sure that everything was okay. Because he couldnat fight the bad feeling that something had gone terribly wrong.

Struggling not to transmit his anxiety, he cleared his throat. aWead better get back to Ridgway.a That was the town where the men had left their cars. Too bad they werenat parked at his house because then he wouldnat be facing a three-hour drive.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

THAT AFTERNOON, AFTER answering more questions about things like television programs, Kenna stepped through the portal, this time with a mixture of eagerness and sadness. She wanted to come back to Talonas world. She longed to repair the breach between them. But she was under orders from her master, and there was no way to stop herself from following them.

Although she had been anxious about her last trip here, this time would be far worse. This time she was supposed to get Talon to buy her guns, although she was sure he wasnat going to do it. Vandar had a long history of people following his commands, but he didnat know what he was dealing with now. Talon was a man who took orders from no one.

She shuddered. Unless Vandar got control of his mind. G.o.ds! She couldnat let that happen. Not to Talon. She had to figure out a way to stop it.

As she started down the hill toward the lodge, she wondered what she would find there. Talon had been about to leave on a trip. Was he back home, or was he still away? And what would she say to him when they saw each other again?

She fretted about that as she walked toward the lodge, her pace slowing as she approached.

Just as she was about to step out from under the trees, something brushed against hera"something powerfula"and she gasped. Jumping behind a tree, she pressed tightly against the bark and peered into the woods, probing the shadows with her gaze, half expecting to see Vandar come swooping down out of the sky.