Denai Touch: Excalibar Investigations Series by Tiffany Shand Read Free Book Online Page A

erase your memories from my mind.”
    “What about my shop?”
    “I’ll take care of it. You don’t need to worry about anything.”
    “Your coven will remain in custody for now,” Jason said. “Everyone will think Cate is you. We’ll spin a story saying that you’ve been released on bail.”
    “And Declan? He’ll know you’re not me.”
    “We’ll talk to him.”
    Cerys laughed. “Declan hates Enforcers, he won’t care that you’re Excalibar. He’ll demand that I be released or I’m afraid he’ll do something stupid.”
    “I’ll be posing as Declan,” Jason added.
    “Declan won’t work with you – oh goddess, you won’t hurt him, will you?”
    “Of course not. Will you agree to this?”
    “Do I have a choice? You’ll do what you want to me, whether I allow it or not.”
    “In exchange for your cooperation, I’ll see to it that you’re let off with a warning.”
    “And my coven? They’re victims in this too. I’m the one that deserves to be punished for letting Beth in.”
    Cate sighed. “Fine, I’ll see to it that your coven is let off with a warning, but I suggest you be much more careful with your next choice of High Priestess.”
    “Oh, thank you!” Cerys threw her arms around her. “Thank you so much, my lady.”
    Cate flinched at the sudden onslaught of thoughts and emotions. Most people never touched a Denai for fear of her power. She drew back. “Okay, I’ll take that as a yes then.”
    “What must I do?”
    “Nothing.” Her fingers gently wrapped around Cerys’s throat, as they would if she were unleashing the darker side of her gift.
    Cate’s eyes shone bright silver as Cerys was locked within her control. No one could escape the touch of a Denai for their power could move at lightning speed. She closed her eyes; colours swirled through her mind as her senses passed deep into the very essence of Cerys’s soul, energy rushed through her fingers as thoughts and feelings passed into her own mind. She staggered back as Cerys slumped against the table, unconscious.
    Jason caught hold of her, his arms around her waist. “I told you using your powers wasn’t a good idea,” he muttered, and she felt a flood of energy rush through her.
    Cate opened her eyes, blinking several times as the dizziness subsided. “Whoa, that was weird!” Her voice now sounded like Cerys and she took a deep breath.
    “How do you feel?”
    “I still feel like myself, if that’s what you mean.” She fumbled with her T-shirt and jeans which were now far too big. “I need to find some clothes and shoes that will fit me. Jade is about Cerys’s size so see what you can borrow.”
    “That’s a relief. You know this kind of magic is dangerous. If Seline finds out, she’ll go ballistic. Using your powers to take on someone’s identity is edging into the realm of outlawed, forbidden magic.”
    “Well, it had better produce some good results then!”

Chapter 5
     
    They headed out to Cerys’s shop, ‘True Magic’, where Jade had spent the past couple of hours on stake out. They walked out of the Tower and headed through the car park to find the car.
    “Do you really think it’s a good idea to let the coven off with a warning?” Jason asked.
    “They didn’t know what was happening to them. They shouldn’t have to pay for the actions of a Denai who completely abuses her gifts,” Cate replied.
    “They invited her in without knowing anything about her and let her be their High Priestess. The coven probably didn’t even do a background check on her.”
    Cate frowned. “Since when do normal people do background checks when looking for a High Priestess?”
    “Wouldn’t you want to know who was leading your coven?”
    “Mine has always been led by the reigning Grand Mistress, so that’s not something the Denai ever have to worry about, but I suppose you have a point,” she agreed as they drove away from the Tower and onto a crowded street. “I’d want to know if someone I was