“You…” I trailed off. He couldn’t mean…? “That… happened? Wait, yousawit?”
“Morpheus shared it with me, yes. He’s been searching all week for the cause of your current predicament and finally discovered it tonight in the form of Dolos.” The name left his mouth like a curse. “I should have known.”
“Dolos?” I repeated, picturing the familiar blond from my dreams. “No. I mean, yes, that’s what he went by in my nightmare. But that’s not who he actually is. This is all a misunderstanding. I’m stressed, so I fabricated this rather elaborate sequence in my head. Dreamt about it. Am still dreaming, obviously, since you claim to haveseenmy… Yeah. Okay. I just need to wake up now.”
I tried to leave the bed, but Nero caught my hand and tugged me backward into his lap, his strong arms wrapping around me. “If he’s not Dolos, then who is he to you?” he asked softly.
As this was all obviously not really happening, I decided to go with the truth. Because what could it hurt? He was in my head already anyway. “Corban, the loan shark who gave my mother a loan.”
He stilled. “What?”
“Yeah, that’s who I owe money to. My mother skipped town, tossing me up as her only collateral. If I don’t pay Corban back, with interest, he’s threatened to sell my body on the street, or worse. Since this all came up before I finished school, it left me without a bachelor’s degree and a decent-paying job. That’s why I joined JBI. If I’m going to prostitute myself, it’ll be under my own terms.”Waking up right about now would be awesome, thanks.
“And this—Corban—is here in the city?”
“Unfortunately,” I muttered.
“You will take me to him.” A demand, not a request.
“Sure. As soon as this sequence ends, we’ll go.” I couldn’t help the sarcasm. As if I would ever let Nero meet Corban in real life.
“It wasn’t a comment meant for negotiation. We will leave now so I can fix this.”
“Fix what?” I asked, not following. Did he mean my financial problem?
“You,” he replied. “He’s done something to separate you from your true self, and I intend to make him fix it.”
“Corban?” I shook my head, baffled. “I don’t understand.”
He released a long breath and pressed his forehead to mine. “You will, once I reunite you with your siren half. And then we will have a very long discussion about your opinion of me as a ruler. Because those whispers you heard? They were Dolos playing tricks. It’s what he does. He’s more famously known by the name Loki in your realm.”
I blinked. “Loki?” I laughed—loudly. “You think Corban is Loki?” While I could somewhat see the similarities in the way he manipulated everyone around him, I definitely would not call the man a god.
“Every myth and legend you’ve ever heard is based on something real, Kailiani. Earth is the center between the realms, with portals that lead everywhere else in existence. It’s why rumors are so prevalent on this plane. They sprout from a mortal seeing or hearing something they shouldn’t, and rumors spread. It’s how I became known as Poseidon. The Realm Dwellers try to keep our travels as concealed as possible, but mistakes happen.”
Another giggle left me. “Right. Next you’ll be telling me vampires and dragons are real. Oh, and elves, and fae, and—”
He pressed his finger to my lips. “Kailiani, all of those exist somewhere. I realize you think this is crazy, and all a dream, but it’s very, very real. And once I’ve dealt with Dolos, you’ll understand.” He cupped my cheek, his blue eyes holding an intense emotion that stole my breath. “I will find a way to unleash your siren soul. You have my vow.”
My siren soul.
Meaning he thought me to be an otherworldly creature as well.
No, more than that, he considered me his long-lost betrothed.
Making my vision a memory of the past.
Right.
Because all of that was perfectly logical.
I nodded.
Shook my head.
Nodded again.
Nope.
