Page 106 of Betrayed in Blood
Devon nodded. “She’s been cagey from the start. I understand why. Their species is more threatened than either of ours.”
“Then, perhaps it’s time to ask her.”
Rather than havesomeone search the manor for where Colantha might be, Devon led Remus to Lyra’s room. Lyra had taken a liking to Colantha, and perhaps she could provide a balance between the parties. He didn’t think Colantha was fearful of him or Remus, but it wouldn’t take her long to pull them into a construct if she felt threatened. Besides, it felt right to include Lyra.
Devon knocked on the door and waited.
“Come in, brother. And Remus is also welcome.”
Remus lifted a brow, and Devon shook his head. “Don’t ask. I don’t know how she knows.”
Remus grinned and nodded as he followed Devon in. Devon wasn’t surprised to find his sister on the divan facing the western windows as the sun lit the ocean. Nor was he surprised to find Colantha sitting next to her.
Frederick was placing a pot of tea and two cups on the low table in front of them. Jamison stood against the eastern window, hands behind his back. Colantha’s guards were on duty as usual.
“Were either of you surprised by our visit?” Devon asked as he took a chair next to the sofa while Remus took the one across from him.
Colantha chuckled. “I’m not a mind reader. I was here to facilitate a dreamwalk with Hamilton. But this is the next logical step.”
“I thought Hamilton was able to create his own constructs.” Devon eyed Lyra, but she didn’t seem upset. In fact, she had that dreamy look whenever she thought of Hamilton.
“He can, but he wanted to try without his medallion. A test, if you will, of his growing powers as he heals.”
“And?”
“He’s able to call us into his construct, but he’s not capable of controlling those he brings in.”
Remus shifted in his seat, crossing a leg over his knee, appearing comfortable, but Devon sensed he wasn’t anywhere near settled. “And this is something you’re striving for?”
Colantha chuckled. “Not normally, no. But we’re preparing for war, are we not? From what I’ve been told, Cressa created a construct during last night’s raid to save herself from a bullet. And, no, I haven’t spoken with her—she’s still sleeping—but I felt her presence in the Nexus. I didn’t know why until I read Sergi’s preliminary report, which he shared with me.”
She sipped her tea and appeared to be formulating her next words. “What if Cressa hadn’t been wearing her medallion? Would she have been able to call forth a construct to save herself? I don’t think so. She has the power but not the training.”
Devon considered this, and while he agreed and understood the need, something wasn’t connecting. “When Cressa was in Spain, she said she was able to override the dreamwalkers who’d created the construct.”
“To a point, yes.” Colantha leaned forward, her gaze bright. “And that’s the perfect first step. But she didn’t create the construct. Someone else was holding it together. She used her power, and I imagine her anger, which we know is a powerful stimulus, to take over. That only happened because the dreamwalkers were weak. She’d mentioned she’d felt several dreamwalkers holding the construct together.
“It happens at my training compound all the time. Most dreamwalkers only have the power for a simple construct, typically with a location they’re already familiar with, and only bring one or two other dreamwalkers to it. In order to build something more complex or have more people included, the dreamwalkers must pool together. If one weakens, so does the construct.
“This is something I need Hamilton and Cressa to practice together. Both must be able to defend themselves should they not have their medallion or if it’s taken from them. Hamilton’s life would have been quite different if he’d had that skill when Venizi took him from this House.”
Devon sat back, absorbing her words. It tracked with what he’d learned before from Cressa and Colantha.
“But that’s not what you came here for,” she continued. “I suspect Remus has lab results to share.”
That broke Devon out of his musings, and he smiled. “You have an uncanny ability for someone who doesn’t read minds.”
“You’re both logical men. Nothing more is required.”
Remus chuckled and leaned over to hand her the folder. Lyra scooted closer to Colantha to read over her shoulder. Devon was surprised when Frederick handed him and then Remus an espresso. He’d been so enthralled with Colantha’s additional explanations into dreamwalker psyche he hadn’t heard the espresso machine.
Fifteen minutes went by before she handed the folder to Lyra to peruse. “I suspect you want to know about the similar markers between Cressa’s blood, the Aramburu samples, and the Blood Poppy.”
“It does seem some explanation is in order.” Remus sipped his espresso, looking all the more like a college professor than the leader of the shifters. “Especially since Devon’s blood only reflected the marker after taking Cressa’s blood to put the beast to rest.”
She nodded as she considered his words. “You have questions regarding the juice.”
Devon was no longer surprised by her ability to know where the conversation was headed. And now that she stated the summation rather succinctly, it was apparent the juice must play some part in everything.
