Baron Dyxn's ready agreement to help me gain control of my Gift was welcome. I expected to be scheduling sessions for the upcoming days, but the Baron made a good point about the timing.

I needed control of my Sight now.

Ramsi's possessive behavior was quaint and sweet. I never had anyone act that way over me. It triggered warmth in my heart, even though I knew I couldn't encourage his behavior, especially with the Baron. I needed Johann's help and Ramsi needed to contain himself.

I led Johann to my room and poured us both a cognac while he inspected the space.

"The bed should do nicely," he decided.

"Shall we begin, then?" I was nervous and anxious. I wanted this over with and hoped it wouldn't take as long as Johann thought it would.

He pursed his lips and smiled at me. "We should wait for Commander Thorne," he advised. "I believe you will benefit from his presence."

I nodded and downed my drink. "Do you really think it'll take days?"

He shrugged and smiled when Ramsi slipped into the room. I saw Garalt and another Ranger taking up positions in the hall before he closed the door behind him.

"I had years to work with Dru," Johann pointed out. "Time was not a factor then. Our Gifts hadn't fully Manifested but like with all Gifts, we had latent flashes as children. It was a game with us that became crucial as we matured. Seeing can be as debilitating as Feeling. Learning to control it as young as she did probably saved her life more than once. And yours," he finished.

"Where were you when Dyson was kidnapping her?" Ramsi demanded.

Johann's pale eyes grew bleak and glistened with tears. "Leading the Cheslyn Guard and Rangers under my command to hunt the fucker down," he snapped and drew a deep breath. He closed his eyes and shook his head. "It was a trying time, Commander. When Digs and Ash found Dru she was battered and incoherent. I took her with me to safety while they continued the hunt. Dyson," he spat my uncle's name with such a fierce disdain that I smiled, "should count himself fortunate that Dru did not allow us to exact vengeance in her name. As unworthy as he is of it, she truly loved her brother."

"All right, then," Ramsi murmured, and Johann arched a brow.

"Clever," Johann sighed. "Have I passed your test, Commander?"

"You have," Ramsi nodded and smiled at me. "I'm good."

"We are in your hands, Johann."

He smiled and finished his drink. He looked between us while he left the glass on a table.

"You won't need your shirts or those gloves, Rafal."

I tugged my gloves off and dropped them. From the corner of my eye, I saw Ramsi strip out of his shirt. The delicious skin underneath made my mouth dry. All that silky hair and muscles distracted me completely.

Moving on instinct, I turned to him. He helped me shed my vest and shirt and I pulled him close, stroking his back as we embraced each other. Ramsi laid his head on my shoulder, and I felt the light press of his lips at the base of my throat.

"Damn, I love you," he whispered, and his breath caressed my skin, sending pleasure rolling through me.

"That's very good," Johann said quietly, startling us.

Ramsi laughed and leaned back in my arms. "I fucking forgot you were here."

Johann laughed as well and shrugged off his coat. "Excellent. You will be a wonderful catalyst, Commander. If you would move to the bed, I'll join you."

Ramsi playfully clasped my hand and led me to the bed. I vividly recalled our activities the last time we were here together and shuddered.

"I hope you're not offended by a hard cock, Baron," he said. "There's at least two of them in the room."

"I'd be concerned otherwise," Johann answered cheekily and I liked him so much more in that moment.

I blinked at him, seeing his shirt hanging open. His chest was narrow but strong, lightly sprinkled with pale curls. He leaned on the foot of my bed and nodded, encouraging me to join Ramsi as he knelt in the middle of the soft mattress.

I crawled across to him and couldn't resist dropping a kiss on his shoulder. He eased my glasses off and tossed them with spectacular accuracy onto the bedside table. My Ramsi was so firm, so solid. I had to touch him, to pay tribute to his beauty.

"That's good," Johann whispered. "Lie down behind him, Commander."

"Do I have to be behind him?" Ramsi protested. He tunneled his fingers through my shorn hair, eyes tracing my face. "I love looking at him so much."

"I need to be in front of him," Johann sighed. "We shall see how well things go from here."

Ramsi winked at me and moved around until I was in front of him. I leaned back and sank into the heat of him, playfully grinding against the thick bulge in his pants. The sweet whimper I was coming to cherish thrilled me and brought a smile to Johann's face.

Ramsi laid back on the bed as Johann slid his shirt off and crawled onto the bed to kneel in front of me.

"Now then," he said softly. "Let's see where we are."

He brushed my hair back over my shoulder and smoothed his hands down my arms. I was breathing almost in time with Ramsi and gasped when Johann pressed his palm to my chest, just over my heart.

"Your Gift," he whispered, "is of the Mind, linked to Air and Fire. My Gift is of the Heart, linked to Water and Earth. Each of us can bend others to our will. It is a fearsome and horrifying power we carry." He leaned on me and pressed harder on my chest.

"We could subdue every man, woman, and child, and rule uncontested," he continued, crushing my chest. "Our subjects would adore us because we will it so; obey us because we will it so. And there would be no one to stop us, nothing to prevent it, no way to depose us."

I blinked slowly, seeing it clearly. I saw myself crowned and presiding over throngs of people with empty, defeated eyes. Their praise was dull and monotone. I shuddered, knowing none of these people wanted this. None of them were truly happy, none of them free, and it was my doing.

"No!" I whispered, repulsed and heartsick to see my people enslaved. "It's wrong," I choked, struggling to draw breath.

"Yes." The pressure on my chest eased and the vision cleared. I gasped and fell back against Ramsi. "Completely wrong, Rafal, and thus, not the path you will take. Well done." Johann smiled and stroked his other hand down my cheek.

"The fuck was that?" Ramsi growled, holding me tighter and we watched Johann shift closer to me.

"A necessary test," the Baron answered. "Now, Rafal, I need you to breathe me in, as I breathe you in. We must get to the place where we both are. Come and find me."

My vision was filled with the silvery glow of his eyes, and I couldn't look away. His breath moved across my lips leaving them dry, and I licked them on instinct. I breathed out and he breathed in. When he exhaled, I tasted the cognac he drank, with a tang of raspberry.

I blinked slowly, my lids feeling heavy. Again and again, I tasted Johann's breath. My heart under his hand began to slow and I could hear and feel his heart beating as well. It was slow and thundered alongside my own.

There... I mirrored his smile.

"Well done," he said softly. "I hadn't expected us to sync so quickly."

"Quickly?" Ramsi muttered behind me. "It's been fuckin' hours."

"Yes," Johann agreed, and I stretched against Ramsi while he stretched and arched his back in front of me. "Now we can begin, Rafal, if you're ready."

I nodded and shuddered at the shafts of pain that speared through my eyes.

***

Johann collapsed to the bed beside me and closed his eyes. We were both drenched in sweat and shaking. He licked dry and cracked lips and peered at me with an exhausted smile.

"I think that's enough for now," he whispered, voice strained and raw.

I nodded, wincing at the spasms cramping my muscles. Ramsi stroked my chest and pressed a kiss to my temple.

Johann sighed and rolled to his back. "We need to rest, and eat," he went on. "We made more progress than I thought we would, so," he paused as a spasm rolled through him. "So, we can afford to sleep in a bit," he finished weakly.

"What can I do?" Ramsi asked. The concern in his voice touched me and I snuggled against him.

"Stay close to him," Johann whispered. "I'll...leave you in a moment."

"Don't bother," Ramsi grunted. "The bed's big enough for all of us. Fala," he kissed my cheek, "I'm gonna get Harlyn to bring some food up for you two, all right?"

I nodded again and didn't bother to move when Ramsi eased away and let me lay on the mattress when he got up. I must have dozed because I blinked awake to Ramsi undressing me and wiping me down with a warm damp cloth.

When I woke up again, Ramsi was pacing the room, still shirtless and talking to someone. I heard another voice faintly and realized it was Johann. I couldn't imagine how he was up and about when I still felt so wretched. My body was wracked with dull throbbing pain and my head pounded like I'd been on a truly epic drinking binge.

Watching Ramsi pace was making me dizzy, so I closed my eyes and just listened. He was getting a report from his squad leaders and issuing orders. Hearing him speak with such authority was fascinating and arousing. As my desire grew, the pain and weariness eased until I could roll to my back and push up with my arms.

"Fala," Ramsi noticed me at once and came to sit on the bed by me. "All right, then?"

"Some," I admitted.

I was still feeling weak, but I craved a kiss from him. I cupped his cheek and tugged. He leaned close and I sighed when our lips touched. It was like a wave of energizing elixir, washing over me, and taking all my suffering with it as it ebbed.

"That's just what I needed," I whispered against his mouth, flicking my tongue along his lips.

"Gods damn it, Fala," he whispered back. "I just got my cock under control a few hours ago."

I fell back onto the fluffy pillows laughing. His blue-gray eyes sparkled at me, and his smile made me glad the sheet was bunched at my waist.

"I need food."

"Yeah, all right. Carry on, " Ramsi stood to dismiss his Rangers.

Johann came in from the balcony with Harlyn, who greeted me with relief. He flitted around Ramsi and helped me sit up, plumping the pillows until I was elevated to his liking. Ramsi approached and laid a tray over my lap. Harlyn gave me a Griz-worthy look until I took a spoonful of the savory broth and a bite of the bread on the tray.

"We'll make sure he eats everything, Harlyn," Johann assured him.

Satisfied, my Steward left us and the Baron gave me a searching look.

"Feeling better?" Johann asked. He was wearing his shirt again but left the top buttons undone. His hair was tousled, and he looked weary but alert.

"Getting there," I replied. "You?"

"Eat," he sat at the foot of the bed. "And yes, much. You will need your strength for the next round, so eat up."

"Will it go easier?" Ramsi asked.

"Not at all," Johann sighed. "But if things go as smoothly as last night, we may only need one more session."

I drank half the glass of cool mango juice with a smile when Ramsi cried, "That was smooth?"

"Far smoother than I anticipated," Johann confirmed. "We didn't seize or puke."

"That bar is so low it's fucking scary," Ramsi remarked.

Johann shrugged with a smirk. "Expectations versus reality, Commander. I didn't think either of us would be conscious today, yet here we are."

"Are you ever gonna call me Ramsi?" he sighed.

"You haven't invited me to do so," Johann pointed out and Ramsi laughed.

"Fair. Feel free."

Johann nodded and tapped my tray. "As soon as you're done eating, have a shower. Then we can get back to work."

***

Just after dawn two days later, we all fell into oblivion until Harlyn and Garalt woke Ramsi, which in turn woke me. Johann yawned from the foot of the bed and, again, ordered me to rest and eat.

"You're ready for the journals now," he said with an exhausted smile. "And you should have plenty of warning of new abilities. I'm going to have a bath and a nap until the gods see fit to wake me if that's all right."

"Help yourself to whatever you need."

I lay soaking in the tub while Ramsi dealt with the Ranger guards. Johann was in Ramsi's bathroom, doing the same.

I closed my eyes, listening to Ramsi's rumbling voice as he spoke with Garalt. I smiled when he reached into the tub to swirl some of the cloudy water around with his fingers.

"You awake?"

"Mmhm," I rolled my eyes up to see him smiling tenderly down at me. "Thank you," I whispered.

"For?"

"Everything," I sighed. "You kept me grounded."

He knelt on the floor and stroked his fingers down my cheek. "There's nothing I won't do for you, Fala," he said quietly.

"That's terrifying," I told him.

"Yeah," he chuckled, "no shit it is. Come on, your water's getting cold. Harlyn left food for us."

I let him pull me out of the tub and wrap me in a warm robe. Yawning, I shuffled into the bedroom. The scent of my favorite seafood stew made my belly cramp, and I quickened my steps until I reached the table.

Ramsi laughed when he found me scooping the stew into my mouth with a chunk of warm buttered bread. I was too hungry to bother with a spoon. He steered me into a chair and left me alone until I calmed down enough to put the bowl down.

"Don't worry about it," he said before I could speak. "We haven't eaten real food in days. I'm sure Johann is facedown either in bed or a bowl of his own right now."

I smiled and lifted a tall glass of mango juice. The cool, sweet fluid was delicious, and I didn't stop until I swallowed every drop.

"Yeah," Ramsi chuckled. "I think Ivan sent extra along. Harlyn says he's got gallons stored up."

I frowned and slowly tilted my head at Ramsi. He arched a brow and sat back in his chair. "Well. Fucking talk."

I laughed and stood to tighten the belt of the robe. "Didn't Johann say something," I said and cleared my throat. My voice was hoarse, and my throat felt scratchy. "Something about remembering to use my voice?"

"Yeah, he did. Crazy how easy it is not to speak, ain't it?"

"I need to remember to speak," I sighed. "Out loud."

"Yeah. Come on, let's get some sleep." Ramsi tugged me toward the bed and stripped the robe away before tucking me between cool clean sheets. "I'll be back in a few minutes." He kissed my forehead and turned away.

I don't even know when he came to bed, because I was asleep before I could ask him where he was going.

***

I saw everything with sharper clarity, and I was grateful for Ramsi. Without him, I might have wandered around the Manor immersed in my senses.

We walked Johann to a carriage that evening, and I thanked him with a heartfelt embrace.

"Thank you so much," I said warmly. "I can never repay you for your help."

"Be the man your mother knew you were meant to be," Johann smiled at me and offered a hand to Ramsi.

"Come now," Ramsi scoffed. "We've already slept together."

Johann laughed and stepped into Ramsi's open arms.

"You are a treasure, Commander," Johann sighed. "I am so pleased you're here for Rafal."

We stood together and watched the carriage pull out and down the winding road. With a sigh, I turned and took Ramsi's hand to walk back inside.

"You should read Kayla's letters," I told him. "It will help you get to know her."

"How many letters are we talking about?"

I snorted. "I have twenty-five years of journals to go through," I laughed. "Two years of letters won't be a problem for you."

Ramsi clucked his tongue. "Didn't you two write to each other almost daily?"

"Behave, Commander."

Ramsi's sexy smile and gleaming eyes made me wonder if we could take a day to become reacquainted. Garalt and Ulys met us at the door and followed us through the Manor to my study. 

It was amazing how quickly I became accustomed to their presence. I could only presume it was because of Ramsi. He didn't feel like a guard, and I doubted he ever would. He was just with me, and I took such pleasure in being with him that it was easy to forget that he was armed to the teeth and on constant alert.

I pulled a bundle of letters from my desk drawer and tossed them to Ramsi. He caught them with a pout. 

"You were serious?" he whined.

"I was," I winked.

He sighed dramatically and slunk over to sprawl on a lounger near a set of patio doors. Laughing, I picked out the first journal and joined him. We sat with our backs at opposite ends and our legs draped over each other.

After going through a few letters, Ramsi got up to pour us drinks. Later, Harlyn appeared with a rolling table, and we served ourselves.

"I can see why you fell for her," Ramsi remarked while we ate. "She's fantastic."

"Isn't she?" I smiled. "And her letters always smell so good."

"You think it's her perfume?"

"She doesn't wear perfume. It's the herbs and such from her garden," I said. "We should buy her some flowers."

Ramsi nodded in agreement and slid another letter out of the stack. "She's got a wicked humor to her, and a sharp wit."

"Sharp as a diamond razor," I chuckled.

"Ha," he shook his head and put the letter down to pick up his cider. "She'll keep us on our toes."

"Two days," I winked, and Ramsi lifted his mug in a toast.