Verum (The Nocte Trilogy 2)

“The truth is coming, child. Be ready for it.”

I try to be, but it’s hard, because I don’t know what to watch for.

I go through the motions of my days, sitting with Eleanor when she asks, and spending my nights with Dare.

During the days, he’s aloof and cool and detached, but at night, he’s different.

He’s warm and gentle and mine.

By night I am free.

Nocte liber sum.

Tonight, he waits for me.

Tonight, he lies next to me, propped on his elbow, staring down at me.

“You’ve always been mine,” he tells me, his voice low. “Even before you knew it.”

He kisses me almost before I can answer, before I can tell him that he’s mine, too. I sigh and he sucks it in, his tongue in my mouth. His lips are soft, his arms are hard, and I don’t want to ever leave this bed.

For the first time, I fall asleep in his arms, the rhythm of his breathing and his heart lulling me into sleep.

His arms can’t keep the dreams away.

There’s blood, like always, but it isn’t mine.

It isn’t Finn’s.

It’s Dare’s.

Olivia stands in front of me again, her eyes accusatory.

Surprised, I stare at her.

“Why are you here?”

She stares back.

“Why are you? You don’t belong with him.”

“I do,” I argue. “I do.”

“You don’t deserve him,” she whispers, her face turning white. “You’re his downfall.”

“Why am I his downfall?” I almost scream it. “I’m harmless. I haven’t hurt a soul.”

“But you did,” she argues simply, waving her arm. The cliffs by my house appear, and my mom’s smashed car is in the ravine. There’s blood, there’s screams and they’re dead.

“I called my mom,” I remember. “She crashed into my brother.”

Olivia stares at me. “The past is a prison, and you’ll never break free.”

“Wake up, Cal. Wake up.”

It’s Dare now, and he’s murmuring into my ears and his grip is too hard on my arms. I squirm away.

“Why did you say that?” he demands, his eyes so stormy. The sheets are around his waist and his chest is bare.