Deceiver's Bond: Book Two of A Clairvoyant's Complicated Life (61 page)

I frowned. “He was?”

Joanne beamed. “Sure was. When I mentioned you weren’t seein’ anybody, he definitely perked up.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Please tell me you weren’t playing matchmaker.”

She perched a manicured hand against her chest. “Little ol’ me? Now, would I go and do somethin’ like that?”

“Yes. You would.” I sighed and looked heavenward. “I swear. What’s next? A billboard?” I extended my hands, as though framing something in the distance. “Samantha Jennings needs to get laid. Call 555-1234 for details.”

She laughed. “Well, that’s a fact, but don’t go gettin’ your panties in a bunch. I wasn’t that obvious.” She peered at me archly and added, “You hafta admit though, he’s worth a second look—or even a long stare or three.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “Yeah, yeah. Looks aren’t everything. Craig’s proof positive on that score.”

“Good looks don’t automatically mean the guy’s gonna be a polecat either. All I’m sayin’ is you could give him a chance. Maybe he’ll surprise you.” She smirked. “And if he doesn’t … hey, we’re in the middle of no-damn-where. Who’s gonna know? Polecats have their benefits.”

“Good Lord. Don’t start.” I giggled and rolled my eyes. “Fine. If it makes you happy, I’ll think about it. God knows why he’d be remotely interested though.”

She scoffed, but I deliberately changed the subject before she had a chance to give me a pep talk. “Oh, hey. Sven told me he plans to release Jamie. Can you believe it?”

“Wow. Really?”

Her reaction wasn’t what I expected. “You don’t seem too surprised.”

She took a swig from her beer before putting it down to prepare another cracker. “No. I suppose not. Sven told me that he’s wonderin’ about how attached the two of you are getting.”

I pressed my back against the cushion of the deck chair, deflated. “I sure wish he had talked to me about it, instead of going to you. I might have taken a more conservative approach if Sven had told me from the beginning that he planned to release him.” I sighed. “Not like I had much choice. He would have died without the constant intervention. I can’t help that I’m the only one who can feed him around here.”

“I know. I told him that. I’m sorry, Sammy. He’s a pretty special manatee. I’m gonna miss that big galoot.”

I sighed and picked up my forgotten wine glass. “At least after he’s released, I won’t have to worry about what happens to him when I decide to take a vacation, or move on to another job. In the wild, I’m sure he’ll be okay, as long as he can stay away from people.”

“What’s this I hear? You finally thinkin’ about taking us back to civilization?”

I took a sip of wine before smiling over the top of my glass. “What? You mean you’re not enjoying it here at the ‘ass-end of nowhere?’” I laughed at her disgusted expression and shook my head. “No plans yet. But don’t worry. You’ll be the first to know.”

I looked out at the water. “I worry about Jamie’s behavior though. There’s something different about him.” I looked back at Joanne. “Don’t you think? Have you ever noticed that he really seems to listen to us?”

She examined me, a smirk tugging at her mouth. “Darlin’, I reckon’ you’ve been on this island a little too long.”

“Oh, stop. What I meant was that it makes me wonder whether Jamie was rescued from the wild. Maybe he was previously held in captivity.” I laughed at her continued expression. “Oh, come on. You’ve been around me long enough to know I haven’t gone loopy. I’ve always been this way. It’s part of my charm.” Smiling, I cocked my head. “Anyway, it’s not like I hear them talking back.”

She giggled. “Thank the Lord for small favors. ‘Cuz if that changes, we are leaving this island faster than a hound dog can lift his leg.”

You have been reading an excerpt of:

THE 7TH TEAR

By

Katherine Bayless

NOW AVAILABLE

Amazon, B&N, Kobo, and iBooks

Glossary

1995 PARANORMAL RIGHTS ACT
—the landmark piece of civil rights legislation in the United States that outlaws major forms of discrimination against magically inclined or cursed individuals.

BETWEEN, THE
—a vast interdimensional nexus where the essence of every unique life force, from any one of an infinite number of worlds, intersects. Also known as
Purgatory
.

BROWNIE
—a diminutive, roughly humanoid race from the
Otherworld
. Often mistaken for a
hobgoblin
, they are smaller, less hairy, and do not typically indulge in practical jokes. They have been known to inhabit human homes and perform household tasks in exchange for small gifts of food. Bread (especially brioche) and honey are said to be particular favorites. They work only at night and do not like to be seen. Of all the
fae
, brownies have been the most eager to reside permanently on Earth.

CIRCLE OF POWER
—a ritually defined space, usually sealed with blood, used in spell-casting to control the flow of magic (and/or physical access) within its boundaries.

CLAIRVOYANT
—an individual who can gain information about an object (or person) through direct physical contact.

CLEAN ROOM
—an enclosed space that is completely
psi-free
, often within the confines of a psychiatric hospital.

COVENTRY ACADEMY
—a private academy, located in Coventry, WA, dedicated to the education of children capable of magic, possessing a
psychic
ability, or suffering from the curse of
vampirism
or
therianthropy
.

COVENTRY HOSPITAL
—a hospital, located in Coventry, WA, that specializes in the care of those gifted with
psychic
or magic powers or individuals suffering from magic related injuries or curses.

CRYOKINETIC
—an individual who is capable of siphoning ambient heat from the atmosphere or other physical objects. Also known as an
icemaker
.

DAOINE SÍDHE
—see sidhe.

DARK ARTS
—a field of magic dealing with death and darkness.

DIVINOR
—an individual with the gift of precognition, the ability to foresee the future. Also known as
oracle
,
seer
, or
prophesier
.

DJINN
—a spirit-like entity that inhabits a world beyond the dimensions of Earth. Also known as jinn, genie, or jinnī. They can be physical or incorporeal in nature and are known
shape-shifters
. In their dealings with humankind, they are most often neutral, neither good nor bad, typically practicing noninterference in human matters unless bound by blood compact. Other than their ability to transform and hold any physical shape, it is said they have the ability to move between dimensions and travel great distances at extreme speeds. The full extent of their power is unknown.

DRAÍOCLOCH
—magic item that, when used, forges a temporary gateway to the
Otherworld
.

ELDER RACE
—a class of humanoid beings that existed before man.

ELF
—a crass term for
sidhe
.

ESSENCE
—an individual’s life-force, their soul.

FAE
—a term that refers to the many unique beings and creatures that inhabit the
Otherworld
.

FAERY
—the
Otherworld
.

FAIRY
—a crass term for
fae
.

FAIRYLAND
—a crass term for
the Otherworld
.

FIRESTARTER
—see
pyrokinetic
.

FLIGHT 208
—the plane crash that was caused by a terrorist wielding an object enchanted with an inferno spell.

GATEWAY
—a magical conduit, or
portal
, large enough to provide physical transport from one place to another.

GLINDARIAN
—a member of the Glindarian
witchcraft
sect.

GOLEM
—a magical being created from inanimate matter, possessing limited intelligence and typically requiring the continued direction of its creator in order to function.

HOBGOBLIN
—a diminutive, roughly humanoid race from the
Otherworld
who are known to be friendly but, more often than not, troublesome. They are prone to practical jokes and fond of living in human homes, helping with small household tasks in return for food. Unlike their smaller cousin, the
brownie
, hobgoblins are
shape-shifters
and quick to take offense at any perceived slight.

ICEMAKER
—see
cryokinetic
.

INVISIUS
Verso—a secret organization of
telepaths
and
divinors
. Its name means ‘unseen influence’ in Latin.

LEPRECHAUN
—a diminutive, humanoid race from the
Otherworld
who are known for their skill in shoemaking and leatherworking. They are unrivaled in their ability to evade and escape capture, often by shape-shifting, but in the event they are apprehended, will grant a favor in exchange for release. Like
brownies
, they are content to reside permanently on Earth.

LEVITATION
—the ability to move objects without interacting with them physically. The gift of telekinesis.

LYCANTHROPY
—a term used to describe the human to wolf transformation curse.

MAGE, MAGIC USER, MAGUS
—terms used to describe an individual with the ability to cast spells. (Generally not used to describe an individual possessing a
psychic
power.)

MAGI-PHOBE
—an individual who fears, distrusts, or condemns magic and those who are capable of magic.

MAGIC RESERVATIONS
—government owned compounds dedicated to the care and rearing of state adopted youngsters who have been gifted with magic or a
psychic
ability, or cursed.

MAGIC USER REGISTRATION ACT
—a United States bill, which, if passed into law, would require all
magic users,
psychics
, and cursed individuals to register with the government.

MAGICIAN
—someone who does parlor tricks. Not a true magic user.

MASTER OF THE HUNT
—leader of the
Wuldrífan.

NECROMANCER
—a
sorcerer
with power over the dead.

NÍLÁITIDIR
—the Between (in Silven)

NORMAL
—an individual who possesses no magical ability.

ORACLE
—see
divinor.

OTHERWORLD
—the world where the
fae
reside. Also known as
Faerie
.

OVERBURN
—the physiological damage caused by burning through more magic than a person’s body can tolerate

PARANORMAL HELP NETWORK
—an organization devoted to providing support services to families of the magically gifted.

PARANORMAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
—an international organization of
psychics
that governs the conduct of the
psychic
community.

PEABODY’S BEANS
—coffee shop owned by Julie and Steven Peabody specializing in psi-free coffee, beverages, pastries, etc.

PIXIE
—a diminutive, humanoid race from the
Otherworld
who are endearingly childlike and benign in character. They live in large clans, are tremendously fond of music and dancing, and often partake in mischievous but harmless pranks.

PORTAL
—a magical conduit, most often forged during a summoning, that connects two different locations, providing access to another dimension or world. A portal may or may not be large enough for physical transport.

PROPHECY
—a prediction of the future.

PROPHESIER
—see
divinor
.

PSI-FREE
—untouched by human or animal contact; free of life-essence contamination.

PSI-WARD
—an area within a hospital that specializes in the care of those gifted with
psychic
or magic powers or individuals suffering from magic related injuries or curses.

PSYCHIC SHIELD
—the mental shield fortified by magic that all
clairvoyants
and
telepaths
use to control the inflow of thoughts and memories into their own minds.

PSYCHIC
—an individual gifted with a mind power, either
telekinesis
,
pyrokinesis
,
cryokinesis
,
divination
,
truthsaying
, or
clairvoyance
.
Sensitives
are also sometimes psychic.

PUGET PACIFIC TOWERS
—office building in downtown Seattle where Sotheby’s is located. Across the street and a block away from Peabody’s Beans.

PURGATORY
—see
the Between.