"He had turned her on her side and was cleaning her wound when she regained consciousness and cried out in pain. Anders automatically slipped into her thoughts to soothe her so he could finish his work unhindered. And failed. Eyes widening with surprise, he peered at the woman more closely, noting that she had a pretty face under all that dirt, and that her hair was a greasy blond rather than the light brown he'd first thought. She also had beautiful green eyes that were staring up at him uncertainly. "You're safe," he said gruffly. She continued to stare, eyes searching . . . for what he didn't know, but apparently she found it because she suddenly relaxed, some of the fear slipping from her expression. "What's your name?" he asked, trying to slip into her thoughts again. But it was no use. He couldn't get into her head. And that never happened. "Valerie." The name was a rasp of sound. "Valerie," Anders repeated softly. It suited her, he thought and said, "You're safe, but wounded. I need to stop the bleeding." She nodded in understanding."