She stiffened. "I'm the one in control of Cassie. No one else."

"Cassie's in control of Cassie." His smile faded. "You need me, but you're not going to get me as a pawn."

"You couldn't stand aside and let that little girl die."

"You don't know that. I'm a wild card to you. I could be anything. Do you want to take a chance?"

He knew she couldn't, damn him.

Travis shook his head. "I'm not going to move quickly. We'll start out with me being humbly at your beck and call. I just want an understanding."

She thought about it and then nodded jerkily.

"Good." He finished his coffee and stood up. "Now I'll get back to the gatehouse and you get on the phone to Andreas. Okay?"

"I'll think about it."

"Up to you. It will be harder if he calls you after hearing from the guards here." He waved and moved toward the door. "See you."

She sat there for a long time. She wasn't accustomed to taking orders, and Travis's suggestion had been dangerously close to an order. It seemed he had spoken truthfully when he said he liked control.

He wouldn't get it. She had no intention of yielding one iota of supervision over Cassie's treatment. From the moment he had sat down on Cassie's bed, she had seen a change in him. The challenge had seemed to electrify him, every cell in his body had taken on a force. She might need his determination but not his domination.

But, annoyingly, Travis had been right about calling Andreas. She'd been tempted to ignore his suggestion just because he'd made it, but that would be counterproductive. Call Andreas, get it over with, then sit down and consider how she could use Michael Travis.

It was still raining, but Travis hardly felt the drops as he ran back to the gatehouse. He was still charged with the explosive energy of the battle with Cassie…and Jessica Riley.

Fascinating.

The struggle with Cassie and then the interesting interchange he'd witnessed between Jessica and her sister, Melissa. Pieces of a puzzle were coming to light that he found very interesting.

And dangerous.

Maybe he hadn't gotten his fill of walking on a tightrope after all.

Chapter Six

Andreas was silent when Jessica finished.

When he did speak, his voice was thick. "You think she could have died?"

"I wouldn't have brought Travis to the house if I hadn't thought there was a strong possibility."

"Christ." Another silence. "What the hell is happening to her?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out."

"I want to be with her. I hate being thousands of miles away."

"You couldn't help her, sir."

"But Travis did."

"I don't believe there's any doubt he saved her life." She paused. "I may need to use him again."

"I didn't want him around her. I thought it would make the nightmares worse."

"They couldn't be worse."

Another silence. "Then use him. Use anyone or anything you have to. I'll send word he's to put himself at your disposal."

Travis would love that. "Thank you, sir. I'm sure that will help."

"She's getting worse." His voice was uneven. "Why can't we do something? Why are we just spinning our wheels while she-"

She couldn't bear the pain in his words." I know how you feel. I wonder…if you'd consider taking her back to Vasaro."

"No! Absolutely not. I may be desperate, but I'm not crazy."

" I think it might-"

"No."

She heaved a sigh. She hadn't thought he'd accept the idea, but she'd had to try. It was radical, even dangerous, but she was as desperate as Andreas. "I wish you'd consider it."

"I'd consider getting a new doctor for my daughter first." He said something to someone in the background and then came back on the line. "I have to go. There's a damn reception at the royal palace. I want to hear better news from you the next time you call or I'll fly home and find someone who can help Cassie." He hung up.

The threat didn't bother Jessica. She knew he was just in agony over a seemingly hopeless situation. If she'd believed someone else could do a better job with Cassie, she'd go and hire him herself.

But he was right-lately they'd just been spinning their wheels, trying to maintain the status quo.

I have a passion for disrupting the status quo.

Maybe bringing Travis more fully into the equation might be a good step.

And maybe not. At any rate, something had to change. Cassie couldn't go on like this. Jessica had to explore every possibility to bring Cassie back.

She wearily started up the stairs. Time to check on Cassie and then get some sleep.

She stopped at the door of the blue room.

Every possibility.

Melissa.

Melissa was as exhausted as Cassie. Because the two had been joined?

The idea was wild, outrageous, frightening, a complete violation of logic.

Every possibility.

Not now. She had to give herself time to adjust to the idea.

Tomorrow…

"What's that wonderful smell?" Melissa asked as she came into the kitchen. "Lord, I'm hungry."

"Huevos rancheros." Jessica glanced over her shoulder. "But you've blown it. I was going to give you breakfast in bed."

"You know I can't stand lolling in bed." She went to the refrigerator and took out the orange juice carton. "How's Cassie?"

Jessica put two sausages on the plate with the eggs. "You tell me."

Melissa's smile faded. "I have no idea. And if I made a guess, you wouldn't believe me."

"I don't know what to believe." She poured the juice and sat down at the table. "Eat."

"You don't have to tell me twice." Melissa sat down and started to eat. "Wonderful. Tomorrow I'll make breakfast."

"You don't cook."

"Sure I do. I've learned to do a lot of things since I went away to school. Living on your own is very empowering." She took a drink of juice. "I would have learned sooner, but you seemed to enjoy being in charge and doing things for me."

" It was just that I'm accustomed to-"

"I know." Melissa grinned. "And I'll always be baby sister who got lost in the briar patch. It's fine with me. Whatever makes you happy."

Jessica felt a ripple of shock. Melissa's tone was almost indulgent. "I never meant to treat you-"

"You treat me just great." She took another bite. "And you make a fab breakfast. Now, how is Cassie?"

"Good. Not as good as you, but as normal as she gets these days." She leaned back in her chair and looked at Melissa. "I thought you both might die last night."

"I know you did." She reached for her juice. "I knew you were scared when you came into my room that first time, but I couldn't do anything to help you. I was pretty wasted."

"Help me? You were the one who-" She drew a deep breath. "What happened to you last night?"

Melissa looked down into her glass. "What do you want me to say? If you need lies, I'll tell you lies. I'm not sure you're ready for the truth."

"I have to be ready for whatever you tell me. I don't know if you remember, but I came to you asking for help."

"I only remember you being scared. I was somewhat involved at the time." She shifted her glance to Jessica's face. "Since you came to me, then you must have believed me on some level."

"I don't know what to believe. But Andreas told me once he'd beg help from a whirling dervish if it would get his daughter well. I'd do the same just to keep her alive."

"I'm not a whirling dervish, and I don't even know what I can do. I hoped I'd have more control, but it was like being sucked into a tornado. She just carried me along with her." She shuddered. "If Travis hadn't come…"

"You knew he was here?"

"How could I help it? He was as strong as Cassie. He put himself between her and the monsters."