“Fascinating,” Ulric boomed, his smile revealing more sharp teeth.
Hope lifted her hand to the sky. “Out, Dessie. Go now.”
Another hole split open the sky and yanked at Dessie, pulling her off the rock. Her scream coincided with Ulric’s roar of fury. Stars flashed behind her eyes, and fire singed her nerves.
She awoke in the soft motel bed and sat up, gasping for air.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood smashed onto the floor next to her own bed. Her ears rang, and her nose bled. Sighing, she grabbed a tissue from the bedside table and shoved it up one nostril before pushing herself to her feet. The room spun, and she wavered, holding on to the mattress until she regained her balance. A quick glance at the clock confirmed it was nearly midnight.
What was Dessie doing in the hell world? Hope had thought she’d closed off the portals that Ulric could access, but apparently not. Just who was Destiny Applegate?
Hope’s entire body ached as if she’d been repeatedly kicked while down, and her hand trembled as she reached for her phone and dialed Uncle Garrett.
“Hey. Why are you up so late?” The sound of thunder rolled across the line along with his greeting.
She wearily sat on the bed, her feet freezing even inside the thick socks she’d worn earlier. “Ulric just managed to pull me into his world again.”
More thunder bellowed. “Damn it. I thought the portals were closed.”
“Me too.” She’d been able to travel in dream worlds for most of her life, off and on, but she didn’t have control when Ulric dragged her into his world. The one the Seven had created to keep him imprisoned. “He’s getting stronger, Garrett. I don’t know how, but it’s happening.” Someday he’d be free and back home.
“We’ll get to him first, Hope. I promise.” The vow sounded deadly.
Hope reached for a throw blanket to toss over her legs. “Don’t freak out, but Dessie was there also. She was there before I arrived.”
Silence met her statement.
Hope bit her lip. “She looked terrified and confused, if that helps.”
“How or why…” His voice trailed off into darkness, more guttural than she’d ever heard him. “She has to be enhanced, and that tumor in her head somehow hides that.”
Hope wished the mating mark would’ve stayed. Then Dessie would at least be immortal. “I wish I could help.” Even Hope’s bones felt exhausted.
Garrett’s growl was soft but vibrated over the line, nonetheless. “I’ll handle it and inform the other members of the Seven about this development. Then we’ll figure out how to close those portals for good. But I need you to tell your folks about this, okay?”
“Why?” She wasn’t trying to be contrary. There was no reason to worry them. “There’s not a thing we can do about it, G. There’s definitely nothing my parents can do, so why keep them up at night?”
His sigh was heavy. “They’re already up at night, sweetheart. I am not concealing this from Janie. She’s my sister, and I owe her better than that, and so do you. She’s a good mom.”
“Exactly,” Hope said dully. “She’s a great mom, and I love her. I love Dad, too. They can’t help me, and you know it.”
“I don’t know it,” Garrett snarled. “Janie visited dream worlds before you did, baby girl. I’ll give you until tomorrow noon to talk to them, and then I’m calling. None of us are going to let you deal with this on your own. Period.”
This made zero sense. “Garrett—”
“I have to go. Love you.” He ended the call.
She frowned and blew hair away from her face. A knock on her window had her jumping. She yanked the tissue out and tossed it aside. Her heart raced into her throat, and she hurried to the window, shoving it up. “Pax.” Without a thought, she dove through and let him catch her. “You’re back.”
He easily caught her, so tall and broad now that the cute, pudgy kid he’d once been was hard to imagine. “Why do you have a bump on your head?”
For goodness’ sake. “I can’t believe you’re still skulking around my window at night. We’re not kids any longer.” A fact that was more than obvious in the ripple of muscle holding her off the ground.
“I know.” He sat her on the windowsill, caging her as his hands curled over the wooden frame on either side of her legs. “But I promised you I’d let you know when we returned.”
Her world was better when Paxton was in the same town as she was, and always had been. He’d been her best friend for as long as she could remember. “You’re safe?”
