That was lost on his brother as well as M'Ordant stared down at him. "Did you learn nothing from your punishment?"
Yes, he'd learned to be more careful seeking out Erin. To tell no one of the precious time they spent together.
"You're boring me, M'Ordant. Go away."
"You can't be bored."
"And a good thing, too, since I'd no doubt perish from it while in your company."
M'Ordant stared at him blankly. "I am merely here as a courtesy. As of this moment, the woman is tagged. Summon her again, and you will deal with me."
"Well, it certainly wouldn't be the first time you and I have crossed."
"True, but I have permission from Hypnos to make it the last time if you interfere with her again."
Erin went to sleep that night and waited for V'Aidan to show himself.
He didn't.
When she woke up in the morning, she trembled with loss and worry. Had something happened to him?
He'd acted so strangely yesterday. And that shout…
What could have happened? Could the Skoti have found him? Hurt him because he protected her?
"V'Aidan," she whispered. "Where are you?"
V'Aidan ached as he heard the plea in Erin's voice. He stood at her side, so close all he had to do was shift slightly and he would touch her. "I'm here, Erin," he whispered. "I've been here all night."
She didn't hear him.
He'd stayed by her bed the entire time she slept, watching her. Making sure none of the Skoti found her. He was sure Krysti'Ana was behind M'Ordant's appearance.
V'Aidan was all that stood between Erin and Krysti'Ana. So long as he visited her dreams and they were together, his sister would never be able to claim Erin.
Erin's mind was ripe with happiness and creativity. Her dreams were vivid and warm and bubbling over with emotions. Any Skotos would be attracted to her.
And now he could neither protect her nor…
His thoughts scattered as she wept.
Pain lacerated his chest at the sight of her grief. She sobbed as if her heart were broken.
Why?
But worse was the helplessness he felt. He hurt for her. "Please don't cry, akribos," he whispered, trying to gather her into his arms.
It didn't work.
He wasn't of her world. He could never be part of her world. Grinding his teeth, he cursed his formless existence.
Erin wept until her eyes grew heavy. Until she was spent and so tired, she couldn't move.
And as she slipped back into sleep, she thought for an instant that she caught a glimpse of V'Aidan in her room.
The next thing she knew, she found herself high on a mountaintop, looking out on the ocean.
The grass caressed her bare feet as the waves crashed on the surf far below. Wind whipped through her hair, plastering her white sundress to her body.
She breathed in the crisp, clean air and listened to the gulls cawing. How peaceful.
Just when she thought her dream couldn't improve, she felt two strong arms wrap around her. "Do you like it here?"
She shivered at the deep accent of V'Aidan's voice in her ear. "Yes, I do."
She turned in his arms to see his hot gaze staring down at her. She trembled at his concerned look, at the handsome lines of his face.
"Tell me why you were crying," he demanded.
"I was afraid something had happened to you."
"And it made you sad?"
She nodded.
V'Aidan shook with the knowledge. He leaned down and rested his chin against her shoulder and inhaled the sweet scent of her skin. She felt so incredible in his arms.
She had worried over him. It was unbelievable.
"Where were you?"
"I was with you," he breathed. "I just thought you'd want a night off."
She laughed at that. "You say that as if being around you is a trial."
"Isn't it?"
She looked aghast at the very idea. "No. Never."
"Why do you like being around me?"
"You make me happy."
He frowned. "I made you cry."
"Only a little."
"And still you want to be with me?"
"Of course I do."
The woman was the greatest fool in history.
He knew he didn't have long before M'Ordant would find them. He'd brought her to his land to help mask what he'd done, but it wouldn't shield the tag permanently.
But before he returned her, he wanted to share one last piece of himself with her before he said good-bye to her forever.
V'Aidan moved away and pointed out to the horizon that his special perch looked out onto. "Did you know you can see the edge of the world from here?"
"Excuse me?"
He smiled. "It's true. See that gold glinting in the sunlight? That's where the human world begins."
"Where are we?"
"This is the Vanishing Isle. Greek sailors used to believe they would come here when they died so that they could always be near the ocean."
"And why do they call it the Vanishing Isle?" she asked.
"Because you can only see it for a few minutes at sunup and sundown. Much like the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, you can try to reach it, but you never will."
She looked up at him. "Are you really a Greek god?"
"Would it scare you if I were?"
"Do you want me to fear you?"
V'Aidan hesitated at her question. It was the answer that truly surprised him. "No, I don't."
She smiled a smile that shook him all the way to his heart. "Is this where you live?"
"Sometimes."
"Why only sometimes?"
"There are certain times of the year when I am banned from here."
Her brows drew together into a concerned frown. "Why?"
"The other gods don't like my kind. I am a pariah to all."
"Why would they feel that way? You are a champion."
"Not really. I'm a dream master and not what you see. I'm nothing more than the image you have made for me, but in reality I have no substance. No feelings."
"I don't believe that. A man without feelings would never have helped me the way you have."
He fingered her cheek. "You are so naive. Are all women like you?"
"No," she said with a devilish gleam in her eyes. "I've been told many times that I am highly unusual."
V'Aidan dipped his head down and took possession of her mouth. Erin sighed as she fisted her hands in the folds of his black shirt. "You taste like heaven," she breathed.
He needed to let her go. It was time.
But…
He couldn't do it.
Zeus have mercy on him, he couldn't send her back. Not when all he really wanted to do was hold on to her for the rest of eternity.
The air around them sizzled with electricity as the sky above turned dark. Erin trembled in his arms.
"What is that?" she whispered.
It was his death.
"Don't worry, akribos," he said, "I will protect you." The emotion behind the words stunned him most of all. He meant them, and for the first time ever he understood them.
Suddenly one of Zeus's lightning bolts hit the ground, driving them apart.
Erin fell several yards from V'Aidan.
V'Aidan tried to reach her, but before he could, ten demon Skoti appeared and surrounded her.
In her snake form, Krysti'Ana laughed, the sound cackling louder than thunder. "Tell me, human," she lisped. "What do you fear more? Dying yourself or seeing him die in your place?"
"Let her go," V'Aidan said, rising to his feet. He summoned his black armor to shield him and he pulled his sword from the air around them.
"Never," Krysti'Ana said with a laugh. "I need her ideas. I need her mind. Look at you. Look at me. See what she has done to us? You didn't make her weaker by releasing her creativity. You made her stronger. I have never been so powerful."
It was true. Erin's mind, her depth of spirit, was a treasure. One he had sworn to himself that he would protect at any cost. "Release her, or I will kill you." He pierced each of the Skoti with a murderous glance. "All of you."