Iyana
Asharppangreverberatedthrough her chest, and as she peered across the dead landscape surrounding her, she saw herself in Altair’s arms.He was kissing her, but she struggled against his hold.Iyana’s hand clutched at his chest as she tried to free herself from his grip.Then she was up and running towards Altair and the version of herself in his arms.Maybe this time she’d be fast enough.
She was at least fast enough to catch herself before her head hit the ground.Iyana looked down into her own face, watching herself go in and out of consciousness as Altair belittled and degraded her.
She was a fool for ever trusting him.
Then she leaned over her unconscious body as Altair prepared a ball of magic to finally kill her.Iyana saw a flash of red, then Kaz was leaping at Altair, and Zane was shouting, and Talon…oh, Talon.He was lying in a heap, his neck broken, his red hair spilled around his face like blood.
And she felt the tears falling from her eyes and then onto her own face, and she only wanted to wake up.
Wake up.
Wake up!
Iyana’s eyes flew open, and it took her several seconds to remember where she was.A thin sheen of sweat coated her entire body, and her chest rose and fell rapidly.
She was okay.She was alive.Talon was alive.They were in Nyr, and they were all okay.
Iyana took a moment to reflect on her nightmare—she hadn’t had one quite like that before.As though she was outside of her body, watching herself go through everything.Like she was…
Emmeric.
A soft moan sounded behind her.Iyana rolled over immediately, only to see Emmeric hyperventilating, his face scrunched together in pain.She moved a sweaty lock of hair off his forehead, and his face relaxed marginally.
“Emmeric,” she said softly.His only response was a low groaning sound.“Em!”Iyana shook him a bit this time, but he still wouldn’t wake.The moaning was getting worse—louder—and he was beginning to thrash his arms.
“Emmeric,” she tried again, but this time placed her brow onto his and focused on their bond nestled in her chest.Iyana thought of all the times Emmeric had soothed her when she was upset or scared.She thought of all the times he’d helped her through her own nightmares; how warm she was whenever he took care of her.Then Iyana sent those feelings, that affection, down their bond and into Emmeric’s body.His face immediately smoothed into a serene expression, and the moaning ceased.
His hand lifted and pushed into her hair.Emmeric touched her so gently, Iyana was on the verge of crying.
“Iyana?”he asked, his voice muffled by sleep.
“You were having a nightmare.”
Emmeric’s hand was still in her hair, and he cradled her head against his bare chest.Iyana felt his heart pounding underneath his ribs—this dream had really rattled him.
“I think I was dreaming the same thing you were, Em.”She drew idle circles into his skin, and Emmeric sucked in a sharp breath.“In my dream, I could see myself.I think I was dreamingyourmemories.”
Emmeric nodded his head, and he tugged her in even closer, as if he needed her near simply to know she was alive.She should pull away from him and put an end to the contact, so Em wouldn’t start to think she wanted something she didn’t.But she knew they both needed the comfort only the other could provide, and so she wrapped her arms around him and held him just as tightly.
They stayed that way for several seconds until Emmeric spoke; his voice was raspy with the vestiges of sleep still clinging to him.“I’ve been dreaming your dreams.”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what you just experienced.I’ve been seeing things from your perspective.”
“Like what?”Iyana asked.
Emmeric only shook his head.
“What have you seen, Em?”The idea of somebody else seeing her dreams terrified her.To Iyana, it felt like such a breach of privacy.Especially when her dreams hid the demons she was so desperately trying to bury.
“Azazel.”
Iyana flinched at the name.Emmeric ran one hand soothingly up and down her spine.
“And Uther.I think the bond is evolving.”
