Kevin knocked on the study door, as if by merely mentioning his name Devon had summoned him.

"Prefect timing as always, Kevin. Come in and fill us in on what you have observed of our lovely Ms Williams," Devon greeted him, indicating a comfortable-looking sofa flanking the well-stocked bookshelves.

"Thank you Sir. The first thing I observed was when Ms Williams, Adie, was sparing with some of the women shifters this afternoon. She appears to have inherited some of your speed. She was more than capable of matching and blocking blows from one of our fastest and most agile women," he began his recount of her activities.

Devon nodded. "Good, an advantageous side-effect. Continue."

"Then, while we were jogging, we came across an injured boy. His Mother was in hysterics, but at Adie's command she silenced almost immediately. So, I believe she may have some residual compulsion."

"Hmm yes, the mother was here requesting leave to take the boy to hospital for a check-up. She was singing both your praises for that little episode. Anything else to report?"

Adie held her breath in anticipation of Kevin revealing that not only did he believe them to be mates, but also that she's a shaman.

"No Sir. That covers my report for today's events."

"Thank you Kevin, you may leave now."

"Sir." Kevin stood and, as he crossed in front of Adie, winked conspiringly.

"Actually Kevin, if you have no other plans for the evening perhaps you would accompany us to the range? I need to test Ms Williams powers and will require some assistance."

"Yes Sir. Will it just be me or should I bring some of the men?" he asked.

"Perhaps one other, thank you."

"I'll bring the jeep around to the front door."

The range comprised of a long open field with targets painted on wooden boards at one end. Around the periphery were tall, solar-powered lamps, bright enough to emulate overcast daylight. In random positions throughout the range, where various abandoned vehicles, including a family saloon car, a bus and a badly damaged private plane. 

"Kevin, you will be taking notes. Pay attention to Ms Williams' at all times. I need to know when you first spot signs of weakness or lethargy," Devon instructed. "You? What is your name?" he pointed to their companion.

"Todd, Sir," replied the young shifter as he snapped to attention.

"Well, Todd, it is your job to try and evade Ms Williams' attacks."

Adie sputtered, shaking her head in disbelief. "Hell no, I'm not purposely going to attack some guy just because you tell me to."

"As I was saying, Todd, you will be inspecting the damage to the vehicles that Ms Williams attacks." He raised his eyebrows in question, waiting for her approval.

She shrugged. As long as she wasn't expected to hurt someone, she could do with a little target practice.

"Well, I have personal experience of your fireballs and control of metal," Devon commented, "but what other abilities did you have before?"

Todd replied, "Healing." He looked away from Devon, embarrassed at having answered when the question wasn't directed at him.

"How would you know this?" Devon asked.

"Sir, my buddy Matt is the guy who found them up near the cabin on Wyatt's Ridge. He saw her heal her mate the night the light show happened."

Adie narrowed her eyes at him.

"Is that so?" Devon asked her.

"His buddy nearly killed Rick that night you know!" she exclaimed.

"You are a powerful healer?"

"You already know I have healing ability," Adie confirmed, neglecting to mention that it was her strongest.

"Good, good," he praised rubbing his hands together. "Let us start at the beginning then. I want you to lift the car."

Adie focused her attention on the car, gently calling for the metal to rise a few feet in the air. She intentionally didn't use her full concentration for fear that her eyes would glow again.

"Excellent!" Devon clapped. "Now throw it backwards as far as you can."

She flicked her wrist; the car flipped onto its side. Devon looked disappointed.

"Lift both the plane and bus at the same time," he commanded.

She did and again they travelled a minimal distance before crashing to the ground.

Kevin watched her warily for any signs of glowing eyes, he intended to stop her the second it started on the pretence that she was tiring and would need to rest.

"Fireballs next. I want you to make as large a one as you can. See how close you can get to the driver's door of that car."

Adie called for fire, concentrating on creating soccer ball-sized orb of flame and sent it to her instructed target. Making one that size took a lot of effort, she couldn't make too many of those without becoming excessively tired. It sailed past the car, doubling back on itself and exploded in a shower of sparks against the far side.

Todd snorted with laughter. "Ha! You missed."

Devon grinned, replacing it with the most innocent smile he could muster before he spoke. "Go and see how far away she was," he instructed Todd.

Bounding off toward it, he slid over the bonnet of the car, disappearing from view. A second later, the car exploded in a ball of flame as the petrol tank blew up. A deafening boom erupted in the tranquil darkness, so powerful that it rocked the window boarding loose from the shack behind them. The flame so hot it burned the grass in a ten-foot radius from the blast.

"Oh no, poor Todd," Devon remarked with mock sympathy. "I suppose we could test your healing power now that we have a subject."

Adie and Kevin shared a nervous glance. If Devon realized they had mislead him, there was no telling what he would do. After all, he'd intentionally sent a good man to his likely death for no good reason.

Kevin swallowed audibly. "Sir, I believe she may be getting a little tired. She hasn't slept in close on sixty hours. Now may not be the best time to test this one."

"What of poor Todd?" Devon asked. "Shouldn't you at least check to see if he is still alive?"

"Yes, Sir."

Kevin ran off in the direction of the burning car, the billowing smoke making visibility near impossible. He edged around the side Todd had disappeared around and spotted a body beyond the area of burned grass. There was no movement, but he could hear the steady patter of his heartbeat and the smell of fresh blood made his teeth tingle in anticipation of an easy meal. He reined it in; the urge to feast pushed to the side as he concentrated on assessing Todd's injuries.

Todd groaned, blinking open his eyes. "Shit, that was close."

"Where are you hurt?"

"Just a bump on the head I think," he said, smearing blood through his hair. He looked at his hand.  "And my hand too." He wiped a blooded hand across one side of his face smearing it there too.

Kevin smiled deviously, an idea forming. Glancing back at Devon, he saw him and Adie deep in conversation. He punched Todd, knocking him out cold and carried him fireman-style back around the burning car to join the others.

"He's still breathing. His head looks bad," he said, winking at Adie beyond sight of Devon. "Do you think you have the energy to heal him? It looks bad."

"Put him down and I'll give it a try." She waited until Kevin knelt with him at her feet before she asked Devon, "Could you move back a bit and give me some room please?"

Devon retreated. He didn't hear Kevin when he almost silently mouthed, "I knocked him out. The blood's from a hand injury." Kevin stood, moving to stand beside Devon.

Adie smelled the blood as soon as Kevin laid Todd at her feet. She forced herself to concentrate on Kevin's words, but now that he'd stepped away, her focus lapsed and the scent overcame her.

Her head moved closer to Todd's, sniffing as she moved, her tongue flicking out to taste him. She shivered as the partially dried blood coating his forehead flaked onto her tongue. She moved on, down his chest, back up, across his shoulder, easing her way down his arm to rest at the source. She latched on suckling on the deep cut on his palm until the wound closed over.

Todd moaned and sat up, looking around him. "What the hell happened?" he asked, looking deep into Adie's eyes.

"You had a bad head injury, but you're just fine now, all better, good as new." She put as much command as she could manage into the statement before she closed her eyes and fell to the side feigning unconsciousness.

Kevin rushed to her side. "I told you she was too tired to do this!" He picked her up, carrying her to the jeep. He sat in the back with her cradled in his arms.

Todd got in the other side and placed her legs across his knee, smiling adoringly in her direction.