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“I see.” Sylvan nodded thoughtfully.
“But I can’t be Dream Sharing with anyone,” Alli rushed on. “I mean, as I was telling Sophie, this man isn’t like any kind of Kindred I’ve ever seen or heard of.”
“He is not like any Kindred any of us have seen,” Sylvan acknowledged gravelly. “At least in this universe.”
“What?” Alli and Sophie exclaimed at the same time.
“What are you talking about, honey?” Sophie asked, looking worried.
“We all know there are other universes, parallel to our own,” Sylvan reminded her. “We’ve known it for ages. And in almost every one that we have studied, the Kindred are there. They might not always have our same past or patterns, but they are there.”
“So…what does that mean?” Alli shook her head, perplexed. “That a Kindred warrior from another universe is singling me out, somehow?”
“The male you are dreaming of fits the description of a Kru’ell One,” Sylvan said. “A type of Kindred that does not exist in our own reality—thank the Goddess.”
“Why do you say that?” Alli put a hand to her throat, feeling cold all over. “I thought all Kindred had the same core values. Even the Dark Kindred, when their emotions are restored, are respectful and protective of women. They’re all basically good guys.”
“Not the Kru’ell Ones.” Sylvan’s deep voice was grim. “The legend goes that they come from a universe where there is no Goddess. Instead of the Mother of all Life, they were created by the Cruel Father—a Dark God—one who holds no regard or respect for females.”
“But…what does that mean?” Sophie asked, frowning.
“It means they are the only species of Kindred ever who would or could take a female against her will.” Sylvan shook his head. “Or at least, against her conscious will.”
“What does that even mean—conscious will?” Alli said flatly. “No means no.”
“It’s said the Kru’ell Ones are able to delve into a female’s subconscious and find her darkest dreams,” Sylvan said. “They act on what she craves, not on what she says she wants.”
“So they make all your sexy fantasies a reality?” Sophie looked at her husband with interest. “Sounds kind of hot, actually.”
“No, talana.” Sylvan shook his head, frowning. “Some dreams are better left unrealized. Not everyone can face up to having their fantasies made into reality. It can break you mentally and emotionally if you’re not strong enough to withstand the intensity of your own desires.”
Alli felt her skin break out in goosebumps again.
“I know all your darkest desires. And I’m going to make them come true—whether you want me to or not.”
The shadow man’s voice echoed in her head, so real she could almost swear she heard it whispering in her ear.
“But…but why?” she heard herself asking. “Why would the, uh, Kru’ell Ones want to do things like…like that to women?”
Sylvan shrugged.
“As to that, there are different theories. Some say they’re just Sadists, enjoying the agony of others.”
“But you don’t think that’s true, do you?” Sophie asked, directing a piercing gaze at her husband.
Sylvan shook his head.
“I think it’s more likely the Kru’ell Ones are a kind of emotional vampire. They feed off the feelings they get from their prey.”
Their prey. A cold chill skated down Alli’s spine like an icy finger.
“Well, it’s just a dream,” she said uneasily. “And if these, uh, ‘Kru’ell Ones’ are in a whole other universe, I should have nothing to worry about, right?”
She wasn’t exactly reassured by the silence from Commander Sylvan. But Sophie spoke up at once.
“Of course not,” she said, giving Alli a reassuring smile. “And like you said, you’re already spoken for. You and Douglas are practically married—right?”
“The wedding is set for next month,” Alli acknowledged. “After five years of living together, we’re finally going to tie the knot.”
“Oh, and will the two of you move up here?” Sophie raised her eyebrows, clearly interested.
Feeling like she was on firmer ground with this new topic, Alli smiled.
“Probably not. Douglas’s firm is located on Earth and even with the fastest Kindred shuttle, going from the orbit of the moon to D.C. every day is a hell of a commute.”
“So what will you do?” Sophie asked.
Alli shrugged.
“For now, probably just keep living like we are now. I’ll split my time—weekdays on the Mother Ship and weekends on Earth. We’re not one of those couples that has to be all over each other,” she added, noticing how Sophie and Sylvan were sitting, with Sophie snuggled comfortably against her husband’s side.
Sometimes she envied the closeness of Kindred couples. But mostly she liked her own space and Douglas liked his. They weren’t the touchy-feely type—which was perfectly fine with Alli. Even if she did wish for a little more cuddling now and then, she could live without it.
“And that won’t bother you?” Sophie asked. “I mean, living apart so much? I know if Sylvan and I had to sleep apart four or five days out of the week our, uh, relationship would suffer.”
