“I will continue to return every single night until you speak to me.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow. You need a hobby.”
“You stole my treasure. My presence in your dreams is merely one of the consequences you will face for your actions. But I am not without compassion. Grant me a brief conversation now, and I will leave you in peace for the rest of the night.”
“First, tell me how you’re doing it.”
Her audacity was fascinating. “Thieves do not dictate terms to those they have wronged.”
“Fine. I’ll talk. But only if you swear to leave me alone forever.”
I barked out a laugh.
She cut me a sharp look. “It’s called negotiating. You should try it.”
“Oh, little thief, there is no negotiating away my presence. You stole from my hoard, broke your word, and stabbed me.”
“Agree to stay out of my head for a month,” she countered.
Unbelievable. “One night’s reprieve in exchange for a simple conversation is the best I will offer. This deal is far better than you deserve considering the irrevocable harm you have caused me and mine.”
“Define conversation,” she said.
“I will inform you of the plans I have for your pack and advise you of the actions you can take to spare them. When our discussion is concluded, I will release you until the next time you fall asleep. This is my final offer. Refuse, and I will personally make sure you never know another night’s rest. On this, I vow, thief, and unlike you,Ikeep my word.”
She swallowed, and the fight drained from her eyes. “I won’t reveal anything that will endanger my pack.”
I was still straddling her, with her wrists in my hands, yet she still could not admit defeat. Fighting back a growl, I said, “Did I say I planned to interrogate you?”
Ignoring her glare, I assessed her for weapons. Dreams wereunstable projections, and I could not afford to relinquish my advantage. Her shift barely covered her thighs, leaving nowhere to conceal a blade. I briefly considered conjuring more appropriate attire, but her discomfort served my purposes. That she was also rather pleasant to look at was merely an observation, not a motivation.
She huffed out a frustrated breath. “Will you at least let me up?”
Confident that the dreaded daggers were not stashed on her body, I slowly released her wrists and drew back, clocking her every twitch. She scowled, yanking the blanket up with her as she stood and wrapped it around her again.
“Nice touch, dressing me in nothing but a T-shirt and panties, but I’d like my own clothes now. Please.”
“Everything here is exactly as I found it. Why did you create this void, Ziara? What happened to you?”
She blinked and looked around, seeming to notice our lack of surroundings for the first time. Understanding flooded her eyes, and one hand flew to her throat. She probed the area, wincing in pain.
“How bad is your injury?” I asked.
“I thought you said this isn’t an interrogation.”
Dipping my head, I conceded. “For tonight.”
“Cool. Say what you need to say and get out of my head.”
My temper snapped, and I sprang forward, encircling her pale neck with my hand. The jagged lines of a healing wound confirmed my suspicion that she had been injured, and her unwillingness to share the details made me wish I could rip her out of this dream and lock her in my dungeon.
She batted at my arms and tried to knee me in the crotch, but I pressed against her, preventing the momentum she needed for a decent strike.
Brilliant green eyes glared at me.
I pressed against her, my knee sliding between her thighs. Her breath hitched, and I gave her throat a squeeze. What was it aboutthis little wolf that made me lean closer and inhale, desperate for a hint of her scent.
Nothing.
