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Katie placed her hand over Jordan’s heart. “Every risk we took was the right choice.”

Jordan covered her hand, kissing her nose. “You were the right choice. Always.”

After a commotion-filled dinner with Jordan’s family, they’d watched a movie about ponies, and then Janie had headed off to bed. Two years had passed since she’d been in a coma, and her energy had finally returned. But flying all day had tired her out.

She dropped into the dream as she’d planned, wandering down the sandy beach and enjoying the soft spray of waves. With a shrug, she continued down the sand, committing to the path she’d come up with months ago. Her birthday wish held more than a desire to visit Katie and the twins. Leaving home, getting away from the mental power of the vampires and mates surrounding her, allowed her some space to explore. To create a dream and hopefully have enough power to find Zane.

She purposefully created the same ocean scene from when she’d been in the coma. Hopefully the plan would work.

A new fire had lit her veins after waking from the coma, a power she hadn’t figured out how to tap. Yet.

Aunt Emma had taken blood, assuring her everything was normal. No extra vampire remnants, either from Garrett or Zane, remained in her human blood.

Emma was wrong.

Janie had tried bending spoons with her mind, punching a bag, imagining the future on demand. So far, whatever new bubbled inside her, hadn’t changed her a bit. But she could feel something. . . or rather someone.

Zane lived in her pores more than ever before. Sure, he didn’t want to. Whatever or whoever he was, he held serious power. Nobody else in the world could’ve saved her by giving her blood in a dream. That much she knew.

Either that, or she had a serious crush.

The sand warmed her bare feet. She hadn’t meant to be barefoot in the dream, but suddenly, the feeling calmed her. Continuing down the beach, she kept her gaze on the rock outcroppings from last time. The sun shone down, not too hot, just right to enhance the soft breeze.

Zane sat on a rock a few feet up, long legs dangling. The sun glinted off his short black hair that was a couple inches longer than last time she’d seen him. No more buzz cut. Even with the dangerous scar lining his face, his features were beautiful. Masculine, tough, yet symmetrical to the point of perfection.

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—”