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.”