“Tansy.” Camellia smiled at her, a genuine smile of happiness. “It’s so good to know you’re alive and well. I’d love to know how you and Kaden found one another.” She sank into the chairopposite Tansy, across the table from her, well aware that if she ate anything, touching the silverware would leave her vulnerable.
Kaden frowned at her and then Kyle, who seated himself next to Camellia. “Are you two talking together? I don’t actually feel the energy the way I would if GhostWalkers were talking on a private path...” He broke off abruptly.
Camellia wanted to know what would tip him off. She’d never once had anyone aware when she communicated telepathically with another. If she did so in a battle situation, she needed to know she could communicate with her team of soldiers without detection every time. If Kaden was aware of the private conversations between Kyle and her, then she had to fix the problem.
“What are you feeling?” She didn’t have to push curiosity into her voice.
“Neither of you answered the question,” Kaden said.
Kyle frowned at him. “What’s going on, Kaden? I thought we were bringing Camellia here to meet Tansy and grab something to eat. Neither of us has had anything to eat all day. We’re both tired and hungry, and I’m out of sorts. I used enhanced vision for prolonged amounts of time, and if it wasn’t for Camellia, I don’t think I would have made it down the mountain.”
Tansy leaned into her husband when he put his hand on her thigh beneath the table. “Are you feeling better now, Kyle?”
“I don’t even have a headache, Tansy,” Kyle admitted.
Tansy flashed a smile at Camellia. “Do you have healing abilities?”
“Some. I’m not great at it. Not trained. I’d like to learn more. I dabble a bit in the use of plants, and I’m getting better at using them. I know a bit about pressure points. I just don’t have enough experience and it can be frustrating. I see someone hurting and I want to help them, but I’m just not certain how,” Camellia admitted. “Sometimes it comes naturally, but often I just feel helpless.”
Tansy nodded. “I know how that can feel, at least I used to. I have so many more resources now. You will too, now that you’re here with us. I found that asking questions or just reading books helps me. There are so many of us here that have experienced similar things. Out in the world, our problems are very rare, but here, in this closed environment, many of us suffer the same kinds of complications. We can talk about the issues and usually find a way to resolve them.”
Camellia didn’t have the heart to tell her she hadn’t made up her mind if she was going to live there with Jonas. Hopefully, Jonas would want to live apart from the others. With her. In her little garden of paradise. They would know if he was needed.
She knew that hope was a pipe dream. He was a soldier and he had to train with his team. He had to leave at a moment’s notice. He wouldn’t want to be that far away from his fellow GhostWalkers. She wasn’t certain, after being alone for so long, that she could be around so many people day in and day out. Already she felt as if she could barely breathe.
“It would be nice to learn how to improve my abilities when I know I can do better. I have been working on growing plants that aid in healing. I’m good with plants,” Camellia added. “They’ve always been a passion for me.”
“I love photography,” Tansy confessed. “When Kaden has the time to go with me, I go to various places and try to photograph wildlife. I especially love cougars, and I’ve gotten some great shots of them.”
“She’s being modest,” Kaden said. “She’s renowned for her photographs. Some of them are displayed in galleries. Others have been published inNational Geographicmagazine.” He brought her gloved fingers up to his mouth and, at the last moment, turned her palm over so he could place a kiss on the bare skin of her wrist. Evidently, his touch didn’t bother Tansy.
“I’m getting myself food,” Kyle announced. “Come with me, Camellia. You must be starving.” He stood up and put a hand on the back of her chair to pull it out for her.
Camellia rose as well. She really wanted to find out how Kaden knew they spoke with one another telepathically. It was important if she was going to help them in the coming battle. She slipped her hand onto the crook of Kyle’s arm as they crossed the floor together to get to the buffet.
“How did he know?”
“Kaden is a scary son of a bitch,” Kyle said. “Never underestimate him. Never. He can be charming when he wants to be, but you can bet Ryland and Kaden want to know where you came from and why Jonas has accepted you so fast. Jonas doesn’t accept anyone. Hell, he hasn’t accepted half of Team Two, and we’ve known them for several years now.”
Camellia laughed. “Jonas isn’t that bad.”
Kyle took a plate from the stack and handed it to her. “He’s exactly that bad. Worse. And Kaden is right up there with him. The rest of us look normal compared to them. Jonas fights his demons all the time. All of us know it and we respect that about him. He’s loyal to us and our families, and he’d protect us with his life. Suddenly, you’re in the mix. He’s made it clear that you’re to be taken in and accepted by all of us and that you’re under his protection as well. That’s not something he does or that we take lightly.”
Camellia looked over the range of food, most of which she hadn’t ever eaten. She took salad and a small bit of what looked like cheesy potatoes.
Kyle lifted one eyebrow at her. “That’s it? That’s the extent of what you’re eating?”
“I don’t even know what half of this is.” She whispered her confession. “I haven’t been around this much foodever, Kyle. Don’t embarrass me.”
“I won’t. But you’re missing out.”
“I’ll try the desserts,” she offered.
He laughed. “You’re probably saving your appetite for desserts.”
She thought she’d overdone the amount of food as it was, but she didn’t want to look like she wasn’t going to eat what they provided for everyone. She sat down again across from Tansy, noticing that Tansy was eating salad as well.
“Kaden tells me someone has sent troops to wipe us out,” Tansy said.
