Man Of My Dreams

Chapter Fifteen

“You first,” he said. I handed him the note, “Mama found it on the door of our house. I saw her today at the market. She… changed.” I walked over to my armoire and found some comfy pants. I shucked off my jeans and slipped on the pajama bottoms and sat cross-legged on the floor. Feeling the cool marble beneath me was refreshing. It had been muggy all day here.

I looked up at Kian, but he was still staring at the note. “What do I do? They’ll come for me.” He shook his head, “They won’t be successful. They’re the least of your concerns right now. Just…trust me, Wren. I know I haven’t really given you any reason to, but I need you to trust me now more than ever.” A new wave of anxiety washed over me. A light tap came from the door, and in walked Silas. I hadn’t seen him since that night at the club. And for once, I didn’t internally roll my eyes at his presence.

“We need to go,” he told Kian. My brows knitted together. Go where? This must have been what Kian was in the middle of telling me. I looked between the two men. And I wondered, how long have they been friends? Years? Decades? Centuries? Kian looked back at me. “I came to tell you I’m leaving. Only for a few days. Stay here, inside the house.” Instinctually I wanted to refuse. To tell him not to leave me. Especially not now. But he said to trust him. And I would, at least, I would try to. But I couldn’t help the internal panic that was rising higher and higher every second.

I nodded. Mrs. Nora doesn’t let anyone inside without Kian’s approval. I knew that much. I know every face that’s here. So if someone’s new, I’ll know. I’ll be safe here. Kian grabbed my chin and tilted my head up to meet his gaze, “I’m sorry,” was all he said before he left my room. I stood after what felt like hours I had been sitting on the floor. Lost in the thoughts of what ifs… I’d occupy myself in the library like I had been doing. With Kian away, I won’t have to find any books he needs. I can focus on the things I want answers to.

I was in the library searching for books when I happened across a scroll. It stood out among everything else here. Where all the other books and scrolls were ancient and dusty, this one was relatively new. Pristine and white. Almost like it had been stuck here today for me to find. Perhaps it had. I opened the scroll. It was written in Sangrian, of course. Maybe it was a letter written to Kian. I had my language book on the table where I had been reading. I walked over to the table with the scroll and sat down to decipher what was written on it.

An hour or more later, and not only did I have it figured out, but I was now running as fast as I could to my room. I need to call Kian right now. There’s a traitor here. And if I don’t get in touch with Kian asap, he could very well die. I called and called and texted. No answer. I was worried I was too late.

The letter was from another vampire. Written to someone here. Someone hired to kill Kian. As for who the traitor was, I can’t tell you. I only know it was written by a vampire because it talks of how things should be for their people. Everything that Kian had told me about others wanting to dethrone him was true. Not that I didn't believe him. I guess I just didn’t think it was actively happening. Another thing the scroll had mentioned was Kian’s powers. Whoever wrote this knows Kian well enough to know his powers have been diminishing over the last century.

It didn’t take me long to figure out that all those nights I had dreamt of Kian hunched over a table full of books he was looking for an answer. I wondered how, with how strongly I can feel his magic when I’m near him, could he even be losing any of it. I spent all night skimming over the scroll. Whoever it is, they’re on a time crunch. It says urgent more than once. I felt my phone buzz right as I began drifting off to sleep. It was Kian.

“You need to come home, now.” I tried to sound serious. But I was half asleep and I couldn’t disguise it fast enough. “I’m sorry you had another bad dream, but I can’t co–” “No, no bad dream. I found something. I need… you need to come home. Leave Silas, let him finish whatever you’re doing. But please, it’s urgent.” I tried not to speak so loudly, in case Silas was near and could hear. I couldn’t rule him out from being the traitor yet. And I didn’t want him to even know I had found the scroll. Kian sighed.

“You’re in danger,” I whispered. I willed every ounce of urgency and panic I felt into the air to his magic around me. Hoping he would feel what I feel. “Where’s Silas?” I asked, hoping he would take my advice and leave him there. “He’s taking care of something for me. Wren, I can’t ju–” “Leave, say nothing to no one, and come. home. now.” I tried to put emphasis on no one. And it must have worked, because thirty minutes after we hung up, Kian was walking through my room door. “Thank god you listened.” I threw the covers off of me and reached into my nightstand drawer.

I was about to expose the fact that I had been studying Sangrian, but I didn’t care. “I found this in the library, out of place, and looking much different than all the other scrolls there.” Kian studied the scroll for a second and said, “You can’t even read this. How would you know it’s urgent?” I leveled him a dry look, and then pulled out the language book from under my pillow. “I’ve been studying,” I said. One corner of his mouth turned up into a smirk.

He nodded, and I went on, “There’s a traitor here. I asked you to leave Silas because I think it’s more likely to be him than anyone else here. If you read on, it mentions your powers and them… diminishing. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s something you wouldn’t want anyone to know. I assume Silas does based off of his presence and assistance in the library most nights.” Kian stiffened at the mere mention of his dwindling powers.

“You’re right,” he pulled a cigarette out of his pack and lit it, “he knows, but a few others do as well. Silas has been here with me for many years. I can’t be so quick to accuse him.” I rolled my eyes. I could. I’ve never felt anything good for Silas. And from the very moment I met him in the garden, the very moment I laid my eyes on him, I’ve felt nothing but bad vibes from him.

“I met Silas on the battlefield during the war. He’s like a brother to me.” I resisted the urge to snort. “So if not him, then who?” He chuckled. I’m a little surprised he isn’t treating this as seriously as I expected. “That’s the question,” he said. “Still,” I stretched my arms above my head, “ I wouldn’t tell him about this scroll. Treat everyone here the same way.” He nodded, and pinched out his cigarette, “I agree.” He stood and walked to the window that overlooked the garden.

“The other morning, when I said her name, I was dreaming. And for the first time since you arrived, the dream wasn’t of you. It was her. And before you get angry and give me a week-long silent treatment, she only came into my dream to tell me something.” He pulled another cigarette from his pack and lit it. Then he went on, “I’ve never dreamed of Genevieve. Though every night, I’ve welcomed a dream of her. She told me she sent you here. That she had found a way to give me what she never could. And to stop being an ass.” He took a long pull from his cigarette and continued.

“I spent so long grieving someone who hardly even batted an eye when she left here. She had no regard for how I felt. She bounced around through my city, sleeping with whoever made her feel good. And then, when no one took her up on a night in her bed, she would warm mine. And I let her. I let her walk all over me, all over my heart. And I realized, I’ve done the same to you. And for what? Because I miss someone who didn’t give a fuck about me?” He slammed his fist down on the windowsill. The loud bang startled me.

He turned from the window, his eyes locked on mine. “I don’t care if it takes the rest of your human life, I’ll spend every second of every day earning your forgiveness.” My breath hitched in my throat. And every time I was ever sad, hurt, or angry at his dissipated. His eyes scanned over me, searching for any sort of answer. I didn’t say anything. I slid off the bed, and walked over to where he stood. I reached up and placed my hand on his face, and then I kissed him.