By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Dale Mayer

Energy is the life-force of inherent good…
and the vigor of unnatural evil.
Which is stronger?

When she was young, Tia was forced into a prison, studied and tortured, because of her special talent. The chance for escape led her to run as far away as she could…but she quickly discovered there is nowhere she can hide that they can’t find her. Stefan Kronos, a psychic who’s formed a community of those like her, is the only person she believes can help her. When she begs him to help her, she awakens from a coma six weeks later. Her problems have only just begun, chief among them that she’s still being hunted.

Now you see her…

Dean is moonlighting as a guard at the hospital Tia finds herself in upon rousing from unconsciousness. Between a rock and a hard place, Dean has met Tia, a woman he can’t forget…and equally can’t believe the insane things she’s telling him – until there’s absolutely no other choice. What’s at stake becomes only too clear when Tia’s problems become Dean’s, entwining them so neither knows where one stops and the other starts. If she runs again, how can he find someone of her unbelievable talents?

Now you don’t…

Tia has been hiding for years, she can’t let him find her. She has a unique talent, she blends into the energy around her, making her invisible. She’s tired of hiding and turns to Stefan for help. However the person looking for her attacks her, and Stefan gets her to the hospital. What she doesn’t realize at first is that she is safe and among friends, she feels the need to run.

Dean is on guard duty, watching over Tia for Stefan. It’s been weeks since the incident that left her comatose. He checked on her, turned around and she was gone. Fortunately Stefan was in the hospital at the time and joins him, explaining Tia’s ability. Dean’s more than a little grateful that at least Stefan understood what was going on. He certainly didn’t. As he goes off duty, he’s going to check on Tia’s friend Simone. Tia’s worried about her since she helped set up the meeting with Stefan. What he didn’t expect was Tia to slip away and join him. First to an address that wasn’t correct, but was actually Tia’s family dwelling, then to the correct place.

This is a favorite scene.

Tia raced through Simone’s house, following on Dean’s heels. This didn’t make any sense. She made it to the bedroom as he stepped into the bathroom. Her heart stuttered to a stop when she heard him say, “Shit.”

She glanced around the light disarray in the bedroom. Simone was meticulously clean. She’d never have let her bedroom look like this. And…her suitcase was gone.

She brightened. Good. Simone had managed to clear out.

Dean came out of the bathroom, his phone against his ear.

“Stefan. She’s gone. There’s a dead man here.”

What?

Tia snuck around him and raced to the bathroom to see the folded body of a man. “Oh God,” she whispered. “It’s Brennan.”

And heard a sound behind her.

She spun around.

Dean glared at her.

As in he glared at her.

As in he could see her.

Shit.

She caught her breath and waited, her eyes darting to the entrance where he spread his legs in a square stance, effectively filling the doorway. He wasn’t going to let her out. Did he know she was there or was he only guessing? He’d had wonderful hearing in the hospital. And she’d just spoken out loud.

But he didn’t know for sure.

She slowed her breathing down.

“You might as well show yourself. I’m not letting you out of here.”

The nerve of him. What did he know? This was her friend’s house he was searching. Did he have any answers – no. He couldn’t stay here all day. She’d just wait him out.

“Stefan, your little tricky friend is here too.” Dean grinned. “At least I think it’s her. I can hear her, not see her. She’s in the bathroom with the dead man.”

There was silence while she considered her options. She felt like a school kid caught out on a prank.

“No, I’ve called in the police. The place will need to be gone over. So far I’m not sure where Simone is, but it looks like she left in a hurry. The question now is did she kill this man before leaving?”

“No, she wouldn’t,” Tia muttered. “They’d been together for years.”

“Ah, she speaks,” mocked Dean.

“Did you hear that Stefan? Tia says the man was Simone’s partner.”

Dean listened for a few more minutes. “You can make that decision. I’m not. She’s here and she’s your problem. Finding a dead man shoots my chance to get some sleep tonight. I’ll call you tomorrow if we find anything.”

He closed his phone and tucked it into his pocket. “Why waste energy trying to hide? I know you’re here. You obviously came in my truck so stop being a child and show yourself.”

“I’m not a child.” She dropped her energy guard and showed herself. “It’s been a long time since I was a child – if I ever was.”

And something in her voice must have gotten through to him for he stared at her hard for a moment then gave a clipped nod. “Then stop disappearing and running away.”

“I’m being hunted,” she said sarcastically. “Maybe that doesn’t mean anything to you, but I’d kinda like to stay alive, thanks.”

“I got that. But if you’re going to hide from those trying to help you, how far do you think you’re going to get?”

She hated the truth of his words, but trust wasn’t something she did easily. “What do you think happened here?” She motioned to the bathroom, deliberately not mentioning the body at her feet. She had no trouble recognizing Brennan. Simone had talked about him for years, even sending Tia photos, but Tia hadn’t actually met the man as he hadn’t been home last night – deliberate choice on their part. The less people who knew she was here the better.

Not that her attempt to keep him out of this mess had done anything for him.

“She either was attacked by him or someone else came in and killed him but she got away. Or she killed him then left.”

But Tia was already shaking her head. “She wouldn’t have killed him. They had arguments like any relationship, but she’d never kill anyone. She was a nurse. She lived to help people.”

“Let’s say I believe you for the moment, what do you think happened here?”

“I think I made a mistake and somehow someone followed me to her place and went after her. She might have had a warning considering she packed a few things. Simone is very street smart.” She’d have disappeared by now. Chances were good Tia wouldn’t ever see her friend again. As long as Simone was free and clear, Tia would be happy for her.

Her heart tripped over the thought of Simone not being free. Could she have been taken? She was a beautiful woman and she was Tia’s friend. She didn’t know if the asshole would do anything to Simone or if he’d keep her as part of his living collection. If so, maybe then Tia could get to her and save her before it got too bad. As long as she was still alive, she could heal. But Tia had to find her and save her. If she hadn’t been taken then there was no finding her. She had street smarts. She’ll find you – if she cares to.

She walked out of the bathroom and collapsed down on the side of Simone’s bed. “I suppose the cops will be all over the place now.”

“In a few minutes, yes.”

“And you have to stay here?”

“Not for the whole mess of things about to happen, but I will have to for at least an hour or so.”

She nodded. It was just setting in. Simone had lost Brennan and she had lost Simone. She stared dry-eyed at her present life and didn’t like the look of it. The future was even more depressing. Shit.

“You can go into my truck and wait. Don’t let them see you. Oh wait, damn it. What about your fingertips. Do you leave prints?”

She nodded absently. “I do but I haven’t touched anything.” She straightened. “Oh, but I did earlier.”

He nodded, his tone serious as he said, “We might need to take your prints to compare to the ones here.”

A broken laugh escaped her. “No, you won’t need to. You’ll run the prints and mine will come up.”

“Come up for what?” He walked to stand in front of her, effectively caging her in case she tried to bolt.

Only she had no plans to bolt. She was just realizing what kind of trouble she was in. Stefan might not be able to save her this time.

“Just how much trouble are you in?”

“Prison type of trouble,” she said shortly. “Maybe.”

“What did you do?”

“I escaped a place where I was supposed to stay. Only I was a prisoner. When I had an opportunity, I ran and never looked back,” she said softly. “With my prints all over the place, they might think I did it.”

“Did what?”

“Killed the doctor,” she whispered. “But I didn’t kill anyone. I’m not even sure he’s dead. If he is, then I think whoever did kill him is after me…and if he’s not dead…then he’s the one chasing me.”
Mayer, Dale. Psychic Visions: Books 7-9. Valley Publishing Ltd. Kindle Locations (4931-4989). Kindle Edition.

This is the beginning of a very interesting relationship, Dean can hear and sense her when she’s invisible. This makes for some amusing conversations. There’s also the fact that someone is hunting for her but the main suspect is supposedly dead.

Dean finds himself unable to stay away from her, even as some very strange things happen to her. Dr. Maddy and Stefan are concerned because her energy appears to be shorting out, causing only parts of her to disappear, very disconcerting.

There’s plenty of things going on to keep you turning the pages as Dean, Stephan and Dr. Maddy try to figure out what’s going on. Both with Tia’s energy and who is looking for her.

I was truly surprised at the conclusion of this one, I never saw it coming.

Suspense, intrigue, romance and so much more.

5 Contented Purrs for Dale!

Dale Mayer

Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It’s a Dog’s Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).

She honors the stories that come to her – and some of them are crazy and break all the rules and cross multiple genres!

To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in print and ebook format.