Read Online Psyche Shield by Chrissie Buhr - Free Book Online

Beta
“What’s he like?”
    “He’s a tough old goat, and as stubborn as yours. Stephen’s
friendly enough, though. He’s a good Beta,” she replied easily and spoke as if
Billie couldn’t hear. “I’ve heard your Beta is young. The rumors don’t seem
possible. How old is she?”
    I answered as the Wolves did, calculating age from the time
they became Wolf. “She’s seven, eight this winter. She’s been Beta for two
years.”
    “No way!” Sierra’s eyes widened even further, reminding me
of an owl. “I heard she was twenty and didn’t believe it. Is she really only
seven?” Billie silently enjoyed the conversation while she consumed the food on
my plate.
    “How old is your Beta?”
    “Oh, about 100, I guess.” She shrugged as if she didn’t know
for sure.
    I glanced at Kathryn and Amy. “I’m still having a hard time
wrapping my head around everyone’s age. You seem young, though.” She hesitated
and I realized her assumption. It brought me back to reality. “I’m not reading
you. I pick up some of what’s on the surface, and I can’t help that. But I’m
not entering your mind.”
    “Oh.” She thought about it. “I’m thirteen. Can I ask you
something?”
    “Sure.” Curiosity filled the air around her, nearly
tangible. I didn’t feel like I could say no.
    “Why don’t you like being a Mage?” Her question brought back
memories of the void.
    Amy saw my expression darken and interrupted protectively.
“You can interrogate Sadie later when she’s feeling better.”
    With a half-smile and a wave, I banished memories of the
void. “That’s okay. I was raised by Humans. I didn’t know what I was until the
Wolves told me. I thought I was just a freak, and everyone around me pretty
much agreed. When I was a kid, I used my abilities. I meddled with people’s
thoughts and coerced them when it suited me. I liked the way I felt when I did
it, and I didn’t know any better.”
    I paused in thought, the memory fresh in my mind. Even
Billie didn’t know why I quit using magepower. Nathan was right. I shouldn’t
hide from it. I’m done running away , I reminded myself. “When I was 16,
I snuck out to party with my friends. They didn’t even like me until I changed
their minds. I bought beer using magepower, and we went to Lucky Peak to have a
good time. I had the hots for one of the girls. She was straight except when I
wanted to make out with her. The cops showed up, and I coerced them into
leaving us alone. I was drunk and got carried away. When I got home, my parents
caught me coming in the back door. I made them forget, but I was sloppy and
erased more than I intended to. They were confused for days.
    “That was pretty normal for me for a while. I thought it was
fun getting anything I wanted. Then I saw what it was doing to the people
around me. That night I promised myself I’d never use my abilities to coerce
others again. I kept that promise until a few weeks ago. That’s when I found
out about Wolves and Mages.”
    Billie listened intently to the story, and I could feel her
connecting the dots. Everyone heard it, and I sensed compassion towards the
lost teenager who didn’t know any better. I was selfish. I argued with
Billie’s unspoken thought.
    Billie disagreed. You’re too hard on yourself. When are
you going to give yourself a break? Billie disputed. “You were a kid.”
    “Don’t make excuses for me.” I liked feeling like a god.
I did whatever I wanted, no matter who it hurt.
    Teenagers do that. We all did. “Just ask them.”
    Sierra had trouble following the fractured conversation. Amy
poked an irritated thumb at us. “They do that a lot. And they’re getting
worse.”
    Sierra dismissed it with a shake of her head and asked
another question. “What happened a few weeks ago?”
    “I was attacked by a bunch of teenagers. Humans. I called
out to Billie mentally, and she came to my rescue in wolf form. That was a
pretty big clue that she’s not Human. I