Page 173 of A Vow of Embers

That seemed like a good idea, but I still felt strangely exhilarated. Thrilled and excited that we had taken away Erisa’s funds. I wanted to celebrate, but the way I secretly wished I could wasn’t allowed.

I fell face-first onto our bed. Someone had come in and changed the sheets and they felt incredibly good. I let out a slight groan of pleasure and then turned my head toward him. “The sheets are so soft! You should feel them.”

He smiled to himself.

“What?” I asked.

“Most women in my bed don’t moan because of the linens.”

“Most men in my bed would give me a better reason to moan besides the linens.”

I hadn’t meant for the words to come across as a challenge or, worse, flirtatious, but that was what happened. He paused, his body going rigid. It was too dark to see his eyes, but I could imagine the way they would be smoldering at me. I heard the sharp, ragged breath he quickly inhaled. My pulse quickened in response and my head was filled with images of things that could not be. Things that I couldn’t allow, no matter how appealing they sounded.

That heated moment stretched out between us and I forgot how to breathe as I waited. This was beyond foolish. I wasn’t just playing with fire.

I was inviting it to consume me.

A beat later he turned on his heel and went into the washroom, leaving me alone in our bed.

I could not provoke him like this. I had to stay strong. I turned onto my side and prayed for a dreamless sleep.

That didn’t happen.

I was running through the forests south of Troas, the terawolves chasing after me. I felt every bit of panic and terror that I had thefirst time, not knowing how to defend against invisible opponents and worried for my sisters’ safety.

My heart tried to pound its way out of my chest as I swung my xiphos whenever I felt them snapping at my legs.

Then I ran into the clearing with the river and saw Suri standing there, petrified and unable to swim. This time I didn’t leave her, because I knew better, but for some reason I couldn’t get her into the water.

“We have to go!” I screamed.

But she stayed put. I knew crossing the river was our only hope.

The terawolves came out of the forest in a long line, just as ferocious and horrifying as I remembered. I would have to fight them to protect my sister.

My hand felt strangely empty and I looked down. I didn’t have my sword. I patted my body, my terror rising as the wolves stalked toward us. I didn’t have a single weapon on me.

“Do you have a weapon?” I asked Suri.

She shook her head.

The largest terawolf stared at me with his golden eyes, saliva dripping from his sharp teeth. He let out a large growl and the wolves began to flank us. Dread caused a sick, silvery taste in my mouth. I had no way to defend myself. Suri and I were going to die.

The terawolf snarled and then leapt at me and I threw my arms in front of my face and screamed, preparing for the impact—

“Lia!”

I awoke with a loud gasp and sat up, immediately starting to shake. Xander sat next to me and took me into his arms.

“It was just a nightmare,” he said. “I’m here. You’re safe.”

“I don’t usually have them,” I said, hearing how much my voice still shook. I’d never been afflicted with nightmares. Quynh had battled them constantly when we were younger—I still remembered the way her screams would fill the palace every night after she had first joined our family. She must have had so many bad memories from surviving the shipwreck that had taken her parents.

My nightmare had been truly horrific—so real and visceral—and I couldn’t stop trembling.

He continued to soothe me, repeating that I was safe until my heart had calmed.

“Did you see?” I asked.

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