Page 132 of Bruised MC Bear

Coco pursed her lips into a tight, mischievous smile. “You were way more than just intimate with the guy, Kiera. You gave him all the goodies. Of course I know. I am your familiar. I want all the scandalous details, but before we get to that, tell me what else has been different since you gave it up for Xander?”

Kiera contemplated the question. “Different how?”

“You’re getting stronger, Kiera. Let’s start with how you just summoned me.”

“I told you. I. Did. Not. Summon. You.”

“Okay, let me try to put it a different way. Think back to about ten minutes before I flew in here. Did my name cross your mind? Even for the smallest, most insignificant notion?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Try to remember. What were you doing ten minutes ago?”

“Reading.” Opening the book, she flipped back a page. “Oh…yeah… you did cross my mind.”

“What exactly were you thinking?”

“I was checking out an old spell that called for a puffin feather.”

“What the hell do I have to do with a damned puffin?”

“No no, that’s not the way I made a connection to your name. I remembered I could not complete the last spell that called for such a feather because the birds are extinct…in our sector, at least. Then I wondered whether you had seen one all those years ago.”

“That’s what you were thinking? Are you sure?”

“I’m positive, dear. Then I flipped a few pages to see whether there was another spell or incantation I could use…oh…right…”

“What?”

“That was when I wished you would come back here and talk to me.”

“See I told you! You did summon me!”

“I wished you were here. That is not a summon, last time I checked.”

“Well, it is now. You’re getting stronger. Let me show you something. One second.” She rushed out of the room, returning with her notebook a few minutes later. “Okay. Brace yourself. I’ll go through a list of supernatural mental abilities one by one, and I want you to tell me if you have experienced any of them in the last twenty-four hours.”

“All right.”

“Cosmic awareness or precognition? Wait. Don’t bother. The answer is yes. You knew when the ravagers were coming nine years ago, so you already had that ability…Next is telepathic reception. You know, memory navigation, or sometimes referred to as psychic navigation.”

“I don’t believe I’ve been able to read specific memories in someone else’s mind, but I…he would kill me if he knew, but I read the Regent’s thoughts.”

“You did what? When?”

Kiera nodded sheepishly. “Last night. No. Two nights ago as well.”

“When exactly?”

“I was with Xander overnight… and then at dinner last night.”

“Wait a second. Did you just say you read the Regent’s thoughts from inside the shifter camp?”

“Yes. I was surprised too…I’m not sure, but I may have affected the containment spell around the camp too.”

“Holy hell, Kiera. That means you’re telekinetic…but even stronger than just moving objects with your mind. You potentially undid a spell, which takes a ridiculously intense burst of energy.”

Kiera ran a shaky hand through her hair. “Good Lord.”