“No. I’ve kept my first promise to you as best I could, but out here in the Real World—”
“That promise is null and void outside of the Sanctuary.” I framed his face with my hands. “You do what you need to do. I trust you to make the right calls. The only promise I want from you now is that you’ll stay alive. That’s only one thing I’ll never forgive you for.”
“I’ll stay alive. You do the same. I can’t live if you don’t.”
I smiled, which made his eyes brighten, then I touched my mouth to his, which surprised him. He recovered quickly, though, and deepened the kiss. My whole body burning, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed myself closer.
He ended the kiss and, when I dipped down for another one, caught my head in his big hands.
“Dream Gemma is bold,” a wide grin stretched over his face, “and I love where this is going, but Lilas can see us.”
“What?!”
I hid my red face in the curve of his neck and felt a chuckle rumble through his chest. He gathered my hair up in one hand and drew it back so he could whisper in my ear.
“Don’t be embarrassed, angel. I dream about you, too.”
Suddenly, he began to fade around the edges.
“What’s happening?” I panicked a little.
“Lilas is pulling me back. Poor little kid’s probably running outta juice.” He rolled us onto our sides. “She might not be able to do this again.”
He was becoming more and more transparent. I tried to cling to him, but ended up with my arms around myself.
“Don’t go! Stay with me!”
“I’ll find you, Short and Sweet.” His voice was fading along with the rest of him.
“I love you! Do you hear me, Kerry Harker?I love you!”
Only the endless swish of the waves broke the silence.
I should have told him that the second he showed up in my dream. Why didn’t I?
I buried my face in my hands and sobbed.
37. The Real Her
Mira
“I think we should wake them up.” Rome nudged my elbow. “Lilas is draining out.”
“Yeah, I agree.”
I started to scooch off the couch, ready to scoop the little girl into my arms, but Amanda held her hand up.
“Leave her. She is doing what she was made to do.”
“She’s a child,” Rome growled, “and Kerry would never agree to this.”
“A power drain is not fatal.” Amanda arched one eyebrow, haughty as a queen.
A droplet of blood beaded up in Lilas’ left nostril and slowly slid down her pale cheek.
“That’s enough!” Rome surged to his feet.
He was too late. Lilas’s whole body tensed, then seemed to go boneless.
