“Because you said it wasme! But no one cages me. I kill. I leave destruction behind me wherever I go. It’s why Daén demanded I learn to control my temper and powers, and I ended up in Exilum—exiled for a short period!”
“How was I to know all of you had the same or similar color hair?”
He shook his head, face pale. “Just tell me, please.”
She shut her eyes, trying to bring her dreams into focus. “He…the first time I saw him, he was locked in a tall cage, a circular one like a birdcage. He’s suspended inside it, nothing’s holding him up…and it’s snowing. He’s motionless and bleeding profusely from his chest, face, and arms. His hair’s matted and dull, but I could see the hints of blue…and there was a voice saying ‘save him’ repeatedly…”
She opened her eyes and met his agonized stare. “Then the night at my apartment, the night we…”broke up. No, she wasn’t going to say that. “That dream was different. He was still in the cage but awake. There were flames under the cage this time. His hands dangled at his sides as he leaned his head against the bars as if to stay upright, but the flames leaped into the cage, burning him…”
Leya swallowed hard and wrapped her arms around her waist, staring at the painting of the blue-haired male who haunted her dreams, then back at the angel she loved but had to give up. “Who is he?”
* * *
Aerén didn’t respond, couldn’t, his attention fixed on the massive painting of his family.
“Aerén, who is he?” Leya repeated.
He met her gaze, agony twisting his gut. “My sire.”
“What?” Her face paled. “Your father?”
He nodded, glancing at the painting again. “I’m sorry for not believing you. I thought you were having these nightmares about me.” He shook his head. “We’ve had our mages and Allatus, one the most powerful mage in our world, scry for them, and no one has gotten a glimpse of anything—”
“And me, just a meremortal, would see this?A weed among the orchids.”
The latter words were so soft, but he heard. His jaw hardened in anger at her self-deprecation. “No. You’re an innocent, Leya. So true in your emotions and your giving heart that yousaw.”
She bit her trembling lip, and his chest hurt.
Damn their fucking archaic rules, his intractable brother, and those of his kind if they couldn’t see the truth. “You’rean orchid among fucking weeds.”
She flushed and lowered her gaze.
Later, he would tackle this and make sure she knew just how wonderful she truly was. Right now, he had to find his sire.
“What about mymateri? Did you see her?”
“I’m sorry. He’s alone in the cage.” She looked at the painting again, her expression growing pensive. “The only ones responsible for something like this would be the rebels.”
“Indeed. Whoever the bastard behind this is, he would keep them separated.” He studied his sire’s expression. Not like it could give him any answers. “Mymaterihad left early that morning to go riding. My sire followed soon afterward. Together, they’re formidable, but traps can be set to capture and mute abilities if someone powerful enough knows how.”
Aware Leya watched him, he shoved his fists into his pants pockets, finding it hard to keep his fury reeled in. “I have heard the rebels have a sorcerer who leads them now. Anything’s possible. But the question is where? We’ve scried every damn territory on Empyrea. You said a snowy place. We’ve been to Dregarus, but you didn’t feel anything there. What about here?”
“I don’t know. I just hear the ghostly voice in my head…” She rubbed her hands down her jeans.
“What’s wrong?”
“It feels like I’ve touched a live wire.”
He grasped her hands, gently massaging her palms and fingers. “I feel your power—”
She pulled her hands away and tucked them under her armpits. “That’s no power, just an annoyance.”
“Leya—”
“It’s nothing…” She paced the length of the gallery, kneading her temples with her knuckles. “We must find your father. Time’s running out.”
“I’ll get Zior here. Maybe he can help you get better clarity of the place.”
