He grinned.  A full, show-me-your-teeth grin.  It was sexy as hell.

“Is there a volume control for this?” I asked.

He closed his eyes again and some of the feelings gradually mellowed.  The love didn’t.  That emanated with an intensity that made it hard to breathe.

I eased out of his arms, slightly overwhelmed by the new experience.  He let me go and sat up, watching as I grabbed my plate.  I began to eat the cold eggs while I considered what I was feeling from Carlos.  I was used to sorting through a whirlwind of emotions, but this was different.  The emotions were strong but not in a way that brought me to my knees.  Instead, they wrapped around me like a warm blanket on a cold day.

His love was the easiest to feel and know.  Then awe and pride.  Because of me.  Because I’d found him worthy enough to Claim him.  He humbled me with those emotions.  But behind them hid a layer of anger and pain so thick that it took me by surprise.  Was he feeling that way because I’d messed up the bite?  How was I supposed to know I had to bite that hard?  I ate another mouthful of eggs as I blushed, thinking of all the unnecessary nipping I’d done.  A slow heat crept up my neck.

“Why are you worrying?” Carlos said once again looking at me.

“Why are you mad?”

The anger melted away, but the pain remained.

“The bite didn’t hurt, right?”

“The bite was perfect.”  He leaned toward me and kissed my forehead.  “Do you need more ice?  Biting didn’t hurt your cheek further, did it?”

I shook my head, still trying to puzzle out the anger and pain.

“We need to meet up with the others,” he said.  “It’s almost time.”

I nodded and watched as he stood and walked out the door.  He was more complex now that I could feel his emotions, not less.  If I hadn’t screwed up the bite, then why was he in pain?  What had hurt him that much?

Forking the last bite of eggs into my mouth, I stood and made my way to the kitchen.  Carlos was by the dryer, taking out our clean clothes.  I’d forgotten about them.

I left my plate on the kitchen counter and went to the bathroom.  Only my hairbrush and toothbrush waited by the sink.  He’d already packed up his things.  We were obviously not staying longer.

Brushing my teeth hurt.  A few of my molars protested, and I eased up on the scrubbing.  When I spit, there was pink in the foam, and I got angry all over again at the man who’d hit me.  Blake had so much to pay for.  I wished I could be a fly on the wall when the crap-storm we were about to create hit home for him.

After running the brush through my hair, I packed up my things and opened the door.  Carlos was waiting with my jacket, shoes, and our bags.

“Everyone is waiting for us by the cars.”

“We’re not staying?”

“We’re packed just in case.  We don’t know if Charlene’s contact will be able to get us on the air or not.  If she doesn’t, we’ll need to wait until she can. If she does, it would be better to leave the city.”

“More long car rides...sounds fun.”

A wave of love washed over me.

“Was that a mental hug?”

“Something like that.”

My insides warmed, and I tried to send what he made me feel back to him.

“All right, big guy, let’s roll.  If we’re lucky, I’ll get to hit someone today.”

*    *    *    *

“This time, Charlene will get us in,” Grey said as we stood outside the news building.

I nodded, more than willing to let someone else take the lead.

People moved around us, keeping up with their everyday chaotic rush.  Since leaving the apartment, I’d maintained my balance of near emptiness by siphoning and draining.  In those brief moments when I inhaled the emotions of those around me, I got a read on our group.  Anticipation was heavy, but trepidation was a close second.

Carlos stood behind me, his hands wrapped around my arms.  I wasn’t sure if it was a loving embrace or restraints.  Either way, his touch helped calm some of the storm as did the gentle surges of love I felt from him.

Charlene and Thomas started out, followed closely by Winifred.  The rest of us fell in loosely behind them.  As a group, we entered the building and made for the elevators where we split into two groups.

“We’ll meet on the twelfth floor,” Winifred said.

Bethi, Luke, Gabby, Clay, and Grey stepped into the elevator with Carlos and me.

“Congratulations,” Clay said quietly, looking at Carlos.

Behind me, I felt Carlos nod.

I was puzzled for a moment until Carlos gave me another one of those mental hugs.

Bethi’s eyes went wide as she stared at me.

“Shut up...”

I gave her a crooked grin.

“Bet you didn’t get a hand shoved in your face,” she said.

“Will you ever let me forget that?” Luke asked.

“Nope.”

Gabby glanced at me.

“It’s strange at first, but you’ll get used to him being in your head.”

Hearing her say that relieved me.  It was weird having Carlos in there.  Not really in a bad way, just...weird.

“I hope so,” I said.

“We’re standing right here,” Luke said.

Gabby grinned at him and leaned back against Clay.

“In your head is a good place to be,” Clay said.  He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

The elevator slowed and binged.  When the doors slid open, we stepped out.  The other elevator was three floors behind, apparently having stopped to pick up passengers.

We lingered by the elevator bank, waiting.  I carefully breathed the emotions in and out.  Bethi's ran all over the place.

“Tone it down, girl.”

She nodded and immediately her emotions muted.  They weren’t nonexistent like Carlos’, or silent like the Elders’, but they were quiet enough that she didn’t overwhelm me.  She was getting better.

Behind us, I listened to the quiet conversation of the receptionist with another woman and the approaching click of heels.  The doors opened to the second elevator.  Winifred and Sam stepped out, followed by Charlene and Thomas.

A wave of panic hit me, and the sound of heels stopped.  I turned and saw Penny in the hallway, her gaze locked on Charlene.

I stole her panic as she spun on her heel.

“Charlene,” I said in warning before the woman took a second step.

“Penny,” Charlene said.  The woman stopped walking and slowly turned.

In an eerie display, all other movement in the large room stilled as well.

The man behind the desk laid his head down, and the woman joined him.  Another man, who’d been reading the paper while he waited in one of the reception chairs, folded the paper on his lap then closed his eyes as if to take a nap.  A maintenance worker, who was sweeping the floor with an extra-long dust mop, set the mop on the floor, then took a seat.  The unnatural actions had me glancing at Charlene.

Bethi had said Charlene could control people but seeing it was scary crazy.  I wasn’t the only one affected by the display.

Penny's fear spiked.

“So much for not abusing your power,” she said, anger shaking her words.

“I don't abuse my power,” Charlene said.  “I only use it when necessary.  And you've made it necessary.”

“Me?”

“Do you forget what I can do?  I know you have a camera in the room, a voice recorder, a new lock on the door, and the police on speed dial.  You planned to tape me doing something amazing and then turn me in.  It didn’t work the last time you tried, and it won’t work now.  That’s not why I’m here.”

“Then you’re wasting my time.”

“I promise I’m not.  I have something much more newsworthy to show you.  If you take me to one of your recording studios, you can broadcast live.”

Penny narrowed her eyes as she studied Charlene.  I could feel her mistrust.

“I don't have that kind of pull,” Penny said.

“I do.”  A wave of regret and fear rolled from Charlene with those words.  I could understand her regretting her power, but why the fear?