I heard Thomas as we reached their room.
“I don’t like it.”
“Sorry, we’re late,” Isabelle said, stepping inside.
“It’s all right, Isabelle,” Winifred said. “We were just discussing Charlene’s conversation with the news lady.”
“Penny,” Charlene said.
“Yes, Penny. The woman was insistent that they meet, but then said she wasn’t available until tomorrow.”
“It’s fishy,” Bethi said. “The woman practically screamed yes when Charlene asked if they could meet to talk but became cagey about a time. She wanted Charlene to give her a number so she could call her back. Charlene insisted on setting a time before they hung up.”
“I expected her reaction,” Charlene said. “And it’s nothing to worry about.”
“It’s everything to worry about,” Thomas said. “The woman knows what you can do.”
“She does,” Charlene agreed. “And that’s why she’s willing to meet with us. And why, come tomorrow, there will be cameras ready.”
“She’s in for a bit of a shock, then,” Isabelle said.
Charlene’s lips curved into a slight, sad smile.
“She is.” She laid her hand on Thomas’ arm. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’ll have an idea of what she has planned before we even reach her.”
“How?” Isabelle asked.
“I can feel the wills of the people around me. When they are consciously focused on something, it’s in their will for me to feel.”
“So you’re reading everyone all the time?”
“No. I have to make an effort to read a person’s will. I usually don’t, respecting their privacy. However, tomorrow, I will be reading everyone.”
“We should go early,” Bethi said. “To keep an eye on things.”
“I agree,” Thomas said. “We’ll go an hour early tomorrow morning, but we also need to check on things today. Isabelle, Carlos, and Grey, I’d like the three of you to go to the station now and see what you can feel and learn.”
His words killed my hopes of a morning filled with snuggling that might lead to an afternoon Claim.
“Isn’t that dangerous with Blake’s men out there?” Michelle asked.
“It’s not too bad,” Gabby said. She finally looked rested. “There don’t seem to be many Urbat in the city.”
“And those who are here would have to be walking right next to us to catch our scents,” Grey said. “There’s too much going on in this city.”
Thomas nodded.
“Right now, I’m more worried about Penny and the humans than I am the Urbat.”
I was worried about the humans, but for a different reason. The Elders were sending Isabelle out into a city that made her itch with emotions in only an hour.
“It’s not going to work. Isabelle won’t be able to stay out there for very long,” Bethi said, seeming to have the same thoughts.
“Bethi said you’re an emotional siphon. Yet, you pushed out your emotions before,” Thomas said. “Have you ever tried to stay in a constant state of pushing instead of pulling?”
Isabelle’s brows furrowed as she considered it. A wave of grief and regret swamped the air. The scent of grief was as strong as the day after Ethan had died. It wasn’t hard to guess the direction of her thoughts. Did she really think he would still be alive if she’d known about pushing then?
I wrapped my arms around Isabelle and turned her toward me. She leaned her forehead against my chest and held me in return.
“I apologize for upsetting you,” Thomas said.
She nodded but didn’t turn.
“I’ve never tried what you’re suggesting,” she said, speaking into my chest. “I need to go for a walk and see if it works.” She slid out of my arms without looking back at anyone.
I’ll keep in contact, I sent Grey, following her.
In the hallway, I reached for her hand.
“Ethan didn’t need for you to love him in return. He loved you freely. No conditions. And, he would hate to know you carried any regrets now because of him.”
“I don’t have regrets because of him. I have regrets for him. He deserved so much more.”
I tugged on her hand until she stopped walking and faced me.
“What could be better than your love?” I pulled her close and brushed a thumb over her cheek as I held her face. “A smart man would welcome it in any form. Ethan was smart and knew what he had.”
She exhaled slowly.
“Thank you.”
“Anytime, Isabelle.”
We resumed walking down the hall and left the building through the parking garage again. Outside, she shivered.
“I need a quiet corner,” she said, setting out at a brisk pace. After a few minutes, she stepped it up to a jog. Following last night’s path, she found a discreet place and stopped. When she glanced my way, I nodded.
We’re testing it now, I sent Grey.
I felt the nudge against my mental wall.
“This feels weird,” she said after a few seconds.
I watched her inhale and felt the tiniest of pulls at the emotions behind the wall followed by a nudge. She pulled and pushed several times. Nothing strong, but as I watched her, I knew she wasn’t keeping anything she’d pulled.
“I think I can do this.”
We started back toward the apartments.
We’re on our way back, I sent Grey.
When we neared people, we both watched them for any reactions. Most frowned and looked around but did nothing more.
The rest of our group was waiting for us in the garage.
“How did it go?” Bethi asked.
“Well, I can’t just keep everything out like Thomas said. If I push, I can’t feel what everyone around me is feeling, which would defeat the purpose of sending me. But if I push and pull, like breathing in and out, there won’t be a buildup to bother me or anything that might hurt someone else. It should work.”
“And there are no adverse effects?” Winifred said, looking at me.
“Nothing adverse,” I said.
“Then, let’s go,” Grey said, motioning us to the car.
“We’ll see you at dinner,” Winifred said. The rest of the group started moving to the stairwell.
“Be careful,” Bethi said before she and Luke followed the others.
“We need to stop and get a coat for Isabelle,” I said as I opened the back door for her. While filled with emotions or jogging, she was fine. If she wasn’t going to keep what she pulled, she’d freeze.
I joined her in the backseat and reached for her hand again. She smiled slightly at the contact and gave my hand a light squeeze as Grey started the car and pulled out of the garage.
“Do you know where we’re going?” Isabelle asked him.
Grey’s eyes twinkled as he glanced back in the mirror. “Winifred and Michelle are checking for a store, so we can get you a coat. After that, we’ll go to the address Penny provided.”
He maneuvered through traffic until it slowed to a crawl then turned into a parking garage that charged an hourly rate.
“We’ll walk from here,” he said.
People crowded the sidewalks. Grey and I walked beside Isabelle and watched everything. The people passing. Their reactions to Isabelle’s pull and push. Isabelle’s reaction. She seemed fine physically, but shivered constantly.
It’s just ahead, Grey sent me, and I knew he’d noticed the same thing.
Grey paused and glanced at the mannequins in the windows of a boutique. I glanced at the clothes they modeled.
Looks expensive, I silently communicated to Grey.
They were willing to take Winifred’s credit card over the phone, he sent back.
“They’re never going to let us through the doors,” Isabelle said, glancing at me then Grey. We did not match the upscale quality displayed in the window.
“They will,” Grey said.
He pushed his way into the store. A woman looked up from the mannequin she’d been dressing.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“Winifred sent us for a jacket,” Grey said.
“Of course. Mr. Cole, correct?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The woman’s gaze traveled to me.
“Winifred said you might need more than a coat.”
“Yeah, maybe something new would be a good idea,” Grey said.
Isabelle arched a brow at Grey.
“I don’t have a wallet,” she said.
He winked at her.
“Winifred took care of it.”
“If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you a few options. Gentlemen, if you’d care for a drink, we have a waiting area to the left.”
Grey and I stepped into the waiting area that provided a view of people walking past. We both took a chair and listened to Isabelle and the sales woman discuss options.
“Fancy place,” Grey said, looking at a drink machine set on a black side table. He stood and wandered over to it. After a moment, he reached for one of the environmentally friendly paper cups and a tiny plastic sealed container.
“I think I can figure this out.”
I shook my head. We’d be cleaning up something before Isabelle was done.
He’d managed to make two cups of cider and one cup of coffee ground water before I heard Isabelle’s steps.
She wore a red-brown leather jacket that made her red hair stand out beautifully, a scarf that called attention to her perfectly freckled nose, and jeans that hugged every curve she owned. I swallowed hard.
“Wow, Isabelle,” Grey said, while I struggled to find my voice. “You shop fast.”
She grinned at him.
“We’re all set. She’s billing this to the card Winifred gave her.”
“Then we need to get moving,” Grey said, standing and looking serious.
I stood and moved toward her. She gave me a small smile before turning and heading toward the door. Wanting to groan, I watched her backside as she left the shop.
I’ll let Winifred know you’re grateful, Grey sent. His amusement touched my mind with his words. Mentally shaking my head, I hurried to walk beside her back to the car.