"My dad told me he felt our connection strain and almost snap in the ShadowNet." She walked towards her beautiful Arrow. "It's like you pulled me onto a different network but I can't quite reach it."
"Your assessment is correct," James' voice was matter-of-fact.
Hailey rolled her eyes. She knew exactly what that tone meant. "What did you do?" She straddled him and cupped his face with gentle hands. The tension she'd noticed while she'd been calling with her father, eased under her touch and Hailey could sense James' content through their bond. Warmth unfurled in her stomach, butterflies fluttering rapidly at that thought.
Their bond. Her Arrow.
"I'm shielding you," he said as he closed his eyes, arching into her caress. Smiling, Hailey closed her eyes and stepped onto the psychic plane. What she saw took her breath away.
James' bright, razor sharp star–the epitome of his practical, martial mind–was covering her, protective and vigilant as always. She inched closer and touched their connection, the colors from their intertwined threads bleeding into each other, currently gleaming blue-black, sparking with jade and gold. Ever changing, just like her eyes.
Beautiful.
And finally, the constant pull she'd felt to James made sense. What she realized now also made her feel kind of stupid.
Hailey never thought she would be able to experience it, especially since James was Psy and only a very small part of her was changeling. But all this time, from the moment they'd first met, the moment when she'd first heard his voice in her head, it had been because he was her mate.
Their telepathic contact, the constant magnetism between them, the unexplainable connection, the extreme sense of hopelessness during James' absence… It had all been because he was meant for her and she was meant for him. Hailey's heart swelled impossibly more at the understanding.
It had been the mating dance all along.
Usually, the males knew when the mating dance started and the females were the ones who'd make the final decision. But James wasn't changeling. He'd been Silent, for heaven's sake. He couldn't have had any notion of the fact that this had been happening. Inwardly, Hailey cursed the Gods who'd chosen to throw this curveball at her. On the other hand, they also deserved kudos for pairing her up with such an extraordinary man.
Laughing at herself a little for the paradox of her feelings, she tried to exit the area where she stood but was stopped by a dark shield shimmering with a jade and gold layer.
"Why?" she asked as she looked for her connection to the ShadowNet.
Hailey felt a slight panic when she found none of the chaotic, colorful threads she was so used to seeing. I don't really feel cut off… It's more like I'm in the same building but on a different floor, she told James.
"Because there are still people who will try to take advantage of you once they know the full scale of your abilities." A brush of his knuckles against her cheek. "And yes, it does make sense. Psy and Forgotten are both psychic beings, but you have genetically evolved so much that we shouldn't be able to access the other network."
Hailey shook her head. "That's not entirely true. I don't know the exact details of it, but Katya, Dev's wife, is living from the biofeedback in the ShadowNet and she's Psy."
James frowned a little. "There are also humans connected through their mates in the PsyNet, although they don't need the biofeedback. Are you able to reach the ShadowNet right now?"
"I'm not sure." Hailey closed her eyes and searched for the link connecting her to her father, Shane, Morgan and others. She pursed her lips. "I can sense it's still there, but it's like I can't access it. It's similar to when you shielded me during my stay at the valley." Not intrusive, not severed, just… restricted.
James brushed his thumb over her lower lip. "My shield is most likely the reason for the blockade."
Hailey opened her eyes, looking into the familiar depths of the most magnificent blue. She cupped his cheek. "Let me go."
James' jaw set. "It's not safe."
"You can't keep me safe by putting me in a box. The visions started before we mated, so it makes no difference if anyone sees our connection." Hailey stroked her other hand through his hair. "You can't expect me to hide forever. That equals a different kind of death and you know it."
Familiar adamantine in his voice as he cupped her chin. "The current threat isn't the only threat. There are people for whom killing is sport, their thirst for power never quenched. They'd stop at nothing to have access to your powers. You have no idea how valuable a weapon you could be." His hard eyes softened as the pad of his thumb brushed her cheek. "Your mind doesn't work like that, I know."
"And we're happy it doesn't, right?" she asked slowly as she tried to figure out what he was aiming at.
"Yes. You wouldn't take advantage of others. It's good to know that a power of this magnitude can fall into the right hands." His lips curved as he shook his head. "You realize your draining ability is off the scale?"
When she frowned, James spelled it out for her. "Your eyes, Hailey." He pulled out her hair tie, dark waves tumbling over her shoulders. Running his fingers through the ebony mass, he said, "The reason why it started changing after the attack is not because of your high gradient Tk. It's because you're a cardinal in your own field."
Hailey sucked in a breath. "You're lying."
The look James gave her made it very clear he wasn't.
She bit her lip. "If that's true, then there is no limit to who I could drain." She blinked and whispered, "Jesus… If I get it under control, hell, I could strip Krychek himself of his ability if I get close enough." Her eyes went wide as she finally understood what James was saying. "My God," she let out a deep breath, her heart slamming double-time. "It's close to a miracle nothing catastrophic has happened so far." The idea of draining someone powerful, only to lose control of the power she'd absorbed… it was like playing a game of Russian roulette with thousands of lives at stake.
James tugged on a strand of her hair. "I only see it now because I see you, because you've let me in–although I suspected it during our training." He gently brushed his lips over hers. Don't be afraid of what you can do, Hailey. You have a good heart and you would never let your abilities corrupt you.
Hailey wasn't sure if James' trust in her was just. She wasn't a nefarious person but she definitely wasn't a saint either.
"Well, I have no choice now but to continue training after this is all over." That was, if she didn't get murdered by people who somehow had discovered what she could do. Hailey arched her eyebrow at James as she attempted to shrug off the terrifying visions she'd witnessed earlier. "That doesn't mean I'm surrendering to your will, milord."
James clenched his hand in her hair, placing his forehead against hers, his eyes closed. I can't lose you.
Hailey wrapped her arms around him, holding this strong man who trusted her enough to be vulnerable with her. Her heart squeezed. She was very aware that she made him feel exposed, that their relationship shook his world on its pillars.
I can't turn into a subordinate, docile princess for you to shield at every turn of the way. She couldn't love herself if she'd become like that. And even if it frustrates you, you don't want me to become that way either. They needed to be partners, equals.
Hailey spoke aloud. "If you keep concealing and sheltering me from the world, I will lose the part of myself that you fell in love with."
He leaned back and tightened the hand he held in her hair, tipping up her head to meet his gaze, her eyes completely dark. "Never again will I be responsible for smothering the life, the light in you." Anger resonated in his voice, depths of pain layering in his words. The duality of the situation was tearing him apart, his need to protect her in direct conflict with his need to let her fire burn. He couldn't extinguish her light by keeping her trapped. She would stay with him out of love, but she wouldn't be Hailey.
What if she's wrong and this is the catalyst that causes the events to come into play?
James gritted his teeth, torn by the diversity of emotions he was experiencing. Hailey silently watched him, knowing him well enough to give him time to process her words. "I can't, Hailey. Not yet."
Her features softened as she cupped his face, her soft hands warm on his jaw. "You do remember you still have a job, right? Do the words 'technician' and 'Arrow Squad' ring a bell?"
James leaned forward and bit her lower lip, which made the corners of Hailey's mouth tug. "Yes, I'm well aware you're in disagreement of having a bodyguard." He moved his hand from her hair to her chin. "Being entirely open on two networks can cause even more danger."
Hailey frowned. "Then teach me how to shield myself similarly to your shielding."
"It will take time," was his measured response.
It had taken him years of focus and repetition to make sure his shields were impenetrable. Hailey had strong natural shields but had no experience with shielding techniques. To teach her would take days to cover the basics alone. After that, it would take conscious effort on her part to maintain those shields until the automatism was embedded deeply enough for her to subconsciously keep them up.
She nipped at his lip. "Don't be so ill-tempered about it or I'll ask someone else for help. That Evan bloke is kind of cute."
James kissed her smart mouth hard and possessive, his chest rumbling at her taunt. Hailey's eyes were still sparking with humor when he pulled back, jade and gold lights flickering in deep brown.
He released a deep breath as he shook his head. I wonder how much easier my life would be if you had been subordinating and docile.
As Hailey snorted, she grinned. It would bore you to death, her warmth and laughter in his mind, amplified through their bond.
He tasted the smile on her full, soft lips. This, he thought to himself, this is what you'd lose.
But today, his unique mate made sure to keep him sharp–thus proving her point–and chose compliance over defiance. "Okay," she said as she rubbed her cheek against his temple. "Not yet."