Page 26 of Queen of Whispers and Mist

“I’m here, my lord, and no. The answer is the same everywhere. No one has seen Shadow or your Ch—”

Erebos hissed, stopping her before Dovina could grant the title to the unworthy swine.

“—the Butcher,” she amended.

The need to rip and tear and destroy pulsed through him. In his mind, he’d already whirled around and upended every piece of furniture in the room. Instead, he sucked in a breath and gritted out, “That is not what I hoped to hear.”

“Apologies, High Lord. We will continue our search,” Dominic promised.

“You’d better. I expect more from you both. If you cannot do your jobs, I will replace you with those who will.”

“They cannot stay hidden indefinitely,” Dovina added. “We will find them, my liege. You have my word.”

“Your word is useless to me. Bring me the girl. She is all that matters.”

There was a beat of silence and then a rustle of fabric he knew would be Dovina fidgeting. His Raven was unflappable, but he didn’t need to use his power to determine exactly which thoughts floated through her mind in that moment. The woman was as calculating as she was ambitious. She wanted to rule at his side. If she was the one he’d needed, the one he’d asked to be his lady, there would have been no hesitation. Not a single second of doubt. The fact that he hadn’t even considered her for the position was a chink in her otherwise impenetrable armor.

“What of the man?” Dominic asked.

“I want him too.”

“Alive?”

“Yes. His death belongs to me.”

“I will have Dmitri make it known.”

“See that you do. And Dominic?”

“Yes, High Lord?”

“I’ve had my fill of disappointment. Do not bother me again unless you have what I want. You do not want to find out what happens if you disappoint me further, I promise. Now, leave me.”

The twins did so without another word, leaving him to stew with only his thoughts for company. Usually at least one of them would ask if he wanted them to stay. It was a testament to the violence rolling off him that neither so much as attempted to make such an offer. Smart of them, really. He made no promises about their safety if they stuck around.

Erebos continued to stare out the window, not seeing anything of the land or people that belonged to him. He knew their efforts would be fruitless. If there was anything to discover, they would have by now. Which meant it was time for him to stop relying on mortals and take matters into his own more than capable hands.

There was one surefire way for him to find his sweet Shadow. A realm where no matter how far they ran, none could remain hidden from him.

It was how he’d claimed his vessel, after all.

Closing his eyes, Erebos delved deep into the abyss where his power and godly essence rose, eager to do his bidding. Searching for the unique frequency of a mind at rest was not so much a science as a fine art. All around him, voices swelled, smoky, soft whispers of thought ripe to pluck and mold as he willed. The echoes were not as clear as if he’d been in his true form, but they were clear enough for this. All he had to do was focus on one, and the bubble of thought expanded for him, a portal ready for him to walk through.

It was really just a matter of finding the dreamscape he sought. Luckily, he was intimately familiar with the notes that comprised Shadow’s psyche. Time and space were no obstacle. He would recognize her mind anywhere. Patience, that was all he needed.

Patience, and one very specific dreamer.

From there, all he had to do was step into her dream and pluck the information he needed from her mind. He would find her; it was only a matter of time. There was nowhere to hide from the Father of Dreams.

Taking a centering breath, Erebos settled in, ready to begin his vigil.

She had to sleep sometime, and when she did, he would be there. Lying in wait. The proverbial monster under her bed. The nightmare crooning in her ear, dragging her deeper into the void where he’d prey and feed on the very darkest of her fears until she shattered.

There would be no escape. Not this time.

Not from him.

The land of dreams was his domain, and he was a merciless and vengeful god.

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