The Sensitive smiled. “I’m going to have to push a bit deeper now, OK? I apologise in advance for anything embarrassing I might uncover.”
“Is that part of it?” Valkyrie asked. “Do you use a person’s embarrassment and shame against them? That doesn’t really seem fair.”
The woman shrugged. “Exposing uncomfortable truths breaks down the biggest walls. You should save yourself the trauma. Just let me in.”
“It’s not up to me.”
“Then who is it up to?”
“Me,” said Darquesse.
Valkyrie opened her eyes. The Sensitive opposite her sat ramrod straight, her eyelids fluttering, her mouth open. Her nose was bleeding.
It was dark outside. The barn was empty apart from Valkyrie, Tanith and Donegan and the three psychics who were trying to break into their minds.
“Release me,” Valkyrie said.
The Sensitive moaned, then shifted forward and fell to her knees. She took a key from her pocket, undid the ankle restraints first, then the wrist shackles. Magic flooded Valkyrie’s body and she stood up. The Sensitive whimpered. Valkyrie could see into her mind. It was such a fragile thing. Easily broken.