Raintree: Sanctuary (Raintree 3)

He heard Eve’s voice. And Mercy’s.

Daddy, please answer me. I have to warn you.

Stop this now! Judah sent the mental message with harsh force, enough to startle Mercy without harming Eve. If you must contact me, call me on my cell phone. He recited the number. Once. Then, using all his power, he blocked his daughter and her mother completely.

By the time Judah reached out and picked up his cell phone lying on the round table near the French doors that led outside to a second story balcony, the phone was already vibrating.

He answered immediately. “Yes?”

“Judah, Eve insists on speaking to you,” Mercy said.

“You must never allow her to contact me telepathically again. Do you understand?”

“No, I don’t understand,” Mercy said. “Explain it to me.”

Judah huffed. He was the Ansara Dranir. He explained himself to no one.

“I have enemies.”

“Enemies with the ability to intercept telepathic messages?”

How did he respond? Half-truths were always best. Neither a lie nor the complete truth. “Yes. I have a half brother. We were once business partners. Now we’re bitter enemies.”

“Then he must be the evil man Eve believes intends to harm you.”

Judah heard Eve say, “Let me tell him, Mother.”

“Eve wants to talk to you.”

The next voice he heard belonged to his daughter. “Daddy?”

“Yes, Eve.”

“He hates you, Daddy. He wants to kill you. But I won’t let him. Mother and I will help you.”

Despite being slightly in awe of the child his one night of passion with Mercy Raintree had created, Judah couldn’t help smiling at the thought of how Mercy must hate the fact that Eve had allied herself with him. With her father, the Ansara Dranir.

But Mercy didn’t know he was the Dranir, that the Ansara had once again become a mighty clan that would soon be as powerful and plentiful as the Raintree.

“Eve, I don’t want you to worry about me. I know who this man is, and I can fight him on my own. I don’t need you to help me.”

“You will, Daddy. You will.”

“Put your mother back on the phone,” Judah said.

“Be very careful,” Eve cautioned.

“Judah?” Was that a hint of concern he heard in Mercy’s voice? Surely not. She hated him, didn’t she?

“Don’t allow Eve to contact me again.”

“And if I can’t stop her?”

“Persuade her,” Judah said.

“Maybe if you called her occasionally…”

“I thought you wanted me out of her life. Have you changed your mind?”