Page 35

He led Nell into a small cafe, and they sat at a table opposite each other.

She grabbed the menu tablet and focused on reading it as he studied her.

“What would you like?”

She set the menu tablet down and glanced around. “Whatever you’re having.”

Rane gestured the server over and ordered two coffees. He waited another moment for Nell to speak, but she seemed determined not to share.

He reached across the table and touched her hand.

Nell flinched, and her glare was full of warning. “You said you’d calm me.”

“Take hold of my hand.” It wasn’t necessary for Rane to touch anyone when he used his ability, but the waves of panic spreading out from Nell had his own anxiety rising. Physical contact grounded him.

Her glare intensified. “Do we have to?”

“If you want to be calmed.”

Nell sighed as she placed her hand palm up on the table.

Rane placed his hand on top of it and lightly pressed down. As he did so, he began to hum. He didn’t use any words, just concentrated on making the sound as melodious as possible.

He saw it was working when Nell’s shoulders sagged, and the tension left her eyes.

He kept his hand over hers as he stopped humming, liking the feel of her warm skin against his. “How does that feel?”

“Good. Like I’ve eaten a giant triple chocolate pot brownie.”

“I’m not sure what that is, but if it’s making you feel better, that’s the main thing.” Rane waited as the server brought them their coffees before continuing. “Why are you on Starland?”

Nell blinked a few times. “It’s where my therapist practises.”

“What kind of therapy are you having?”

“The kind for crazy people.”

“You consider yourself crazy?”

“I’ve got issues I’m dealing with. This is the first therapist I’ve found who takes me seriously. She’s got interesting methods that are helping things to shift.”

“What are you shifting?”

Nell’s gaze met his for the briefest of seconds. “It’s to do with aliens.”

“You don’t like us?”

“I... have justified concerns.” Nell swallowed loudly. “Five years ago, when I was still on Earth, I was taken.”

“Taken as in...”

“As in abducted. I went to bed one night, got zapped in a beam of alien light, and when I woke up, I realized what had happened to me.”

Rane shook his head. “I didn’t think that still happened.”

“You think I’m lying?”

“No, I remember hearing stories of aliens visiting Earth and doing investigations when the opportunity arose. That must be seventy years ago. It shouldn’t still be happening.”