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“Your life is in danger.”

“Yes, you’ve mentioned that approximately seventeen times.”

“Because you do not appear to understand the gravity of the situation.”

She sets the cereal box on the counter.

“Oh, I understand perfectly. Your father is a homicidal control freak who wants to punish me for waking you up. What I don’t understand is why your solution involves sending me away like an inconvenient houseguest.”

“Because I will not allow you to suffer for my mistakes.”

Her expression softens.

Just slightly.

Then she folds her arms.

“That’s not your decision to make.”

I stare at her.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

“I am a god.”

“And I’m a grown woman.”

“My father commands the Realm of Sleep.”

“And apparently, you inherited his charming personality.”

I nearly laugh.

Nearly.

But the memory of Hypnos reaching into her dreams still burns through me.

I felt him there last night.

Felt the ancient, familiar power pressing against the boundaries of her sleeping mind.

And for the first time in my existence, I experienced something far more terrifying than pain.

Helplessness.

I could not reach her.

Could not enter the dream.

Could not tear my father’s hands away from the woman I have come to care for more than my own immortality.

I will not endure that again.

“You don’t understand what he’s capable of,” I say quietly.

Calla steps closer.