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Chapters (86)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Booklist
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

“The finger with the entwined gold vines ring. That’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. Great choice. Now, concentrate on that fingertip.”

“When I know who I am, I’m going to celebrate by buying a ring like that.”

“That’s an admirable goal. We’ll get you there. All you have to do is relax and focus...” Rune’s voice got smooth, warm, gentle.

She nodded and kept her gaze on his finger. “I am.”

“Focus and breathe.”

“I am.” Her chest rose and fell.

“Where are you?”

“I’m here with Adam and Rune.”

“That’s right.” Rune intently watched her.

Adam saw her go under. Then she sat straighter and took a long breath, and she seemed to see a different vision.

In a soothing tone, Rune said, “Elle, I’ll take you to the past. To that moment you want to forget. What do you remember?”

Elle sat up even straighter, and at that moment Adam knew what was going to happen.

She screamed, loud and long and shrill.

29

ELLE’S SHRIEK LIFTED THE hair on Adam’s neck and warned him that fear was primal and here on the doorstep.

“No! No! Let me go!” Elle fought with an invisible attacker. “How could I have been so wrong? I’m going to die! I’m going to die!”

Adam lunged at Elle, wrapped her in his arms, held her and murmured, “No one can hurt you. Not now. Not here.”

Elle snapped out of her trance. She looked into Adam’s face, saw him, knew him, whispered, “I’m fine. I’m fine.”

“Whoever he is, he can’t get to you. You’re safe.” Rune’s voice was soothing, but she scooted her chair back as if she needed distance from that ferocious onslaught of terror.

“I tried to defend myself. I know I did.” Elle put her hand on her chest. “But he could not be defeated.”

Rune stood up, went to the window and started to pull the curtain open.

“No!” Elle shouted. “No light. I can’t see...in the light.”

Rune seemed to understand. She went to the shelf by the window and picked up the stuffed sheep, stroked it, then handed it to Elle.

Elle clutched it to her chest, bent her head into the fleece and closed her eyes.

“You’re all right?” Rune put her hand on the back of Elle’s chair and leaned over her. “Elle, you’re all right?”

“I’m fine. I just... Could I have a glass of water?”

“You bet.” Rune hurried into the tiny restroom off the consultation room and came back with a water glass of swirling colors of blues and purples.

“That’s so pretty.” Elle smiled as she took the glass and sipped.

“You stopped my heart.” Rune put her hand to her chest.

“It’s terrifying, isn’t it?” Adam was irritated. “I warned you, Rune.”