Read Online Colin: Her Warlock Protector Book 4 by Hazel Hunter - Free Book Online
Authors: Hazel Hunter
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charge.”
Elsa nodded, as if relieved that she didn't have to say it. “Yes.”
She sat so still that at first, Selene thought that she wouldn't speak again.
“There was a town where they were pouring chemicals into the water from the factory. People were getting sick. Mr. Lattimore was in charge of seeing if the waste water was related. Those files said that they were.”
There was something deflated about her now, but Selene could see that there was more to this girl than what she showed. She was brave enough to call out wrong-doing when she saw it. She was ready to take those files to someone who had the power to punish this oh-so-powerful Mr. Lattimore, and she was willing to go through whatever it took to see justice done.
Suddenly, Selene was full of an old fury, both anger at herself and rage at the forces that had made Elsa Mayberry feel so afraid. She realized two things. The first was that she could never take Elsa's story away from her, not when the health of an entire small town was riding on the girl's word. The second was that she knew that she needed to do something to help.
She cast around for a moment, and then she nodded firmly.
“Will you look up for me, please?”
She held up the wet towel as if she wanted to dab the dress directly under the girl's chin, but when their eyes met, gold to blue, Selene held her.
“There we go, sweetheart, let's see…”
She sat quietly with Elsa's hand in hers. The few women who came in and out must have thought she was consoling the girl after a bad breakup. Bitsy found her way from Selene's purse and nosed at Elsa's limp hand as well. Selene could feel her connection strengthen with the presence of her pet. She found the memories that they had wanted to erase, and they were tinged with fear and anger. Elsa would need the anger, but she certainly didn't need the fear.
Just like she had done with Yasmine, she smoothed the fear away, blunting those emotions and making them stand smaller. The details were still there, they were still important, but now they would be sharper and stronger.
As Selene did her delicate work, she realized something odd. She had never had such an easy time with this task. However, now she could see the memories she targeted much more clearly, and she could pull the fear away with much more finesse. More than that, she could feel herself start to weave bravery into the mix as well. She could feel Elsa's spirit rally. She was doing right, and she would be bold and strong under lawyers' questions. She had been as afraid of the witness stand as she had been when she took the files out of the office, but now she was resolute as well.
When Selene pulled back, Elsa was slumped on the couch, but there was a soft smile on her face. Selene eased her down to lie on the cushions, exhausted but exhilarated as well. Her employers wouldn't be pleased, but she had failed on jobs before. She wouldn't starve before the next one came along. After all, who did they know who could do what she did?
She stood, ready to summon Elsa's friends to her side, and when she turned, she walked right into what felt like an immovable brick wall. She yelped in surprise, and then she felt her blood run cold. Colin stood next to her. He had appeared as silently as he always had, but the expression on his face was thunderous.
“This is the ladies' room,” she stuttered, because it was the only thing that she could think of.
He laughed, an angry bark of a sound.
“You're right,” he said, his tone deceptively casual, and his hand wrapped firmly around her upper arm.
“Wait!” she blurted, glancing behind her at the prone Elsa.
The girl rested quietly with a small smile on her face, but she was still so vulnerable. As Selene watched, however, two other girls rushed in, loud and teasing Elsa for sneaking away from the party. Elsa woke up smiling, and went to rejoin her friends.
“Okay,” Selene said softly. “Let's go.
Colin's
Elsa nodded, as if relieved that she didn't have to say it. “Yes.”
She sat so still that at first, Selene thought that she wouldn't speak again.
“There was a town where they were pouring chemicals into the water from the factory. People were getting sick. Mr. Lattimore was in charge of seeing if the waste water was related. Those files said that they were.”
There was something deflated about her now, but Selene could see that there was more to this girl than what she showed. She was brave enough to call out wrong-doing when she saw it. She was ready to take those files to someone who had the power to punish this oh-so-powerful Mr. Lattimore, and she was willing to go through whatever it took to see justice done.
Suddenly, Selene was full of an old fury, both anger at herself and rage at the forces that had made Elsa Mayberry feel so afraid. She realized two things. The first was that she could never take Elsa's story away from her, not when the health of an entire small town was riding on the girl's word. The second was that she knew that she needed to do something to help.
She cast around for a moment, and then she nodded firmly.
“Will you look up for me, please?”
She held up the wet towel as if she wanted to dab the dress directly under the girl's chin, but when their eyes met, gold to blue, Selene held her.
“There we go, sweetheart, let's see…”
She sat quietly with Elsa's hand in hers. The few women who came in and out must have thought she was consoling the girl after a bad breakup. Bitsy found her way from Selene's purse and nosed at Elsa's limp hand as well. Selene could feel her connection strengthen with the presence of her pet. She found the memories that they had wanted to erase, and they were tinged with fear and anger. Elsa would need the anger, but she certainly didn't need the fear.
Just like she had done with Yasmine, she smoothed the fear away, blunting those emotions and making them stand smaller. The details were still there, they were still important, but now they would be sharper and stronger.
As Selene did her delicate work, she realized something odd. She had never had such an easy time with this task. However, now she could see the memories she targeted much more clearly, and she could pull the fear away with much more finesse. More than that, she could feel herself start to weave bravery into the mix as well. She could feel Elsa's spirit rally. She was doing right, and she would be bold and strong under lawyers' questions. She had been as afraid of the witness stand as she had been when she took the files out of the office, but now she was resolute as well.
When Selene pulled back, Elsa was slumped on the couch, but there was a soft smile on her face. Selene eased her down to lie on the cushions, exhausted but exhilarated as well. Her employers wouldn't be pleased, but she had failed on jobs before. She wouldn't starve before the next one came along. After all, who did they know who could do what she did?
She stood, ready to summon Elsa's friends to her side, and when she turned, she walked right into what felt like an immovable brick wall. She yelped in surprise, and then she felt her blood run cold. Colin stood next to her. He had appeared as silently as he always had, but the expression on his face was thunderous.
“This is the ladies' room,” she stuttered, because it was the only thing that she could think of.
He laughed, an angry bark of a sound.
“You're right,” he said, his tone deceptively casual, and his hand wrapped firmly around her upper arm.
“Wait!” she blurted, glancing behind her at the prone Elsa.
The girl rested quietly with a small smile on her face, but she was still so vulnerable. As Selene watched, however, two other girls rushed in, loud and teasing Elsa for sneaking away from the party. Elsa woke up smiling, and went to rejoin her friends.
“Okay,” Selene said softly. “Let's go.
Colin's
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