She lifts her brows, but I know she already suspects what I mean.

Nyxion storms into the room a moment later, his bone skull fixed, those black diamond eyes gleaming with malice. Zenya parts her lips, shocked with her cheeks blushing crimson.

“Care to join us, brother?” One rattling of his bones, and I chuckle darkly, “What’s the matter, Nyxion? Shadows got your tongue?”

His great wings spread, casting great shadows over the room. My shadows are larger.

I guess this teaches you to mock my feathers,I laugh in our shared consciousness.

The second he charges for us, I gather Zenya into my arms, envelop us in my shadows, and vanish us through the walls and into the night.

She gasps, legs clenching around my frame more from the sensation of us in mid-flight, my cock still sheathed inside her. Gods, flying fucking her is a new challenge, a delicious one I embrace as her arms tighten around my neck, fingers digging into my dark curls.

“I have you, Zenya. I’m never letting you go,” I assure her.

Calming in a way she never will for my brother, Zenya nuzzles her nose into my neck. My veins bulge, the cords in my neck tighter than ever as I fly to the great divide of our realms.

The world below becomes a blur of indistinct shapes and colors.

When the wind picks up a notch from behind us, I know Nyxion is on the move, the beat of his wings propelling more wind at us. I press on harder—narrowing my vision to that great, black expanse until the shimmery barrier to my World of Dreams appears.

Nyxion will send more nightmares than ever. But I will be ready. Now, I have something to protect.

Eyes clenched, Zenya hugs me tighter since she knows the punishment that will come if he reaches her. For once, she’s running from her fears and taking refuge in me.

Just as his presence encroaches, his skeletal hand stretching toward Zenya, a desperate attempt to reclaim her, I unleash my shadows. I surge them into every goddamn bone in his body, knocking him off balance and sending him falling into the desolation of the chasm below us.

MORPHEUS! You’ll never be rid of me! I won’t stop. I won’t stop until?—

All his threats vanish.

I plunge through the barrier, our journey into the World of Dreams swift and silent.

The landscape shifts around us in surreal, ever-changing patterns. Whether she knows it or not, Zenya has transformed our surroundings into golden and pink ribbons of light. Like the Northern Lights blanketing us.

My dream realm pulses into me, my power stronger from her presence. Here, my power is absolute. Strong enough to reinforce my barrier. It will undoubtedly take weeks for Nyxion to weaken the border to enter. By then, she will be utterly mine.

I will tell her of the Trials. She will be too enamored with me to refuse.

I descend into my domain, landing softly in the heart of my kingdom, my wings beating a current and shedding shadows and feathers.

Without leaving her beauteous heat, I lay my Zenya gently on a bed of soft, luminescent clouds.

“Oh, god, Morpheus!” she gasps, and one hand lets go of my neck to curl within the clouds as she sinks slightly into the ethereal material.

“Shh, you are safe now…”

I move strands of hair from her face.

In this world, she is mine—completely and utterly. The bond we share through the hyoid bone and even my Eye thrums with energy, a constant reminder of our connection.

Leaning closer, my lips hovering just above hers, I breathe my love and possessiveness, “I will protect you, no matter the cost. The Oneiroi are at war, little wonder. I will wage a siege for you if need be. And you will be my Queen of Dreams.”

She parts her lips, gazing up at me in awe, in worship. Finally! My vow that she would look at me the same way has come true.

Subtle shifts in her expression signal the transformation, how she is unleashing the light side of her duality. Now, she does not have to be strong.

“I will be your strength, sweet girl,” I tell her, feeling her melt and gush all around me, her insides growing warmer.