I was saved from having to answer when the doorbell rang. Kimber was here.

The Erlking—Arawn—picked Ethan up and carried him as easily as if he were a baby. Without another word to me, he headed for the door, and I hurried to catch up.

*   *   *

My mind kind of numbed out a bit after that. Kimber was both thrilled and panicky when Arawn handed her brother’s limp body to her. As a full-blooded Fae, she was able to handle his weight, though not as easily as Arawn could. Tears streamed down her face, and there was no sign of the crankiness she usually displayed around Ethan. Probably just as well he was only sporadically conscious, or he’d never have let her live it down.

She was distracted enough by her relief over Ethan’s release that she didn’t ask me how I’d managed it. I felt like I’d dodged a bullet, but I fully expected her to start shooting more bullets than I could avoid when she’d recovered her composure.

We went our separate ways after that, Kimber taking Ethan to their father’s house, while I returned to my safe house. I’d hesitated a long time before doing it, afraid there might be consequences Arawn had failed to mention, but eventually I pricked my finger on the brooch he’d given me. With no bodyguards, and only about half my wits available, I was a sitting duck for anyone who wished me harm, so I figured it was absolutely necessary that I hide myself from sight.

My sense of direction sucks, but I’d traveled back and forth from my safe house often enough that I was able to find my way without assistance. I didn’t have the stag to light my way this time, but Arawn had thoughtfully given me a flashlight.

Finn was being very bodyguard-like when I stepped into the guardroom, his head bent over a gun he was meticulously cleaning. Several other guns lay on the table, as did a couple of silver knives. I held my breath as I walked by, but he didn’t see me. I hated to admit it, but the Erlking’s gift made a nice get-out-of-jail-free card. As far as I could tell, Finn never even knew I was gone.

Once I was safely in my suite once more, I debated between drinking massive amounts of coffee and collapsing into bed. Collapsing into bed won, and I was so exhausted I fell instantly asleep.

Unfortunately, it was not a dreamless sleep. The moment I drifted off, I found myself held tightly in Arawn’s arms as he kissed me. It was a kiss as deep and passionate as the real one we’d shared, only this time it wasn’t influenced by magic. I pressed myself against him, letting myself feel the intensity of his arousal against my belly. It should have alarmed me, but it didn’t.

I opened myself to him with abandon, letting his tongue explore my mouth, not protesting when his hands slid down to my rear and pulled me even harder against him. I was mindless with pleasure and need.

Arawn broke the kiss, and I let out a mewl of protest. He smiled down at me, his eyes dark and glittering, then picked me up and laid me down on my bed. A small part of me registered the fact that this couldn’t be real. The rest of me didn’t care.

Arawn positioned himself on top of me, careful not to crush me under the weight of his huge body. Somehow, my legs ended up spread, one of his thighs pressed between them. I arched my back and let out a moan. I could hardly breathe through my need, and my hands lifted of their own volition to the buttons on his shirt.

I don’t know how far the dream would have gone if I hadn’t been awakened by Finn pounding on my door.

“Dana!” he shouted, like it wasn’t the first time he’d called my name. “Answer me now, or I’m coming in.”

Groggy and disoriented, I sat up. “Be out in a minute,” I managed to answer.

“Your father wants to see you,” Finn said. “Now.”

Ugh. That didn’t sound good. “I’ll be out in just a sec.”

I rubbed at my crusty eyes and made my way to the bathroom. I wanted to at least brush my hair and throw some cold water on my face before facing my dad, who must have heard that Ethan was free and known I was somehow responsible.

I froze when I saw my reflection in the mirror. My face was flushed, and I belatedly noticed my cheeks were blazing hot. My pupils were dilated so much it looked like I’d been doing drugs, and my hair was a snarled, tangled mess.

The flush deepened when I remembered just what I’d been dreaming about. I did not want to think about the Erlking that way. Yes, he was gorgeous, and he had that special bad-boy appeal—real bad boy, unlike Keane—but he was dangerous, and cruel, and about a zillion years too old for me. Absently, I rubbed my fingers over my lips, remembering the bruising force of his real-life kiss. I had enjoyed it at the time, but remembering now made me squirm. I’d been kissed a total of twice in my whole life, and both times I’d been under the influence of mind-altering magic. I wondered what a genuine kiss would feel like, and worried that the sensation would pale in comparison.

I shook myself out of that line of thinking and shoved the memories—both of the real kiss and the dream one—to the back of my mind to be dealt with later.

It was time to face the proverbial music.

Chapter nineteen

There was exactly zero chance I was going to tell my dad what I’d had to do to win Ethan’s freedom, and by the time I’d gotten myself pulled together enough to leave my bedroom, I’d concocted a cover story that would get me out of having to tell anyone the embarrassing truth.

Dad was waiting for me in the living room, pacing restlessly in front of the couch. In the second or so I had before he noticed me, I saw that his face was tight with strain, his cheeks unusually pale even for him. I’d expected him to be furious with me, but he didn’t look angry. He looked … scared.