Hide and Seek

Psy-Changeling #12.6

by Nalini Singh

A short story about Sahara & Kaleb's daily life.

Timeline: Takes place some time after Heart of Obsidian.

This story can be found on Nalini Singh's official website.

Genres: Romance, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Short Stories, Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Urban Fantasy

8 pages, ebook

First published June 4, 2014

About the author

I've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.


I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).

So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.

Reviews

[Nancy •͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ {Ramadan hiatus} · Rating 5 out of 5]

──⟡⋆˙✩ 5 stars ✩ ⋆˙⟡──

A CRIME. I have committed a CRIME. How DID I not know this little extra existed? How could I have been so IGNORANT?

This ten-page extra takes place a few weeks after the events of Heart of Obsidian. It's a fluffy little thing, showing us a day of my OTP Sahara and Kaleb spending a day together. Speaking of, I gotta re-read the book soon and write a review on that. I'll convince you it's one of the best books written of all time in that as of now non-existent review, dw!

For this one, I'd like to do some non-strategic fangirling. ARE WE READY?

·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ “𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐦𝐞,” 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬. “𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥.” 𝐇𝐞’𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫.

WHEN IS IT MY TURN?! Believe me he isn't just saying that. He would literally abandon the world for her. he almost did, multiple times, but she stopped him.

·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ “𝐖𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞,” 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝, “𝐈’𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.”

IDK about you but I'M totally on board. No exams, yay!

·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ 𝐈𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐒𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐢𝐭.

It doesn't make sense. Kaleb is so powerful, so dangerous, so perfectly without empathy. Yet both Sahara and I want to hug him and tell him he matters.

·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐰, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐨𝐨.

Kaleb laughing? I can't imagine it but I would CRY (out of joy) if that ever happens. Laugh, my darling. You deserve to.

·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ “𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞, 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐛?” 𝐀 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐫. “𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦?”

“𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.” 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫.

I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM

·˚ ༘₊· ͟͟͞͞꒰➳ “𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞,” 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲, “𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞.”

In conclusion: Runs off to order a Kaleb online

[Sophia Triad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adore Sahara and Kaleb together!

In all his life, Sahara alone had touched him with gentleness, was the only one from whom he’d accept it. He didn’t know how to ask her to never stop doing that...and he didn’t need to. The bond between them pulsed bright as she pressed a kiss to his pectoral, his shoulder, his jaw.
Sahara knew his need.
She always knew.

This short story takes place after the Heart of Obsidian.
Kaleb and Sahara are finally happy and away from monsters, pain and horror.
Maybe my favourite free story.

[Somia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this little morsel. It had me smiling and sinking into my sofa in delight.

Kaleb and Sahara remain one of my favourite couples in the series.

Available from: https://nalinisingh.com/extras/psycha...

[Maayan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll never get enough of this two..<3

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st read - December 2015
2nd read - September 2020
3rd read - September 2021

Kaleb & Sahara are one of my favourite couples in the series so I'll never get enough of them & this little short was perfect. It's so great to see them so happy and I love the way Sahara brings out a playful side of Kaleb that nobody else gets to see!

[Dali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaleb and Sahara are one of my favorite couples from Nalini's Psy-Changeling series. Of course, with her beautiful writing, incredible plot and wonderful character development it's hard to even choose a favorite between so many wonderful feels...

"Always she had been his. Always she had chosen to be his. It was a gift beyond price."

So much swoon, sweet and sexy!

“If you need me, just call.” He’d abandon the world for her.

If you want to read these free short stories you can always to to her web page and/or subscribe to her newsletter.

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love them

[Lucy Qhuay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaaaw!! Kaleb *sigh*

There's something in the fact that a man who is practically emotionless loves you to the very depths of his soul and even beyond. +.+

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featuring Kaleb and Sahara. It's a fun morsel full of love.

Can be found and read on Nalini Singh's website under Psy/Changeling Free Short Stories.

[CindyCookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*“No.” She put one hand on his thigh. “I just want to sit here with you. Ever since the fall of Silence, life’s been so busy. I miss you.”

“You never have to miss me,” he said, holding her eyes. “If you need me, just call.” He’d abandon the world for her.*

[Jory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can she write more of this please, because I am more in love, and I thought it would be impossible to love Kaleb and Sahara even more...

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story from the newsletter collection about Kaleb & Sahara.
I like happy endings as much as the next girl but don’t need to be reminded over and over about their childhood trauma.

[Maida (Medley of Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 4.5 Hearts

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This definitely needs to be read after Heart of Obsidian.

Oh, I was on a Kaleb/Sahara high after that book and look at what precious treasure was dropped into my lap- a follow-up Kaleb and Sahara story.

Kaleb ponders the riches of his life now including having Sahara's dad treat him as family. Then, they play- so sweet. And then, ahhhh, he fulfills one of her dreams.

Gah! Loved this. Thank you, Nalini Singh!

[ari · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Liliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

“In all his life, Sahara alone had touched him with gentleness, was the only one from whom he’d accept it.” WHEW

[JW]

Kaleb and Sahara share a sweet and sexy moment together in this free short story.

https://nalinisingh.com/extras/psycha...

[Juli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una historia corta, medio dulce

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kaleb and Sahara reminisce about the past games they played while young and how their friendship came to be.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was very sweet. I loved that it showed a softer side of Kaleb and that Sahara allows that side to come out.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this couple and love that Sahara is able to bring out the playful side of Kaleb. I will never get tired of these moments.

[Vee · Rating 5 out of 5]

One hand on the side of his face, she kissed him, and for that instant, the world didn’t matter. The fall of Silence didn’t matter. The fact that Kaleb was holding the PsyNet together through sheer strength of will and violent power didn’t matter. All that mattered was that they were here, in the middle of a dream that belonged to the girl she’d once been—a dream held safe by the boy become a man who was her heartbeat and her forever.

This was their time.

Please excuse me while I grab my tissues, thanks.

But let's be real now: is there anything more heartfluttering than a glimpse of Sahara and Kaleb's daily life together? Yeah, we basically get a scene of them together in every single book now, more than any other couple in the series, but it's a testament to how much Nalini and us love them. Just keep 'em coming, thanks.

[Danielle123c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today, more than fifteen years later, he first entered her father’s home to check she wasn’t inside. Thankfully, it appeared Leon Kyriakus had gone off to his medical practice already so Kaleb didn’t have to interact with him. It wasn’t as if Leon had anything against Kaleb. It was more that Kaleb didn’t understand how to act with a man who was quickly developing a tendency to call him, “son”.

***

One hand on the side of his face, she kissed him, and for that instant, the world didn’t matter. The fall of Silence didn’t matter. The fact that Kaleb was holding the PsyNet together through sheer strength of will and violent power didn’t matter. All that mattered was that they were here, in the middle of a dream that belonged to the girl she’d once been—a dream held safe by the boy become a man who was her heartbeat and her forever.

[Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was another Kaleb and Sahara throwback, to the time they used to play hide and seek as a child and Sahara showed him what it actually was to be a child -- but this scene takes place after Heart of Obsidian, which somehow makes it even more endearing, knowing who Kaleb has become and that Sahara still has the power to draw out a more playful and carefree side of him, just by being who she is (a.k.a. pure and good, I will accept no Sahara Kyriakus slander whatsoever).

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

"One hand on the side of his face, she kissed him, and for that instant, the world didn’t matter. The fall of Silence didn’t matter. The fact that Kaleb was holding the PsyNet together through sheer strength of will and violent power didn’t matter. All that mattered was that they were here, in the middle of a dream that belonged to the girl she’d once been—a dream held safe by the boy become a man who was her heartbeat and her forever.

This was their time."

Sahara and Kaleb are perfection. That is all.

[BooksLoveBrains · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You never have to miss me,” he said, holding her eyes. “If you need me, just call.” He’d abandon the world for her.

I never understood the point of book boyfriends until Kaleb. Besides being fictional, the only problem with him for me is I love his love for Sahara. Not one thing is to come between this couple. And Kaleb wouldn't allow it anyway. Loved this snippet - anytime I get to see into Kaleb and Sahara's relationship, I'm obsessed. And this is even better because it's from Kaleb's POV.

[Malinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5 stars

This was a short story about Kaleb & Sahara having some fun together a few weeks after the end of Heart of Obsidian. :)

[Tara♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will these two never not be cute?



Kaleb and Sahara living their best lives playing together and spitting in the face of those who tried to separate them.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet

[Tailtiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://nalinisingh.com/extras/psychan...#