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Pushing up from the grassy knoll, I glanced around the flower strewn field. A quick check of the boho, A-line silhouette I’d been dressed in told me Rhys or Cole were in control of this dreamscape. Standing up, I waved the flared sleeves before taking in the high empire waistline.

All around me, trees swayed with the gentle breeze drifting through the cloudless night. The grass beneath my feet was soft and forgiving to the soles of my feet. The sound of a tree creaking forced my eyes to the left. Seconds later, what sounded like something breaking through the underbrush jerked my eyes to the right.

As I stared at the bushes, a giant stag burst from them. The mammoth beast caught sight of me, stalling in his powerful strides to find out if I was a threat. Towering, twisting antlers poked out of the wisp of dark fur atop his head. Deciding I posed no threat, it lowered its head, munching the grass covering the meadow.

Tipping my head back, I studied the thousands of stars shooting across the sky above me. Music began, forcing me to spin around in place until a flickering light visible through the trees caught my attention.

Glancing over at the majestic stag one last time, I started toward the trees bordering the meadow. Strolling toward the trees, the familiar sensation of being watched returned. Ignoring the forewarning on the breeze, I rubbed my naked arms to warm myself.

Entering the woods, I stepped carefully over pine needles and other things scattered over the forest floor. The soft prick of pine needles against the soles of my feet reminded me of a time when I’d pretended to be on a grand adventure, tracking bunnies through the forest behind our house. They weren’t as harsh on my feet then, not like now. The soles of my feet missed the lush, verdant grass of the meadow at the moment.

The trees gave way for another clearing where a small cabin sat, surrounded by weeping willow trees. Glancing around, I scanned for sight of anyone else in the vicinity of the dwelling. The tattletale flicker of candlelight was visible through charming, rounded windows.

Choosing to make a beeline for the cabin, I rushed forward at a hurried pace through the flower covered foliage. In the center of the clearing, buzzing started over my uncovered flesh. A tingling as if I had entered another world entirely. With each step, my mind blurred with the reasoning for why I’d entered the dreamscape in the first place.

After a few more steps through the thickening air, ‘Daylight’ by David Kushner began playing, reeling me closer like a fish snagged on a hook.

The wind picked up, drifting over my heated flesh as my uncovered feet sank into the blossoming flora. The scent of lavender and freshly cut grass floated through the air, soothing the wariness I’d felt.

Stepping inside the small log cabin, I released a shocked gasp of air as my lips parted. Outside, it had appeared tiny and unsuspecting. Inside was another story. Staircases began at the entrance, then twisted around one another, heading in several directions.

“Rhys?” I called, but, if he’d heard me, he didn’t reply.

I suppressed the unsettling feeling of being watched. My neck hairs prickled, and I eyed each staircase with confusion. The entire interior was lit by candlelight. Biting my bottom lip with worry, I took a step further into the cabin, only to gasp as the door closed, sealing me inside.

A soft breeze alerted me to an open doorway to the right, one which I hadn’t previously noticed. The moment I reached the threshold of the room, the familiar scent of whiskey, whispers of dark, sinful smoke, and Rhys’ aftershave flooded my senses. It told me I was heading in the right direction.

The room attached to the first was better lit, revealing how sheer and thin the long, flowing gown I’d woken up in really was. The pink of my nipples was visible through the cream-colored material as they pebbled from lace rubbing against them. A blush slid up my throat, painting my cheeks red.

‘Skin and Bones’ by David Kushner began playing on the heels of his earlier song. The volume grew louder as I stepped inside another room, finding nothing but silk curtains hanging throughout the space. The soft, warm glow of a candle burning behind each one piqued my interest. Each shimmering fabric cast shadows around me, spurring me on.

Reaching out, I examined the soft, silky fabric before peeking behind the length of glittering fabric. The sound of dark, wicked laughter redirected my focus to the next doorway. Swallowing the need growing in my center, I moved for the exit.

Rhys’ earthy, addictive scent lured me through the doorway. Pushing the silken fabric aside, I crept forward, uncertain I wasn’t walking straight into a well laid trap. At the threshold of the room, I prayed I wasn’t about to regret entering his territory or what I hoped was a dreamscape of his creation.

The moment I strode through the doorway, I was rewarded with the sight of Rhys naked from the waist up. Sweat glistened over his sleek, taut washboard abs. He reclined against a large chair, which almost resembled a throne.

I greedily feasted on the colorful ink covering his torso from wrist to throat. Studying each intricate piece as my stare rose higher, I chewed my bottom lip at the sight of his pierced nipples.

Dark mused hair looked as if he’d run his fingers through it all night long. Another thought entered my mind, that maybe it hadn’t been his fingers running through his silky, ink-colored hair. Jealousy flared to life, hot and bitter, but I forced it back into the box. I wasn’t fucking this up because of my overactive emotions.

The muscles in his throat strained, causing a groan to bubble in my chest. As I watched him, his kissable lips jerked up into a sinful smirk. It revealed that he was fully aware of the pulsing need between my thighs. With regret pushed aside, I ignored the ache of longing coursing through my veins. This man was sin in the purest, truest form.

Rhys was a seductive mixture of darkness combined with the smoothest whiskey ever made. It mattered little that his eyes were a shocking hue of azure. They promised to leave me teetering, unable to walk straight once he’d finished using me to sate the ravenous hunger simmering in their watery depths.

In his hand was a tumbler filled with amber whiskey, with perspiration dripping down the crystal surface. His thumb rubbed up and down, wiping the moisture unconsciously. Lifting his other hand to his lips, I watched the ember of the cigar burning brightly against the shadows he sat bathed in. The moment he pulled it away, smoke rings drifted above his head.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous, Love,” he rumbled without bothering to even look at me. “That gown is going to look so much better on the floor of my bedroom after I’ve ripped it from your delicious, delicate, curved frame.” The moment his head lifted, simmering blue eyes ravenously locked with mine as a dark, even dangerous rumble of sound escaped his lips.

Chewing my lip, I ignored the desire to tear it off my frame for him to hasten the sin he promised. Slowly, I closed the space between us. Rhys’ mouth tightened into a thin white line as the angry wound on my shoulder became visible as I got closer to where he lounged in the chair.

“Rhys . . .” His name left my lips like a fervent prayer.

“Who the fuck was stupid enough to hurt you, Remington?” he demanded, then slowly rose from his chair, eyes flooding with the promise of violence as they scanned me from head to toe. “Who fucking hurt you?” Returning to rest on my face, he studied the agony displayed over mine.

“I—” The words caught in my throat as I choked on the emotion.

“I want the name of the asshole I’m murdering tonight, Remi. Now.”

A burning sensation filled my eyes and throat as I slowly shook my head. “I was stupid.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.” His stare burned every inch of my flesh that it feasted over. “You didn’t do that to yourself. You will give me a name. I need to know who I’ll be ripping apart limb from fucking limb. I knew I should’ve remained at your side. Your family is ill-prepared to protect you. More so than I assumed they were.”

Rhys vibrated with rage, his hands at his sides curled into tight fists. The muscles in his throat strained as his eyes flicked between the wound, then back to my face. A tic in his jaw clenched, then pulsed as he released a shuddered breath of air.

“Rhys,” his name escaped my lips as a plea. I didn’t have a name to provide. Hell, I hadn’t even seen the bastard who’d shot me, let alone asked for a name.

“Now, I’ll ask you one more fucking time, Love. Who the fuck hurt you?” His finger slid over the curve of my shoulder even as his eyes thinned into angry slits. “Is that a fucking bullet hole?” Rhys’ hand slid to my hip as he turned me to the side, hissing when he found the larger exit wound. “Bloody hell.”

“They shot through Nyx to hit me,” I admitted, slowly turning toward him, noting the anger simmering in his gaze. “They killed my brother, too. Colt was protecting me. It had cost him his life. You were right, Rhys. We aren’t prepared to fight them.”

“Tell your family not to fire on me or my people. If they do, I’ll ensure you’re an only fucking child by the time I reach you, Love. Be ready to go when I arrive.”

“You’re coming?” I asked as the dreamscape slowly began deconstructing around us.

Rhys’ palm curved against my cheek as he growled, pressing his forehead against mine. A shudder rippled through my frame as his other hand slid to the small of my back.

“Did you doubt me when I said that I was coming for you?” he countered, then pulled back a fraction to slide his regard over my face. Pinching my chin, he tipped my head back, forcing my stare to his. “I cautioned you once before that I don’t make idle threats. If I tell you that I intend to do something, believe that it’s happening. Full stop, Remington.”

I searched the sharp, chiseled features of his face as if it held the answer to his question. “I don’t know what I expected. My brother’s dead because I’m an idiot who allows my emotions to direct me into trouble. Nyx is . . . I don’t know if she’s alive or if I got her killed, too. Maybe I don’t deserve to be saved, Rhys.”

Something dangerous passed behind his eyes before it vanished as he blinked. “Do you honestly think any of us deserves to be saved, Remington? I won’t allow them to take you from me. Not even Death, himself, or Hades could keep me from coming for you. Are you ready?”

“I’ll be ready by the time you arrive tonight,” I promised, but the way his lips twisted into a smug smile had my head tilted to the side.

“Why do you think the enemy’s silent outside of the chateau? Think I trust your family to protect something precious to me?” His words sent shock rippling through me as he shoved me out of the dreamscape. Dark laughter and the remnants of the song clung to my flesh as I sat upright in bed.

“Did you find him?” Savage asked in a hopeful tone.

Winchester turned, staring at me as she stepped closer. “When should we expect him to show up?”

“Remington, are you okay?” Daisy asked with concern stamped over her face.

Releasing a shuddered breath, I answered. “He’s already here.”