Page 79 of Vale of Dreams

I glance up and find the Dream Stalker lying awake, staring at the ceiling.

Fuck.

“Sorry,” I whisper. “I was asleep.”

“My dear Nia, you have absolutely nothing to apologize for. You should wrap yourself around me whenever you want.” His voice is a velvet caress over my skin.

I force myself to pull my arm away, slide my leg off him, and shift across the bed again. As soon as I’m away from him, I feel cold and tense. But I pull the covers tightly, gripping the sheets, and force my breathing to slow. I summon that mental veil again and drift off to sleep.

I stir in my sleep, waking slowly. I’ve been dreaming of him—that he pinned me down, ripping through the sheer fabric of my nightgown. In my dream, when he pressed his lips against my throat, his canines brushed against my skin, and I wrapped my thighs around him and moaned his name.

Am I spooning him? My heart thuds.

I am, in fact, spooning him. Talan has turned away from me, and I’ve wrapped my arms around his abs. My leg is curled around his, and he’s holding one of my wrists in his large hand.

But he’s asleep this time, his chest rising and falling slowly.

Early morning light spreads a blush into the room.

…verdant fields rent crimson with blood… all-consuming slaughter, hellfire roars to life…

My muscles tense. The first thing I feel is horror at his violent thoughts, but then I realize something more important has just happened. I can hear what he’s thinking now that I’m touching him, just like with any other person. Even with this shield up in my mind, I’m getting glimpses into his thoughts as our bodies make contact.

But what is he dreaming about? Warfare? Death? Something that’s already happened or something he has planned?

I pull my arm away and untangle my legs from his.

Talan sighs in his sleep and rolls onto his back. He sits up in bed, his hair tousled, eyes sleepy. “Are you awake again, Nia?” he asks softly. “You were wrapped around me the entire night.”

“I was not.”

“You were moving your hips against me in your sleep.”

A flush spreads across my cheeks. “Well, I was asleep, and I was dreaming you were a horse.”

“I dread to think what you do to horses. And they say I’m depraved.”

“Obviously, dreams don’t make any sense. That’s the nature of dreams.”

“As a dream expert, I wouldn’t say that.”

A knock sounds on the door, and within moments, Aisling flings the door open. Her jaw drops at the sight of Talan, and she blurts an apology, then slams the door shut again.

CHAPTER 28

Isit by the windows in my room, sipping tea. Outside, the setting sun stains the clouds violet and peach. I pour myself another cup, trying to stay awake. Sleep in this place has never come easily, but last night was the least refreshing sleep of all, having waked repeatedly to find myself curled around my worst enemy.

This morning, after the prince left my room, I went back to the secret spot where I left the report from Nivene. The coded report was gone, and in its place, I found a short, encrypted message. To my relief, Avalon Tower was acting on the intel immediately. Gone to Scotland to prepare for dragon attack, the message read. Lie low. Maintain your cover.

I understand why they need a Sentinel with them, but without Nivene here, I’m more isolated than ever.

I’m not entirely sure how to find Meriadec, and I have no chance of hearing anything about Raphael. I’m desperate to talk to someone about the Blue Dragon Project. Whatever Talan’s secret plans are, I have a feeling they need to be investigated, and soon. There’s only one conceivable reason for him to keep this project secret. Auberon merely wants to win the war. Talan wants to end the humans and demi-Fey once and for all.

Does the Blue Dragon Project have something to do with a weapon of mass destruction, perhaps? One that he intends to use in the war in Scotland?

Without Nivene and her contacts here, I need to check out the location myself.

A knock sounds on the door, and I put down my teacup. “It’s Aisling!” the voice calls through the door.

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