“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.