“You know my father.”
Ahrun circled me. “A secret.”
The hazy edges of my dream began to deteriorate.
I concentrated on stabilizing them, because I was beginning to suspect this wasn’t a dream at all.
“Why are you hurting Connor?”
“It’s necessary.”
“Why?”
Fingers trailed along my shoulders, leaving shivers behind.
“Why else does a vampire drink blood from another?” He leaned down to whisper into my ear. “Because it is necessary.”
I kept my spine as straight as possible. “You’re trying to use Connor to heal yourself.”
The same reason the enforcers had allowed Liam to feed from them.
A touch landed on the top of my head. It took a second to realize Ahrun was patting me like I was a child.
“Who are you talking to?” Connor rasped.
Ahrun’s face was impassive as he watched Connor struggle to lift his head. “He was always a foolish boy. As blind now as he was the day his father saved him.” Ahrun knelt beside me with a blur of speed that made my heart beat jump. He put his face uncomfortably close to mine. “Are you the same as him?”
Connor struggled harder, yanking at his chains. Dust and debris rained down from the ceiling at the attempt. The chains didn’t budge. “Aileen? Is it Aileen?”
Ahrun hummed softly to himself as Connor continued to thrash.
“Aileen, get out of his mind. It’s too dangerous,” Connor yelled. “Warn Thomas. And whatever you do, don’t come looking for me.”
Ahrun reached in front of me, poking the bowl of blood. “Nosy children must take their medicine.”
I couldn’t stop myself as my hands reached forward to pick up the bowl. I strained as I brought it to my lips.
“That’s it,” Ahrun crooned, petting my hair. “That’s a good girl.”
This was a dream. Nothing but a dream. None of it was real.
Telling myself that didn’t take away from the terror of the moment. The knowledge that if I drank this, I would be irreparably changed in some way.
Blood touched my lips, filling my mouth.
“Remember—this is necessary.” Ahrun’s head tilted. “Though I can’t quite remember why.”
The fetter in my mind snapped as he rose. I regained control of my body, dropping the bowl immediately. It landed with a clatter as a bark shook the dream realm.
Ahrun’s expression showed interest. “Noctessa’s guardian. I didn’t think to meet you again in a place like this.”
The taste of blackberry and currant were strong on my tongue as I awoke.
I shot upright. What the hell was that?
Alches’s soft chuff made me realize the shadow hound was sitting on the bed next to me, concern in his eyes.
“That wasn’t a dream, was it?”
