Comet Coalition 4: Mystic
© Aubrey Ross, April 2008
All Rights Reserved

“Nicay is either cheating on me again or something is horribly wrong.” Aysha held out her hand, a large emerald ring balanced on her palm. “Either way, I need to know.”

Miranda hesitated for a moment. Aysha had come to her eight months before complaining of anxiety attacks and continual mistrust after finding her husband in bed with another woman. Miranda had counseled the couple through the crisis, yet Aysha remained suspicious and insecure.

“What specifically led you to believe Nicay is seeing someone else?” Playing into Aysha’s paranoia was counterproductive to her recovery, so Miranda kept her hands in her lap and ignored the proffered ring.

“You don’t believe me.” Aysha pressed her lips into a grim line, ruining the pouty fullness she purchased at the finest beautification salons Halley Prime had to offer. “You’ve been on his side ever since you met him. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re the one he…” She heaved a sigh, straightened her shoulders, then continued in a calmer tone. “I didn’t mean that. I trust you, Doctor Kayten, but you don’t know Nicay like I do.”

“I’m not on anyone’s side, Aysha. I simply asked for more information.”

Closing her immaculately manicured fingers around the ring, Aysha settled back in her chair and crossed her legs. Pink undertones had been infused in her sleek blonde hair, making her skin appear pale and perfect. Adorned in a tailored dress of powder blue, her figure was slim, yet curvaceous, reflecting the focus she put on her outward appearance.

“I’ve given him the benefit of the doubt. I’ve stopped checking up on him, and I don’t activate a tracker every time I see or hear of him being around another woman. I really am getting better.”

“Is that his wedding ring?” Aysha nodded, so Miranda asked, “Does he know you have it?”

“He left it on the kitchen counter. Not near the sink as if he’d washed his hands, but in plain sight to make sure I’d spot it.” Her well-shaped brows arched as she waited for Miranda to react to the information. “There’s only one reason a man does that. He’s found someone else and he’s going to leave me. This is his way of preparing me for…”

There were numerous explanations for the development, but that Aysha had made up her mind was obvious. “Let’s focus on facts, all right? Has there been any other indication that Nicay has resumed his affair?”

“He wasn’t in bed when I woke up this morning. It’s possible he came in while I was sleeping and left again before I woke up, but that seems unlikely.”

Miranda accepted the details with a nod and bolstered her professional detachment. Her empathic abilities only allowed her to sense emotion. Interpreting what those emotions signified was far more complicated. Nicay had seemed genuinely repentant and determined to rebuild the trust shattered by his affair. His current state of mind, however, could be far different than the last time he’d accompanied his wife to one of these sessions.

“How did he justify his late arrival last night?”

“He had a meeting, as usual. It was logged on the corporate calendar as well as his workstation, but he’s used that ploy before.”

If Aysha had stopped checking up on her wayward husband, how had she verified his alibi? Not wanting to add fuel to the fire, Miranda let the comment slide. “When did you notice his wedding ring?”

“This morning.” Aysha fiddled with the jewel encrusted circle, her light blue eyes filled with anger and pain.

“Did you try and contact him this morning?”

“Of course.” Impatience crept into her tone. “None of his associates have seen him since he left last night. My first instinct was to notify security, but they don’t take me seriously anymore.”

Little wonder. Aysha had reported her husband missing at least four times in the last year and had filed a proximity limitation only to be arrested for violating the order, which had been issued for her protection. Her behavior was erratic to say the least.

Scooting to the edge of her seat, Miranda crossed her legs at the ankle. “Does he have a nanocom or does he still utilize an external communication device?”

“His nanocom was deactivated some time yesterday. The diagnostic routine indicates it’s not malfunctioning. He must have powered it down.”

Miranda glanced at the ring as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Aysha could be very convincing when she turned on the vulnerability. Still, most of what she’d offered today was objective information.

“Put the ring on my desk. My schedule is packed, so I won’t be able to scan it until late this afternoon.” It was a test of sorts. If Aysha honestly wanted information, she’d be willing to wait. If this was another one of her bids for attention, she’d have an excuse for why the scan had to be performed immediately.

Much to Miranda’s surprise, Aysha stood and walked to the workstation tucked in the back corner of the office. “If you’re able to pick up anything, will you please contact me right away?” She placed the ring in the center of the desk and turned around.

“Of course.” This was unlike her tempestuous client.

Aysha paused at the office door and looked into Miranda’s eyes. “I find myself hoping he’s in trouble rather than with someone else. Does that make me a bad person?”

Before Miranda could assure her the reaction was common, Aysha left the room.

Curious now, Miranda stood and placed her datapad on the seat of her chair. She spent far more time in this spacious office than in her tiny apartment two tram stops down the commuter line.

She approached her desk and focused on the emerald ring. Many inanimate objects absorbed energy. The longer an object remained in contact with a living being, the more of the person’s energy it absorbed. Strong bursts of emotion often imprinted so deeply Miranda was able to visualize the events.

In the past Miranda had successfully used the technique to locate people. Rather like certain canines tracked scent, Miranda followed energy signatures. The only problem was she wasn’t sure Nicay wanted, or would welcome, her involvement.

Well, Aysha was her client, not Nicay. If Nicay had strayed again, despite his earnest promises to his wife, Aysha had the right to know.

Cupping her hand over the ring, Miranda felt a faint resonance pulse against her palm. Complex and convoluted, this was definitely human energy. Images flickered within her mind like the dancing flames of a distant fire. She saw the golden glow of blonde hair and the unmistakable rocking of male hips. A long, erect cock slid between deeply flushed lips. Even half formed, there was no mistaking this image. But had Nicay been indulging his passion or had he been watching someone else?

The scene focused. A man stood at an angle to the door in a richly appointed office. Beyond him, through a transparent wall, the unmistakable skyline of New Shardrake shone against a hazy night sky. He held the back of Aysha’s pink-tinted hair with one hand as he vigorously fucked her mouth. Her blouse hung open from her shoulders, her bra cups lowered to expose her breasts. His free hand moved from one generous mound to the other, rolling and pinching her nipples.

Miranda started to end the scan. The woman was clearly Aysha, so there was no reason to relive the event. Then a masculine hand clutched the doorframe across the office from the amorous couple. Pressure turned his knuckles white and sorrow welled within the watcher. Furious denials clogged the back of his throat. The emerald ring sparkled on his third finger, and Miranda shuddered.

Why would Aysha ask her to scan the ring when she was the one who had been unfaithful? Unless she didn’t realize Nicay had seen her.

“Swallow me, bitch. I want to feel you gag on my rod!”

The harsh command shocked Miranda. Had Aysha been forced? Was this a cry for help? Uncomfortable with the explicit image, Miranda forced herself to maintain the scan. She couldn’t break contact until she understood the dynamics of what she was seeing. Why hadn’t Nicay intervened? That was his wife on her knees, being used by another man!

Aysha tilted her head back and swallowed. She gagged then swallowed again. Miranda couldn’t really see the man. His dark hair curled over the collar of his linen shirt, and gray dress pants sagged around his lean hips. He grasped Aysha’s face between his hands and drew nearly out of her mouth. To Miranda’s astonishment, Aysha clutched his hips and sucked him back into her mouth.

“Greedy little slut, aren’t you?” His head dropped back on his shoulders as she swirled her tongue around the tip of his cock before resuming her firm suction. “Are you ready to give me what I really want?”

Relaxing her lips, Aysha allowed his shaft to slip from her mouth as she leaned back on her heels. “Why can’t we just fuck?” She continued to work him with her hand as she looked up into his eyes. “You can’t tell me you don’t enjoy being inside me. I know you do.”

“I told you not to come back until you were ready to surrender everything. So why are you here?”