"Find her."
A strange voice jolted Nira awake. Cold sweat clung to her skin as her eyes darted around the room.
She was still in Elrath's bedchamber.
Her gaze landed on him, lying peacefully beside her. His black hair fell over his face—a rare, quiet sight. Relief flooded her chest, and she let out a slow breath.
She'd been having strange dreams since taking Elrath's blood. Feeling things she couldn't explain.
Something tugged in her chest. Elrath.
It had become clear they were now joined by some invisible thread. She could feel him in her subconscious—always there. She could have been terrified. Maybe she should have been. But she was done feeling that way.
If she could feel him, could he feel her, too?
"Are you okay?" Elrath's voice rumbled beside her as his fingers wrapped around her wrist and gently drew her close. She bit her lip to stifle a startled sound.
Her head fell against his chest. Her breath caught.
He was probably half-asleep. She tried to move away, but he held her there.
"You're disturbed," he murmured, brushing a lock of hair from her face.
She looked up, only to find his eyes already open, watching her.
"I had a dream, that's all," she said, voice low and breathy.
"A nightmare?" he asked.
She nodded, leaning into him. He was warm—comforting.
It surprised her how much peace she felt in his arms.
Was this what his blood had done to her?
"Elrath?"
"Yes?" His arm tightened around her waist.
"I—I feel strange."
"How?" he asked. She glanced up to see the smirk forming on his lips. Her cheeks flushed pink.
Of course he knew.
He knew what was happening to her.
"Don't act ignorant. You know."
He chuckled. It made her bristle. Was he really that amused?
"I do."
She shut her eyes. Embarrassing.
"Nira," he said softly now, no longer teasing. "I know what my blood does to you. I willed it."
"You wanted it to make me this needy?" she snapped, voice sharp with humiliation.
He shook his head.
"My blood acts on my emotions, Nira. It remembers how I felt when I gave it. If I'd wished someone dead, my blood could have done that."
"Really?" She stilled.
A smile played at his lips as he leaned in, his mouth brushing her ear.
"But for that to work, my dear wife, the person has to accept it. I don't think you hate what's happening to you."
She shivered. He was right.