“Think about it,” Cara said. “You experienced what happened out in the garden. Imagine fear, or rage, amplified.”
Jessie spoke up. “I’ve linked enough with Zach. I’ve glimpsed the potential. Emotions are powerful things. Don’t underestimate them.”
Kitani’s eyes widened, ever so slightly. But Kade didn’t look impressed.
Zach’s thoughts revolved around a single theme. Cara was nuts. He had projected in the past to help with horse training. But it was difficult to do, and not always successful. A point he tried to make before this went entirely too far. “I’m not very good at projecting,” he said. “And I have to be close to do it.”
Instead of looking disappointed, Cara’s entire face lit up. “I thought you were doing it with the horses, but I wasn’t sure.”
“But I’m terrible at it,” Zach repeated. “I barely manage it.”
“Projecting takes training. You shouldn’t be able to do it at all, without it. So the fact you can is major.”
Zach was desperate to abolish this crazy idea. “Look, I don’t want you guys hinging your hopes on this. I don’t think it will pan out.”
“Even if he can do it, there are two issues,” Kade rumbled. “One, we don’t have time to train him. Two, these aren’t a bunch of fragile human minds. These are Cryptids, and Dires to boot. They aren’t going to crumble if someone shoots them a load ofpiss off or we’ll chew on youvibes.”
For once, Zach was in full agreement with the big Sabre. “Exactly.”
Cara snorted. “You are underestimating the power of what he can do. Jessie, go over to Zach. When I tell you, take his hand. We’ll only do a brief test, because I don’t want to broadcast our location.”
Zach fought the urge to move away as Jessie came over to him. The Weres had turned their chairs so they could watch.
“Zach, I want you to tap into a time when you were afraid. Really afraid. And try to project that to us.”
Zach swallowed. This wassonot a good idea. With Jessie amplifying, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to control it. As Jessie came to him, he reassured himself that chances were good he wouldn’t be able to do anything at all. That it would be a pointless exercise. He hated to disappoint Cara, though. So he’d try.
“Ready?” Cara’s blue eyes scanned him. “Do you have a memory in mind?”
For fear? Yeah, he had one. He nodded.
“Fix it in your mind.” The older woman coached.
Zach swallowed. And closed his eyes.
“Okay, Jessie,” Cara said.
Jessie picked up his hand and linked their fingers. The sudden surge ofawarenesstook his breath away, but he kept his focus. Barely. In a flash, he was back in his parent’s vehicle, in the back seat with his sister and brother. His dad giving himthe look...
The headlights. The screams. The world spinning.
The terror.
He let it blast from him, couldn’t stop it if he tried, not while plugged into Jessie’s power.
“Jessie! Let him go!”
Zach’s eyes popped open at the frantic note in Cara’s voice.
Jessie released him, and the sudden loss of energy had him slumping against the counter.
“I tried to tell you guys...” Jessie shook her head.
The Weres were no longer seated at the table. Neil was hunched on the floor, Kitani had retreated across the room with her hands on her extended belly. Cody hovered beside her, glaring at him.
Cara went to Kitani, and stroked her arm. The Were nodded her thanks, her frown relaxing.
“Well,” Cara said, turning to Zach. “That went rather better than I expected. An excellent demonstration of why Amps were useful in times of war.”
