CHAPTER 14

C HAPTER 14

C ade’s mind and memory were still clouded, but he found that physical exercise helped him feel not only stronger, but more himself—whoever that was. Besides push-ups against the wall, he found he could jog in place next to the bed.

The only window in the room was high and narrow, but it was within the range of his chain. He found that he could jump up and catch the sill, then raise himself to look outside. The sea was there, and the sight of the broad sweep of water lifted his spirits.

Though it took practice because his balance was off, he found after cautious experimentation that he could do handstands as his strength and balance increased. None of his exercises offered much help to his mind, but they helped combat the deadly boredom.

His only regular visitor was the burly servant who brought food and drink in pewter vessels, then removed the empties left from the previous meal. He looked strong and brutal and never spoke or responded to questions. Unfortunately, he took care to stay out of Cade’s reach. Though even if Cade could bring the man down, he wouldn’t be able to escape the chain or the room.

Damn, he wanted his full mind back!

* * *

On what might have been the third or maybe the fourth day, Bastien entered Cade’s cell, his expression predatory. “I’m going to lift the mind block enough that you can answer questions, but not enough to restore you fully. Answer my questions and I will restore your mind to its full power. I might even release you.” He briefly laid his open palm on Cade’s forehead.

After a shock of dizziness, Cade felt a sharpening of his thoughts, though there was much he still couldn’t remember. He studied the other man, who was tall, dark, and somehow familiar, but if they’d ever met in the past, Cade couldn’t remember when or where. “You’re a bad liar, Bastien. You’ll see me dead before you’ll free me.”

Bastien looked amused. “Perhaps, perhaps not. I haven’t decided. If you give me the names and locations of other British Home Office agents, things will go much better for you.”

“I won’t, so you might as well go directly to the torture,” Cade said. “You know that you want to.”

Bastien’s eyes narrowed. “Indeed I do, but I don’t want to do so much damage that you’ll be useless to me.”

“I will always be useless to you,” Cade said in a flat tone. “I will not betray my friends and family and country.”

Bastien caught his prisoner’s wrist, his gaze ferocious. Pain blazed through Cade’s body, every nerve screaming with agony as Bastien said in a ruthless voice, “Where are the London headquarters of the gifted branch of the Home Office?”

Cade gasped, feeling as if his body was on fire. In his mind he could see the headquarters, but damned if he’d tell this monster where to look. “No!” He followed his refusal with a string of French curses.

“Your knowledge of French profanity is impressive,” Bastien snarled. “But it won’t stop the pain.” His grip on Cade’s wrist tightened like the talons of a falcon, and the pain magnified, exploded beyond endurance. Cade knew down to the marrow of his bones that he was incapable of betraying his oaths and friends and family, but death would be welcome....

Then he felt the touch of Tamsyn’s mind, countering the agony, surrounding him with calm and caring. He hoped to God that she wasn’t taking on the pain herself because he truly would prefer death to subjecting her to such torment. Tamsyn, his wife and salvation. His beloved, delicate and blond and stronger than steel.

But he didn’t have any sense that she was taking on his pain. She was using her gift for healing to dissolve it, and now she was sending him to sleep. As he slid into blessed peace, Bastien barked, “Stay awake, you bastard! I’m not done with you!”

But Cade was done with Bastien for now, and good riddance. His last thought was a desperate wish that he could be free and holding Tamsyn in his arms in some safe place.