Page 163 of Ex Somnis

Nevan looks seconds from bolting out the door.

“Nev.” I reach out to put a hand on his forearm, and his gray eyes find mine. “Rule number two.”

He huffs a tired laugh. “That is not your hex, Lemon.”

“It would be if I could do that kind of thing.”

“Well, you can’t.”

“I’m invoking it anyway.”

He looks at the ceiling, as if the ceiling might have something useful to offer.

“Fine.” He pulls me in for another kiss before shifting to sit beside the coffee table. “What do you want me to do, Jasp?”

“Lie flat on your back, please.”

He does as he’s told, barely fitting between the coffee table, couches, and pillows all around, looking extremely put-upon and also genuinely brave, a combination I’m starting to understand is just Nevan.

Jasper sits cross-legged on the floor beside him and starts whatever he’s doing, placing crystals along Nevan’s body while the incense makes the room smell like something I don’t have words for. I sit on the sofa and watch as Jasper murmurs something I can’t quite catch. The smoke curls, and Nevan puts an arm over his eyes, breathing steadily, making me wonder if he’s fallen asleep.

From the kitchen comes the soft sound of Seraphine making tea, and my mind wanders to what she said.

“But only by the person you made it to.”

Which means Tessa was right. Only Lucien can let her out of it, and if Nevan promised something to him too…

Nevan sits up in one fast motion, as if something had pulled him upright, making Jasper jerk back in surprise. Nevan’s eyes are open, fixed somewhere in the middle distance.

“I remember,” he whispers.

I lean closer, my heart almost beating out of my chest.

“What did you remember?” Jasper asks, also leaning closer again.

Nevan blinks a few times, then swallows. “It was a dream,” he says, slowly. “I was maybe fifteen. This Man was there.” Nevan turns to look at me with wide eyes. “He wanted something.”

“What did he want?” I ask.

“He said if I loved her…”

Another swallow.

“If I really loved her…”

His eyes find mine.

“I had to stay away from her.”

“From whom?” My heart is almost beating out of my chest.

“He made me promise to stay away from my mom.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Paul

The phone rings twice before I answer.