Page 53 of Wicked Heirs

I blinked, trying to adjust my vision as it started to dissipate and then I found myself in another place entirely.

Gold walls surrounded me with candelabras all over casting a muted, warm light over the space. The floor was a beautiful white marble lined with shimmering gold.

And I was laying on a four-poster bed with yet more gold—silk sheets and drapes cascading down from it.

I started as I looked to see that I was now only in a white strappy lace nightgown that barely covered my thighs and put a whole lot of cleavage on display as well. My pink hair was loose and falling in loose waves.

What the hell was happening?

The walls suddenly bent and shook and then the one directly in front of me disintegrated entirely as none other than Orpheus Hart strode on through into the room.

The moment he was inside, the walls reverted to a seemingly solid state, everything returning to normal.

“You trapped me in an illusion?” I demanded.

“No. I’m in your dream.”

Even worse.

“How? I’ve reconnected with my magic now.”

“Your blood.”

“How could you have—when I let Xavier feed from me? You seriously took the opportunity to steal some of my blood?”

He lifted a shoulder. “I determined that it could prove useful down the road.”

“Get the hell out,” I seethed, bolting up into a sitting position.

He didn’t even address that and instead told me with what actually appeared to be a glint of sadness for me in his eyes, “So that was why you stopped using your magic.”

For some reason, I actually admitted the truth to him. “Yes. It’s the reason I tried to walk away from it all.”

“Why didn’t you tell us that you tried to save Cora and Hugo Creed that day?”

“Creed? What are you—Talon’s family members?”

“His parents.”

“Oh my God, that’s who they were? I didn’t know. I couldn’t see through the flames.”

“Even more noble. You risked your life for complete unknowns. You weren’t even aware that they were potential members of your mother’s organization,Exemplar, that she was working on recruiting them.”

“She didn’t keep me abreast of her business withExemplar. She wanted me to be ready first before she brought me into all of that. The only member I knew of was Elliot Sabre, because he was around a lot at our home. No, that night was about them needing aid. I couldn’t just stand back and let their suffering continue. Of course I had to help.” I grimaced. “Or try to. I failed.”

“Constantine made sure of that. It’s not your fault.”

I eyed him incredulously. “You’re actually absolving me? The woman you hate, the woman you’ve vowed to ruin?”

“This changes things. You trying to save Talon’s family and the reason you ran from your heritage.” He shoved a handthrough his hair. “You faced off with Constantine Vale too. That’s no small thing, Alena.”

“It was a long time ago.”

As he stared at me, I averted my eyes, fighting not to stare at the hot-as-hell sight of him in just a pair of tight magenta boxers, all his black faery markings on display over his muscular chest and arms.

“What happened after Constantine went for you?” he asked, jolting me.

“My mom showed up in time to blast him into the ground. Elliot Sabre was right behind her and together they put him down, trapping him in the realm of dead souls,Spiritus.”