Veiled by Caris Roane

or not. He felt her sigh as she slid both arms around his waist and hugged him. “You’re back.”
    “I am.”
    “Something has changed, though, hasn’t it?” she asked.
    “Yes. I’m not going to pull away from you this time, but I’ll need your help. Something inside me is tearing me apart and I don’t know how to fix it.”
    “I’ll do whatever you need me to do, Duncan. You’re worth the effort, do you understand?”
    He nodded, knowing she’d touched the heart of the issue. “I love you,” he whispered.
    She lay her head against his shoulder and sighed once more. “Are you okay?”
    “I am.”
    “Can you tell me what you saw?”
    With his arms holding her tight he shared the vision, beginning to end.
    ~
    As Duncan spoke, Rachel could feel his heart beating and the sound mesmerized her. His whole body was warm, no doubt from the energy flowing through him which had produced the glow. She wanted to stay with her arms around him forever, just like this, skin-to-skin, resting against him, hearing the steady beat of his heart.
    He spoke of a prison, of Third Earth What-Bees and Militia Warriors aligned with Yolanthe, and of a veiled woman desperate to get out of her cell. He also believed the vision had led him to Yolanthe’s prison because of Rapture’s Edge.
    As his description ended, he made no move to let her go so she stayed and held him. Suddenly, the vision began to roll through her mind as well. I’m seeing the vision, Duncan.
    You are?
    Yes. As the vision played through, she described it to him telepathically, moment by moment, including the numbered sequence at the portal. He was astonished by her descriptions.
    That was amazing, she sent, as the veiled woman disappeared from sight. Aloud, she said, “And I can feel her connection to Rapture’s Edge. We’re meant to rescue her, aren’t we?”
    “Yes. That’s exactly what we’re supposed to do.”
    She drew away from him slightly. “How?”
    At that, he smiled and seemed more like himself. “I have no idea.”
    “Then we’d better get the team together.”
    As he moved away from her, his gaze drifted down her body and his lids fell low.
    She nodded, licking her lips. If he offered to take her to bed right now, she wouldn’t say no despite the need to get going.
    “Your scent,” he whispered, drawing close once more and kissing the top of her head.
    “Can’t help it.”
    He shifted as she lifted her face to his. He kissed her, a deep, warm kiss that made her heart pound with hope and desire.
    “The bed is right here.” She drew back just enough to hold his gaze. She kissed him again so he didn’t really have sufficient time to answer.
    She could feel his cock growing firm against her abdomen. She rubbed back and forth.
    He quickly drew away from her, however, then caught her chin with his hand. “I’d want nothing more than to make love to you again, but there’s an urgency about this vision. And you’re right, we need to inform the team.”
    “I know.”
    He kissed her once more, then turned and headed to the guest room.
    She put a hand to her chest, breathing hard, and all he’d done was kiss her. She didn’t mind that he’d left because the view of his tight ass, broad shoulders, and warrior’s gate would keep her revved up until the time was right.
    She wasn’t a fool; nothing had been resolved. Whatever had burrowed into Duncan’s psyche and held him captive, wouldn’t be letting go anytime soon.
    But God help her, she would do everything she could to encourage his steps in her direction.
    The fact that a vision had followed after they’d been together for the first time in a month, she took as a powerful sign to stay the course.
    ~
    With a wave of his hand, Duncan folded on his battle uniform. Renewed energy flowed through him in a vibrating wave of power. He knew how much his vision would intensify the team’s purpose and immediate direction, and for reasons he couldn’t explain, he also sensed the content