“Because you are still here...the others are not.”
“You’re here,” O’Neill reminded the bastard. Yeah, more stalling. Damn it. He released a slow breath. “Never mind. Yeah, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Does it involve the Londonaggress?” Wolf’s thick, black eyebrows hadn’t lowered yet.
“No. Well, partially.”Hell. O’Neill shoved his fingers through his hair.
Just shove it out there...
Why was this so hard to admit? Was he afraid this news would sour this new ease between them. Was that why the secret refused to leave his mouth?
“There’s something you need to know before the Nantz op.” But the rest of his words curdled in his throat, refusing to emerge.
“And that is?” Wolf’s eyebrows went from lifted to knitted.
“My spirit gift—” He broke off.
Fuck, this was hard to admit. He’d only told two people about his spirit gift, and one of them, theTaounaha,had already known. And the second telling didn’t happen until two weeks ago. Not a stellar record. But then again, the first time he’d admitted a to gift from the elder gods, he’d been mocked off theBrenahiilo.Guess he had reason to be gun shy.
“Is?” Wolf had the oddest expression on his face. A downward turn to his mouth and furrows digging into his forehead.
O’Neill exhaled in frustration. There he went again—stalling. Pausing, he drew a deep breath, held it for five seconds, then pushed it out, along with his long-held secret. “I was gifted the ability to sink into another person’s mind. To see what they see and hear what they hear.”
Wolf absorbed the news in silence. O’Neill expected disbelief to register—either on his face or in his voice. But theBetaneelooked thoughtful instead...even impressed.
Not the reaction he’d been expecting.
“You will be able to see into Clark Nantz’s mind?” Wolf’s gaze narrowed.
“As long as I can touch him.” This part was easier. “But it has to be bare skin to bare skin.”
“Still...you will be able to read his mind?” Wolf asked, straightening in his chair. He seemed to be warming up to the news.
“Not read it. But I’ll be able to see into his mind,” O’Neill corrected. It was a small, yet important distinction. “I will see what he is seeing. Hear what he is hearing. If we can...encouragehim to think about thewanatesaweapon, I will see what he is remembering. But I’ll need to remain near him.
“This gift of yours...” Wolf’s voice slowed. “Is a welcome one.”
Huh, would you look at that? The bastard had believed him without demanding proof. Not like in the past. It wouldn’t be long before the ramifications of what O’Neill had admitted would hit. Wolf was a smart dude. He’d figure out quickly this gift was why theTaounahahad insisted on O’Neill’s inclusion during the Petropavlovskaggress.
“Anyhow.” O’Neill coughed to dispel the tightness in his throat. “I need to be assigned a role in this upcoming op that will keep me close to Nantz. Which means no bodyguard duty.”
Wolf didn’t nod as he expected. Instead, the frown lines dug deeper into his forehead. “This will be a problem. You are needed on Nantz.”
“Cosky and Winters can play Embray’s bodyguard. I can play paramedic or spotter.”
Wolf was already shaking his head. “We need our strongest warrior to subdue our target. To keep him quiet and contained, without alerting his bodyguards. The strongest warrior on base is you.”
Not quite true. “You could do it.”
Wolf shook his head. “If he were to recognize the likeness between myself and myjavaanee,theaggresswill fail before it begins.”
The dude had a point. The resemblance between the two brothers was striking.
“Can you sink into his mind as you subdue him?” Wolf asked. “Perhaps you can assume two roles in thisaggress.”
O’Neill grimaced and shook his head. “Not without blowing the mission. Sinking into another’s mind is...difficult...distracting.” He shook his head again. “I could not subdue and read him simultaneously. Nor does this gift work ifthe mind is asleep. Once the drug takes effect, I’ll get nothing from him.”
Wolf’s silence grew and O’Neill knew he was considering their options.
