In fact, if I’d just glanced at the two of them, I would’ve assumed they were related.
“Soon, your little hideaway won’t be so hidden,” she mused sweetly.
I froze.
Her voice sounded familiar.
But I’d never met Melanie. If this was even her.
I mentally shook myself, remembering Cato’s notes.
Somnivado was the dreaming realm, meaning the subconscious was in control, not necessarily memory. Anything here could be altered or changed. I had to be wary of what I trusted.
“Oh, child.” Lilith tilted her head, pity softening her voice. “Anastasia will be dealt with before she ruins anything with her incessant ploys.”
The female glared.
“Why are you doing this? You know you can’t trust the council. You never should’ve made that runed deal with Etan!”
“You don’t think I know how those sanctimonious bastards scheme? What they’ve done to their own kind? To us?” Lilith curled herpainted lips into a menacing grin. “Do you think he played me for a fool, Melanie?”
So itwasher.
Lilith glided forward, her mauve dress swaying innocently while every step was a threat.
Melanie backed up, bumping into the wooden coffee table, trapped.
“Hasn’t he once already? Your plans to take over Hell are suicidal. That’s exactly what he wants.”
“Worried about me?” Lilith mocked.
“I’m being useful,” Melanie spat. “As you demand.”
“The infection is made. He won’t know what hit him.” She slid a nail across Melanie’s forehead, pushing her hair behind her ear. “I’m halfway to avenging every witch who’s been ruined by their filth.”
Melanie scoffed and leaned back as far as she could.
“And Anastasia?”
Lilith shrugged. “Necessary evils.”
“What if I’ve seen someone who can make the infection better than yours? Get you to your goals faster? What will that earn me?”
Lilith laughed. “Nothing I’ll ever give you.”
She scanned the cottage, her lip lifting like a mother who’d come into a clean, exquisite home and still found it lacking.
“I think I’ve done enough.”
Then she turned and left.
A soft click sounded on the other side of the door, and a pulse of red flashed through the window.
Melanie picked up a glass jar from the coffee table and chucked it at the door, screaming.
“I’ll show that bitch!”
Right as she was about to turn and find me huddled in her kitchen, pain shot through my head, forcing me from the dream-walk.
