Rebecca Zanetti - Consumed

Yeah. She probably had a crush.

He lifted an eyebrow. “Happy birthday.”

Joy filled her so fast she bit her lip to keep from exploding in a smile. “Thanks.”

“Did you do anything big?”

She shrugged, going for casual. The six-year difference in their ages didn’t seem like such a big deal since she’d turned eighteen. “Party. Like usual.” Her hands slid into the pockets of her shorts. “I’ve tried to seek you out in dreams so many times, but you’ve been blocking me. So, ah, thanks for saving my life two years ago. Forgiving me blood.”

He rubbed both large hands down the front of his dark jeans. “Sure. I couldn’t let you die.” The smile was one she remembered from childhood. “Though, well, I don’t understand how it worked.”

“Yeah.” No logic could explain their connection in dreams. She crinked her neck to peer up at him. “I’m surprised to see you here.” Sure, she’d hoped. But he’d gotten so good at blocking.

He rubbed his chin. “I’m surprised to be here. Every time I go to sleep, I put mental blocks in place. Yet, I’m here.” Curiosity and caution lit his green eyes.

Satisfaction heated her abdomen. “I’m not at home. I’m away from my uncle’s psychic powers, away from the powers of all the people surrounding me.” She took another couple steps toward the future. “I thought maybe I could send out a clearer signal ... maybe yank you here even if you didn’t want to come.” Of course, since she’d taken his blood, as her powers increased, she might be able to seek him out even at home. She lifted her chin, trying so hard not to be mad he’d ignored her for two more years.

One dark eyebrow lifted. As graceful as any panther, he jumped from the rock. Sand sprayed when his thick boots landed.

Janie took a step back. Man, he’d gotten tall. As tall as Dage.

Both of Zane’s eyebrows lifted. “So, let me get this straight. You left the safety of the king’s headquarters to enable yourself to become more powerful and force me, willing or not, into this dream?”

Well, since he put her idea like that. She shuffled her feet in the sand. “Pretty much.”

“Why?” The sun came from behind him now, leaving his eyes in shadow.

Because she’d missed him. Because she needed him. “I think it’s time we begin planning to end this war.”

He choked on a laugh. “Just like that, huh, Belle? Let’s just end this fucking war.”

Irritation began to crawl up her neck. “Yeah. Just fucking like that. We’ve always known this war will come down to you, me, and Kalin. I’m grown up now ... it’s time.”

“Grown up?” Zane breathed out, turning just enough for the sun to highlight high cheekbones. Incredulousness melded with anger on his strong face. “You’re not even close. You have no idea what war is like. No clue.” He scrubbed a hand across his mouth. “Let’s just end this war.” He shook his head.

So she hadn’t fought on the front lines. She’d lost people. A monstrous vampire race had hunted her since childhood. “I know exactly what war is like.”

“No, you don’t. God, I hope you never do.” He shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “Everything is so clear to you. Right, wrong ... good, bad ... friend, enemy. You have no conception of true war.”

The day he’d lost his father, his world had crashed. She knew that and had been there for him as much as he’d let her. Reality wasn’t foreign to her, either. She knew the risks they might face. If he lived with a shifter clan off the grid, he could be fighting against her people. Against her family. “I know your father wasn’t part of the Realm, but he was an ally. But where you’ve gone, the people you fight for now ... I don’t know. Are we still allies?”

Zane wet his lips, his gaze cutting to the ocean. His impressive chest shifted as he exhaled and yanked his hands free. Focusing back on her, he took one step forward. Light as any breeze, he ran one knuckle down her cheek. Sadness and an odd longing swirled in his eyes. “Janie Belle Kayrs.”

Warmth and something new flared to life in her abdomen. Intrigue had her stilling. “Zane?”

His gaze dropped to her mouth. His thumb followed suit, tracing her bottom lip. “All grown up and in more danger than ever.” Dropping his hand, he sighed. “There are no allies right now, Belle. Get that through your head ... and don’t trust anybody.”

She lifted her chin, ignoring the sudden want of her lips. For the briefest of seconds, she thought he was going to kiss her. A real kiss. From Zane. “You said we were going to fix the world. That everything was going to be all right.”

“I was twelve, and I figured we had the same goals for the world.” His jaw firmed. “We probably did. But when my father died—”

“Where are you?” She had to know. If she had all the facts, she could fix this.

“Doesn’t matter. What does matter”—he grabbed her biceps, leaning down, his face intense and two inches from hers—“is that I don’t know where you are. Ever.”

“Everybody knows where headquarters is.” Her uncle and father had made it the safest place in the world for her. They’d discussed moving, but at some point, staying in place and defending made more sense.

“You’re not at headquarters right now.” Zane gave her a quick shake. The scar along his jaw seemed to deepen. “If I were an enemy, you just gave away too much information.”

“Are you?” She met his gaze squarely and without fear. Nothing would ever convince her Zane would harm her. Nothing. “Are you my enemy?”

His nostrils flared. “No, which is why I’m telling you no more. We don’t meet. You don’t tell me where you are. You take that fantastic brain and do something really great with it. Study, learn ... do not fight. Get the hell out of the war, as much as you can, for as long as you can.”

His hands enclosed her upper arms, so strong, so warm. A step forward and she’d be pressed along his length. Surprise filled her at how much she wanted to take that step. She shook her head. “This war is about me, Zane.” Unfortunately, the Kurjans would stop at nothing to get her. “You’ve known that from day o ne.”

“I know.” He blinked twice, his eyes filling with determination when he focused back on her. “But I need you to stay out of it until I can end it.”

“But we’re supposed to end the war together.” In every vision she’d had, while different results were reached, she had always been a player. She, Zane, and Kalin all participated in whatever final act found peace. Unfortunately, she never saw who won.

Zane’s hold tightened. “You stay in this war, and you won’t like how it ends. I promise, Belle.” Drawing back, he released her. “Good-bye.”

The dream disappeared. Janie awoke, sitting up in bed. She hadn’t gotten the answers she wanted, but she had a lot more information than she’d hoped. Zane wasn’t working for the Realm, but he seemed determined to save her. Somehow, she had to figure out a way to get them working together again. In all the visions, in all the endings, if they weren’t on the same side, then everything ended.

Everything.