Chapter 10
Evangeline found herself on the balcony surrounding the lighthouse tower. Raging water splashed up, soaking the ridiculous blue gown she seemed to always be wearing when there. Clinging to the railing, she stared across the water, wondering about the significance.
Always the tower. Something powerful lingered. Over the years and a million dreams, Evangeline had searched every inch in each room, and even though she could sense the presence of something magical, she couldn’t find the damned thing.
Maybe she should locate the tower in the real world. And sure, it could all be a figment of her imagination, but she didn’t believe that.
No, something inside her recognized this place. It was a beacon, calling to her. Funny, since it was a damned lighthouse.
Hands closed around her waist before a big body pressed against her back. “Evangeline, what happened?” Bran’s voice wrapped her in warmth.
Turning, she looked up into his deep brown eyes. The concern washed away her fear. His hands moved to the rail behind her as he closed the distance.
She swallowed. “Found a way out, but was so tired I think I passed out.” She drew a breath and let it out. “Rather stay here with you, but I should move.”
“We’re on our way up the mountain,” Bran offered.
Shaking her head, a frown pulled at her mouth. “I’m at the bottom of a waterfall.”
“In the water?” he asked slowly, panic edging into his voice.
She shook her head. “No. I’m on the rocks, out of the water.”
He pushed her wet hair out of her face and ran his thumb across her cheek. “I wish I were with you.”
The voice from the cave whispered in her head, make love to your mate. Seal your bond.
Her chest heaved, her heart raced. Resistance broke, and she could no longer fight temptation. “Me too. I need you.”
“Thought you said no lovemaking in the dream realm.”
“Changed my mind,” she whispered, breathless.
Leaning in, his lips grazed the outer shell of her ear. “Tell me what you want.”
“Everything.” The confession set her free. Evangeline pushed his shirt up, skating her hands up the hard muscle. Then she bit down on his nipple as she pulled the shirt over his head.
He hissed, his hands going to the top of her dress. “Everything?” he breathed.
Nodding, she leaned up and caught his bottom lip between hers, sucking.
A growl rumbled from his chest as he ripped the dress down the front, revealing her body.
She nearly tore his pants, opening them. Then she gripped his heavy cock and stroked hard.
One thick arm banded around her waist as he hauled her against his body and turned, taking her to the wall where his eyes locked on hers. His length pressed into her, sliding deep.
That felt too damned real for a dream. And yet, Evangeline wanted everything Bran had to offer. She needed him in her soul.
His voice was strained, but he held himself still, within her. “Wanted to do this right, to make love to you long and slow.”
She shook her head. “Don’t need all that, just make me yours.”
He kissed her neck as he made love to her. Her dress protected from the rough stone at her back. He filled her so full she thought she might die in bliss.
His hands gripped her ass, his mouth exploring her sensitive skin. She held tight to his hair, trying to bring him back to her mouth as he thrust in and out of her body with such delicious force she thought they might merge.
Her wolf rose through her, without coming to the surface. Then his joined in. The bond formed, instantaneous. Their beasts called to each other. His head lifted, his eyes locking on hers.
Her name left his lips like a promise.
She crashed over the edge with him. He pushed deep inside as his emotions flooded her. His soul expanded through hers as she flowed into him. His mouth closed over hers as he pressed her fully against the wall, their breaths labored in sync with each other.
His forehead leaned against hers. “Mine.”
Her heart slammed inside her chest. She never expected a bond to form in a dream, yet it felt more real than what she’d shared with Jasper.
“Yours,” she answered.
A slow smile spread on his lips. “Didn’t think that would happen that way.”
“You want the bond—right?”
He nodded, pressing a kiss to her lips. “And I’ll give you better when we get you somewhere safe. Now how do I find you?”
“You should sense my presence now. As long as you’re close enough. I’m not even sure where I am. I didn’t leave the cave the same way I went in.”
“What do you mean?”
She laughed softly. “I’ll explain when you find me. I just know there’s a waterfall.”
“I better wake up, huh?” He lowered her until her feet touched the ground.
She pulled his mouth to hers and took one more kiss. “I’ll reach for you, see if I can find you, but I have a feeling my phone is dead. Took a swim with it.”
He nodded slowly. “Then maybe this was exactly what we needed.”
Her head tipped, and a smile spread. “Find me. I’ll be looking for you too.”
“If you’re wiped out, stay, we’ll be there. I’ll find you.”
“We’ll see when I wake up.”
“Whatever you do, be safe.”
“You have my word,” she murmured.
Her eyes fluttered open. She was at the base of the fall, on a flat rock. She pushed herself to a stand and patted herself down. No phone, no purse, but no injuries. She was hungry, though.
Moving into the woods, she stashed her clothes up high and shifted to her wolf form. She’d fit in. There were other wolves in the area. She needed to hunt down some small prey before going in search of Bran.
On all fours, she trotted deeper into the trees and sniffed out her prey. A rabbit hopped into her path and Evangeline took it down quickly, devouring her meal before going back to the hiding spot for her clothes.
Once dressed, she closed her eyes to get her bearing. Bran, she could feel him in the distance. Not yet to the mountain, but that was okay. She could start toward him.
Regret lumped up in Evangeline’s throat. She should have checked on her sister before waking up. Later she could make up for her oversight.
* * * *
Bran woke up and immediately grabbed the dash as Jay took a corner way too damned fast. “What the hell is going on?” Bran demanded.
“Losing some asshole following us. Think it might be a cop.”
“You realize that losing a cop out here might be bad for my career?”
Jay snorted. “In Silvertail Ridge? Doubtful. Look, we’re almost in the clear. And I have a feeling this douchebag is a local badge and something else. Maybe one of those damned witches that are all over out here.”
“How much do you know about the area?”
He sighed. “I looked into Evangeline to make sure she really wasn’t part of Killian’s shit a few times. And she was, but only through her twisted as fuck father.”
Bran scrubbed a hand over his face. “What are you talking about? Spill. She’ll tell me eventually. We’re—uh…”
“Meant to be together?” Jay provided.
“Yeah, something like that.” He didn’t think Jay would understand the whole bound through a dream, but Bran felt the connection to Evangeline more strongly than anything he’d ever felt before.
And yeah, it came as a surprise. Did that mean Nate could have bound Savon to him in a dream? Thank fuck the bastard hadn’t forced that on her while she was still running.
Bran stared out the window.
Jay spoke, “Her father used her as a pawn in various deals over the years. I think he used her ability to get into people’s heads through dreams to glean information. He’s used her as a spy. And because Evangeline’s sister is sickly but still alive, Evangeline gets sucked back in and goes along with his plans as long as she doesn’t implicate herself too far. She does it to protect her sister.”
Bran growled. The father sounded like a fucking prick. “If we run into him, I’m dealing with that piece of shit before we leave.”
Jay nodded. “Figured as much. As long as she didn’t scare you off when you started to realize what she was capable of.”
“Why do you think she’ll scare me off?”
“She’s been known to terrorize people through dreams. Until I learned to block her, she gave me some pretty fucked up nightmares, and I can’t say I blame her. It’s why I learned how to keep her out of my head.”
Bran let out a short laugh. “Well, you did kill her mate.”
“Don’t regret that for a second. I only hope Evangeline will eventually forgive me. I didn’t kill the bastard to hurt her, but he slaughtered my entire pack and violated the women before killing them. I couldn’t let him live.”
“Don’t blame you. And you could have killed Evangeline as revenge. You didn’t. Look, I’m not saying either of you were wrong. She was hurting, it makes sense. You didn’t go after her, even when she tormented you. I was wrong about you.”
He chuckled. “You’ve been in love with her this whole time. I get it. You thought I did something horrible to her and reacted.”
“We need to find Evangeline.”
“You can sense her?”
Bran nodded. “I can. And this is the right direction.”
His brow pinched. “How do you sense Evangeline? That’s something only a mated pair can do unless it’s because you’re half- Sylvan Fae.”
Bran lifted a shoulder. “That’s not it. But Evangeline is a Dreamwalker.”
Jay nodded. “Yeah, got that. Doesn’t explain how you sense her.”
“Um, somehow, our bond forged while I was dreaming.”
Jay’s brows shot up to his hairline. “That’s possible?”
“Must be. I definitely feel it.”
“Interesting. Might just be a Dreamwalker thing.”
“Yeah, anyway. So, when we lose this asshole, want to let me drive? Since I’m the one who can track her.”
Smirking, Jay shrugged. “Sure. Works for me.”
“Think we’re going to need the camping gear?” Bran asked.
“If her father has people searching for her, then yeah, most likely.”
Bran glanced over and rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry to take you away from the bar.”
“Don’t worry about that. It’s covered, and this is more important, especially with me planning to sell it and move away.”
“Even though you’re more welcome than you were?”
Jay glanced over. “I want to find my own mate. Thanks. Maybe after that, I’ll want to move back.”
Bran rubbed at his neck and muttered, “Sorry about Savon.” The bastard had felt the beginning of a mate bond with his sister when she finally came back to Silvertail Ridge. She chose Nate, though, and with their history, the decision wasn’t a surprise.
Jay shook his head. “She was meant for Nate. I don’t begrudge either of them for how things turned out. I’ve only known her a week or so. The deep longing has faded. Nate had to suffer through twelve years of that. They’re happy now. And I finally have a reason to search for my mate, now that I know the possibility is out there.”
“I wish I had given you a chance from the beginning.”
“Stop with the bullshit.” Jay took another turn, onto a logging road. “Really, it’s water under the bridge. I don’t want to worry about any of that.”
“Fine, but remember, if you need something, let me know. I owe you.”
“Nah, you don’t. Remember, this is my way of making up for hurting Evangeline.”
“Still, if you ever need something, let me know.”
“We’ll see.”
Jay pulled over and hopped out. Bran moved around the vehicle to take over with the driving.