They lay there a long time with Baer just stroking a hand over Wiley’s back as Wiley snuggled into him.
“Queenie wants in the room,” Wiley muttered drowsily before his eyes flew open and he sat up. “Oh my God, Queenie is asking to come into the room. I hear her.”
“What?”
“I can hear my cat’s thoughts. They’re pictures of the door opening and her knowing we’re in this warm, comfy bed where she wants to lie.”
“Hear any others?”
Wiley closed his eyes to concentrate before nodding. “Ruby! Oh Baer, she’s so scared and confused.”
Baer sat up and held Wiley’s shoulders. His heart was pounding so hard in his chest he felt like he’d run a mile. “You can hear her? You can get past that wall in her head?”
“She’s full of hate, and that’s not her normal feelings, so she’s terrified.” Wiley’s eyes filled with tears. “She doesn’t understand why she’s in the basement. Oh, Baer, it’s awful. We have to find a spell to help her.”
“Maybe you can help her.” Baer tightened his fingers on Wiley’s shoulders. “If you can get through to her, maybe you can break the witch’s hold on her.”
Wiley closed his eyes again and Baer waited, holding his breath. Ruby was his best friend, and he wanted nothing more than to reach her again. Wiley was silent for a long time; then his shoulders slumped. “I tried sending her images of love, and she just started snarling. She’s completely under that spell. We’ll have to find another way to reach her.”
“It has to do with your new powers, I know it. There has to be a spell or something that works with what you can do.”
Wiley shook his head. “Nothing I’ve found so far has said anything about soul mates and them having powers. This could all be the first time this is happening.”
“Try sending out your senses. See if you can tap into any animals outside.”
Wiley went still again, eyes closing as he blew away a hank of hair that was hanging in his face. It took a long time, but he finally nodded. “I can hear birds and squirrels and even a coyote.” His eyes flew open wide. “It’s one of the witch’s coyotes!”
“What’s he thinking?”
“I can’t tell other than it’s sleeping. But maybe with practice I can reach them?”
“Tomorrow. We’ll practice tomorrow.”
“Hell with that, let’s go practice now. The sooner I figure this out, the sooner we help Ruby.”
Baer nodded as Wiley scrambled off him and walked naked to his suitcase.
“You need to put your clothes in the dresser and closet now.” Baer wanted him to really be living here.
“I will. Ruby comes first, though.”
There was nobody more perfect for him than Wiley. Baer knew that with everything in him right then. To have the man he loved love his dog so much…Baer got off the bed and walked to Wiley, taking him in his arms to hug him tight.Chapter 24They quickly got dressed and Wiley led the way down the stairs, no longer caring if Baer could hear his counting. Clay and Dane were still in the living room, snuggled on the couch with only one lamp lighting the area. They had books open on their laps, but were ignoring them, acting like they were the only two people in the world as they kissed.
Wiley was no longer jealous, because he had that now. He had nearly everything he wanted—except for Ruby. Freeing her sat heavy on his chest.
Clay chuckled and sat up when he saw them. “What in the world brought you two out of the bedroom tonight? Don’t you have better things to do on what is basically your wedding night?”
Baer walked to the patio door. “Wiley got his power. He can hear animals. He hears Ruby. We’re going out to the field to train.”
“Now?” Dane asked. “In the dark?”
Wiley wrung his hands. “The quicker I get this, the quicker I can maybe help Ruby. I can’t stand the thought of her being locked in that basement another second.”
Clay stood. “I’ll help. It’s wrong that she’s down there.”
Wiley nodded. “She’s terrified. We need to help her.”
He could hear her plain as day. Scared and angry. She hated feeling like that and couldn’t understand what was happening. The sweet dog was fighting the spell, her love for Baer strong enough to break through the wall of fury in her mind in fits and spurts.
Clay walked to the door and picked up the lantern they kept there. “Then let’s do this. I’ll keep a watch out while you two work on his powers.”
“Thanks,” Baer said as he opened the door.
Clay, Baer, and Wiley tromped through the forest. The darkness closed in around them. A chill was creeping into the air, biting at Wiley’s bare arms. After being wrapped in Baer’s warmth for so long, he’d forgotten that the nights were starting to get cool.