Page 270 of Born of Blood and Ash

“Whatever plagues you upon waking follows you into yoursleep and calls to me,” he stated, and I felt the blood drain from my face. “Ican usually ignore it, but I was unprepared for the…intensity of such emotion.I need to stay awake to resist.” A strand of midnight hair slid against his cutjaw. “You see, when someone dreams vividly, it’s a siren’s call to an oneirou. It prods at our most basic instincts tofeed. Not on blood, but on emotion.”

My stomach turned over, and my body flashed cold and thenhot as eather stirred.

“The first night here, I was pulled into your dream.”

I inhaled sharply. “You did what?”

“Like you, it wasn’t intentional. It’s not easy for us toresist the call when we are asleep,” he continued. “I did not feed, nor did Ilinger.”

I didn’t even care about the feeding part because, deargods, what had he seen? The golden bars flashed in my mind. “Am I supposed tothank you for that?”

“No. I’m just letting you know before you blast me intoArcadia.” He smiled. “Which you appear to be about to do.”

It was then that I realized I’d taken a step toward him, andmy skin was likely starting to do that glowing thing it did. “I’m not going toblast you into Arcadia,” I said, forcing my hands to unclench. “Through thewall, though? That’s still up in the air.”

His smile spread then, revealing a hint of fang, but itquickly disappeared, taking with it the ever-present glint of devilment in hiseyes. “I did not tell you this to upset or offend you. That is the very lastthing I want to do.” Dark, thick lashes swept down. “What troubles you whileawake will not give you peace in sleep, meyaahLiessa.”

It wasn’t like I didn’t already know that. “And I’m guessingyour reasoning for telling me this is because you would like some restfulsleep?”

“That’s not the sole reason, but yes, some restful sleepwould be welcomed. I’m not a purely altruistic being.” His lashes lifted, andthere it was again, that twinkle in his eyes. But once more, it disappeared.“When someone, especially a Primal, cannot find peace while awake or asleep, itshows itself in their actions, decisions, and temperament, as the realmsalready know.”

Eather throbbed as my eyes locked onto him. I didn’t try toread him, but I knew. “That is how you got those scars.”

Thierran said nothing.

“You were in Kolis’s dreams, and he found out,” I said. “Ican only imagine what you saw.”

“You likely know what he dreams about.”

“Sotoria?”

Thierran nodded. “He dreams aboutfinding her and then losing her. Over and over.”

A savage sense of satisfaction filled me. “Good.”

“I agree. The only downside was that he believed I wasresponsible for such.”

“Were you?”

Thierran’s chin dipped, and thatglimmer returned to his eyes. “Not then.”

An idea occurred to me. “Exactly how much damage can you dowith another’s emotions?”

“For example? I could take all the hate one feels foranother and turn it back on them. Let it consume them,” he said. “But if I canget my hands on someone, I can do much more.”

“Like what?”

“I can put someone into a waking nightmare.”

“Even a Primal—an old and powerful one?” I asked. Ash hadsaid as much, but I wanted to hear Thierran say it.

“Even one of them.” He glanced at me. “What are youthinking?”

“Would you like to get into Kolis’s head?”

Thierran smiled. “I would lovenothing more.”

“Good,” I murmured, filing that piece of information away asawareness suddenly coursed through me. My gaze flew toward the doors as I feltAsh draw near. It wasn’t the same as being alerted by another Primal’s presence. I was once again amazed by how someinnate part of me recognized that he was closer.

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