Breaking Free (2 page)

One chance, that’s all he had. Devlin sat in his hotel room, finally feeling some semblance of freedom. How long it would last? There was no telling, but he needed to make an attempt.

Simply h
olding the medallion on the white-gold chain drowned out the humming noise that had filled his head for so long he had forgotten what peace felt like. Twenty years of constant static, all thanks to the Dales and the wards their dark mages had placed on him, blotting his last connection to the outside world.

Holding his breath, he slipped
the chain over his head. His wards completely disintegrated the disruptive spells.

Built-
up tension from years of fighting the dark magic melted away. He took a deep, cleansing breath and let it out slowly. Peace washed through him. The relief was immense. Devlin slumped onto the bed, his eyelids sliding shut, succumbing to real sleep for the first time in ages.

The moon shone bright over a crystal clear lake. Thousands of stars were reflected, like floating diamonds sparkling. The breeze blew gently through red cedar, pine, and maple. The clean mountain air reminded him of camping with his family when he was a boy.

It had been so long since he had the liberty, and desire, to enjoy nature. The water called to Devlin. Carefully, without a sound, he pulled the clothes from his body and placed them on the stump beside him.

With a slow breath, he walked into the gentle ripples, creating larger crests of his own. Warm water greeted him. He dove under, swimming deeper.

A
splash caught Devlin’s attention. He broke the surface to find nothing, and no one. Closing his eyes, he reached out with his senses. A lone werewolf was close.

Panic flared through him, and h
e started for the shore, but a woman surfaced before him. A slow smile spread on her face when he flailed back, splashing her in his surprise.

“Your heart’s pounding.” Amusement sparkled in her pale
blue topaz eyes as she placed one small hand over his chest. Warmth washed through him offering a calm he couldn’t remember ever feeling.

Yet, he was terrified the Dales were tracking him.
A dream, nothing more than a dream. They can’t find me
, he reminded himself.

“You startled me,” Devlin replied.

“Hmm.” Her foot brushed against his calf, sending a shiver through his entire body. She tapped her finger to her chin. “You remind me of someone, but I can’t figure out who.”

Intrigued, and certainly heading toward aroused, he asked, “What makes you say that?”

One corner of her shiny pink mouth lifted impishly. “Don’t know, but you do.” Her voice had taken on a husky purr which effectively made his blood pump faster.

A dream, just a dream
, he told himself. Then he did something bold, something he hadn’t done in so long he was sure he’d fail, even in a fantasy. “What’s a sweet little wolf like you doing out here all alone?”

Her giggle was melodi
c as her already dazzling eyes lit up. “Looking for love in all the wrong places.”

As if on cue, his resistance broke
. Her tiny waist fit perfectly in his hands, her hips flared in a way that made him groan. Devlin propelled them closer to the shore, until his feet touched bottom.

Before he could make his move, her legs locked around his hips and her fingers caressed up his shoulder and neck to delve into his hair. She grazed her lips over his. Afraid to take things too far, he slid his hands up her back, pressing her full breasts against his chest.

Needing more of her taste, he deepened their kiss. Devlin felt more alive than he could remember.
A dream, just a blasted dream
, his brain chimed in. The knowledge didn’t stop him from sweeping his tongue into her mouth when she opened to him.

Her body undulated in tune with his, and her heated core slid against his hardened length. The urge to bury himself in her was too
much.

Pulling back, he
panted, “Your name? Need your name, Precious.”

“Precious?” She licked her lips as she stared back at him with something like awe in her big blue eyes.

He tipped his forehead to hers and breathed in her wild but seductive scent. “You’ve set me free of my old life. You’ve given me something to look forward to.” He didn’t know where the words came from, but he didn’t dare take them back. They felt right.

“Jamie Abrams. You better come to me.” There was a command hidden in her sweet sassy voice
, one he truly wanted to obey. “I’ll be waiting.”

He nodded, rolling her name through his head like a fine wine over his tongue.

Devlin woke with a start, the name Jamie Abrams dancing through his mind until he reached for his
satellite phone. Something told him he needed to find this woman, if she was even real.

More than 20 years had passed since he was able to reach another person in a dream
. Something about her name was familiar. If only he could recall where he’d heard it.

* * * *

“Bad Influence” by P!nk played on her phone, drawing Jamie from her too-short nap. Time had passed since she dozed off. The sun was warm on her shoulders, and her kindle had shut down. She could still feel his lips on hers, his body responding.

Shaking off the dream, Jamie hit talk. “Hi
, Jess. Aren’t you and Slater busy?”

“Not at the moment. He had to go with Hayden.” Jess let out a sigh. “Are we still on for tonight?”

Jamie dropped her head to her arm. “Yeah. We are.” She wasn’t sure she still felt like going, but she had promised. Besides, who didn’t love a good bachelorette party at a strip club? Maybe it would get her out of her funk.

“How long
until it’s time to go?”

“About an hour before we leave. I’m heading over
to keep you company.” There was a hint of concern in her twin’s voice. It made her nervous. Too many times over the years, Jess would waltz in and warn her about some horrible event lurking around the corner. This felt like all those times.

“See you soon
.” With a sigh, Jamie hung up, and climbed to her feet. She gathered her tea, kindle and the fleece blanket she had laid out in the open back yard.

Why didn’t I ask his name?

His emerald eyes still haunted her, his nervous attraction drawing her in, intriguing her. She had a million questions, but she knew there was no time. Then, for some illogical reason, she’d told Dream-man to find her.

A
fantasy, a goddamned fantasy.
One that felt so real she had a hard time believing it was so simple.

Why could I feel his emotions in my dream? That doesn’t happen.

Jamie went inside, dropped her cup in the kitchen, and tossed the blanket and kindle on the chair, before going back to her room. September was still warm enough she didn’t feel the need to layer her clothes. She went with a cute floral sundress and tied her pale hair into a ponytail before touching up her makeup.

His accented voice played through her head. She took a slow breath and let out a dreamy sigh. “Precious, he called me precious.”

Jess giggled, stepping into the bathroom with her. “Who did? What did I miss?”

Jamie pouted. “My
Dream-man.”

“Your dream man?” One pale eyebrow arched. “And who would that be?”

Frowning, she glanced away. “No one you know. No one
I
know.” The reality dragged down her good mood. Letting out a sigh, she shrugged a single shoulder. “Doesn’t matter, it was a silly dream.”

Jess’ whole face scrunched in consideration. “I hate to tell you this, but don’t trust a dream.”

“It was only a dream.” Jamie licked her lips. “A very hot dream, which felt more real than any other I’ve ever had, but a dream nevertheless.”

His sexy rumbled endearment whispered through her head, the intensity in his gaze thrilling her, even though
she was firmly back in reality.

A smirk formed on Jess’ lips. “You
need
to get laid. It’s been how long since Preston?”

Jamie’s eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t need a man to tide me over until I find my mate. I’m done wasting my time on men who can’t be what I need.”

“Okay then. So what did this dream-man look like?”

“It was dark, the moon shining down over the lake, and we were in the water.
Pale skin—I think he was a redhead, but I can’t be sure. His eyes sparkled like emeralds. Mmm, and his body certainly felt long and hard. Oh, and his mouth was so damned scrumptious.” There was definitely a dreamy quality to her voice she didn’t bother to hide.

Jess rubbed her chin, watching her sister closely. “I don’t recall anyone fitting that description around here.”

Jamie rolled her eyes, turning back to find her favorite pink lip gloss, muttering, “It was only a dream.”

* * * *

The Edenton Crier
was an interesting blog. Devlin had found Jamie Abrams. He also found his sister in the very same town, like it was fate. He had to see his sister, at least once.

And Jamie… he couldn’t resist her sweet, sassy smile or those big blue eyes that seemed to see straight to his soul, coaxing him from hiding.

Now he knew where he heard the name before, or rather something similar. Ten years ago, Jamie’s twin, Jess Abrams, was held by the Dales. Fallon, his own sister, was the one who took down the San Francisco ring, with the help of two mages.

DeMarco had
made him to watch the video feed of what Malachi forced the two mages to do to her. Unlike Devlin, Fallon fought with everything she had against her captors, then turned around to free those held against their will.

He wished he had her strength, but he’d seen what happen
ed when he resisted their demands. Devlin had never been a fighter, and he broke every time they started to torture someone. When DeMarco was being particularly cruel, he kept the victim in the next cell where Devlin couldn’t help, sometimes until they died.

Shaking off his regrets, and what he couldn’t change, he directed his attention
to the blog. He knew Fallon was a tattoo artist but the blog confirmed rumors she was warding the tattoos themselves. It also went into how she won over the town when she helped the citizens of Edenton take down some mysterious Other fighting ring in Washington.

That
might explain where Sarah’s master had disappeared to, and why DeMarco was becoming more desperate. Though the liche never would say what happened to Malachi.

Fallon was also getting married to a werewolf. The alpha’s second, in fact. The wedding was in a few short days. Jamie was part of the wedding party. He had two very good reasons to go. The same reasons he couldn’t stay.

Devlin felt drawn to Edenton, to Jamie and Fallon. It wouldn’t be long before the Dales came for him. He couldn’t risk showing himself to Fallon, but he’d promised Jamie.

His father had formed a bloodoath, keeping Devlin from telling
his sister about their relationship unless she somehow found out. However, anyone who knew they were brother and sister were also bloodoathed because even at two, Fallon was already stubborn and strong-willed. The only way to keep everyone safe was to run, and never go back, except through dreams.

Now though, Devlin was afraid to seek Fallon out in the dreamrealm, though they spent years as friends there. Thanks to his captivity, he
’d disappeared from her life twenty years ago. There was nothing he could say to explain his absence, so he stayed away.

He scrubbed a hand over his face, and drew a breath. If Fallon didn’t know, maybe it was for the best. Still, he needed to see her
once, with his own eyes, to find out if their father’s choices had worked out for one of them.

It was too late to get back any semblance of the life he should have had. Free or not, the Dales would come for him. He couldn’t chance leading them to his sister, or his little wolf.

He smiled, remembering Jamie’s pale blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight, and her command

In two days’ time, his baby sister was going to be married. He remembered holding her chubby, wriggling little body. Her big green eyes staring up at him while she fiercely gripped his finger in her tiny hand.

Part of him still missed her and the relationship they could have shared. Often, he wondered about her life, about their mother, about so many things which could have been different.

With
a decision made, he grabbed his few belongings and forged documents before heading to the airport. The trip to the United States would buy him some time to figure out the details.

“What’s the matter?” Fallon asked as she sat down beside Jamie. “You look about how I feel when I’m missing Brody. Have you met someone?”

“Nope
.” Jamie put on a fake smile, turning to one of her closest friends. Fallon’s scarlet hair was pulled into a clip, a few stray curls framed her face and neck. Her emerald eyes trained on Jamie’s, with concern etching her features.

“Is it Preston? Have you decided you miss him? My offer
still stands. I’ll hurt him if you want.” Humor colored the honesty. Fallon had promised bodily harm if Jamie’s most recent boyfriend ever hurt her.

“It’s not his fault, Fallon. He was good to me. We simply didn’t work out, and not for lack of trying. The spark wasn’t there
. So don’t take that out on him,” Jamie pleaded. “We’re good, we still talk. Hell, we even hung out last week, after I helped him move some stuff into his new apartment.”

“I don’t like it when you’re all mopey
.”

Jamie shrugged.
“The love isn’t there. What else can I say?”

Fallon rested her elbow on the table and dropped her cheek into her hand with a sigh. “I know, but I
miss the carefree, fun-loving Jamie.”

“I’m
still here. In fact, I’ll prove it by taking Kai up on his offer to prove his hips don’t lie.” Jamie took a look around and spotted the stripper with a wicked smile, twinkling dark eyes, and dance skills that put most men to shame. He’d been blatantly flirting all night. It couldn’t hurt to have a lap dance or two.

Putting on a confident smile, she stood and closed the distance.
His grin turned wicked as he looked her up and down.

One brow arched as her lips quirked.
“Still interested in giving me that wild ride I’ll never forget?”

“I’ll make your dreams come true,” he purred.

It took all her will not to sneer. Her dream man was coming, she felt it in her bones.
Or maybe I’m ready to find my mate.

Batt
ing her lashes, she nodded. “Show me the way.”

* * * *

After a couple dances, Jamie went home and showered. She collapsed on the bed, and didn’t bother with blankets.

Closing her eyes, she whispered, “Please be there.”

She hoped he was real, prayed her gut wasn’t lying, and the man of her dreams was flesh and blood.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself in the middle of a ballroom, bathed in golden candlelight. Candelabras stood in a perfect circle about thirty feet wide. Soft classical music washed over her, tickling her senses. Heavenly silk caressed her curves, and without seeing it, she knew the dress was beautiful.

Jamie turned, com
ing toe-to-toe with Dream-man. He stood nearly a foot taller, his body long and lean in a black tuxedo.

Again,
something about his features struck her as familiar with his scarlet hair, emerald eyes, and pale skin. Then she realized she didn’t care who he looked like because she was lost in his unwavering gaze.

“Still want me to find you?” There was a warmth to his
velvet voice, and more confidence, though she could feel nervousness around the edges.

The corners of her mouth lifted in a grin. “I truly do.”

“I’m coming. I’ll find you, but I can’t stay long.” He sighed, sadness clouding his dazzling eyes. “I feel drawn to you, Jamie. I need to see you, if only once.”

“Can’t stay?” she whispered, her heart deflating. “Then what’s the point?”

“I have to know you, and I have to…” He looked away, smoothing one hand over his straight hair. “I have to see something before I can fade away.”

“Fade away?” Sadness nearly overtook her, his regret only deepening
her own pain. “And if I don’t want to let you go when you finally find me?”

He closed the distance, his fingertips tracing over her cheek and threading into her hair. “Darkness follows me. I feel it.
You’re already precious to me, so I want you safe, happy, and most of all free of everything that comes with my past.”

“Even if losing you is too much to bear? Maybe you should stay away.” Her laugh was bitter. “What am I even saying? This is only a dream, and you aren’t real.” She turned away, walking toward the flickering flames. “Why am I even here?”

She felt his hands close over her shoulders. His breath grazed her ear. “I’ll stay as long as I can. I’m trying to lose my past. Even if I do, you may not like what you learn about me.”

“What are you?” There were tears in her eyes. “How are we standing
in a dream yet it feels so real?”

“I’m a
Dreamwalker. You are my fate.”

Jamie turned and his hands smoothed down her back, drawing her close. His emotions churned through her.
Attraction, intrigue, desire, and something deeper. Still, along the edges, she felt his fear, terror, and a sense of loss threatened to wash over the rest.

She
would fight to keep him, no matter what he said or did. If he actually came, she didn’t think she could let him go.

“What’s your name?” The question rolled off her tongue before she could take it back.

“Devlin.”

He bent,
caressing her lips with his. Her mouth parted and he deepened the kiss. His arms drew her closer, his big hands caressing over the silk dress.

“My
Dream-man.” She couldn’t hide her smile. Jamie craved him in a way that scared her. There was a darkness present, lingering, tainting him, but his soul was pure, struggling against the turmoil. She wanted to break him free of his past.

“That sounds so seductive coming from your lips,” he purred, his eyes blazing with desire.

She trailed one hand down his side, before cupping his straining length. “If you won’t stay, let me have you in my dreams.” Jamie didn’t mind she was begging. She needed him to belong to her in a way that made little sense.
Just a dream. Just a fucking dream.

He looked torn as he pulled away. His smile evaporated, leaving a pained expression. “I won’t
have our first time be in a dream. When we come together, I want us flesh-to-flesh, Precious. And trust me, I won’t be able to resist you when we meet.”

“But it’s only a dream,” she argued, wishing she truly b
elieved that. This was real, even if it was in another state of mind, with no barriers, she could feel him. His emotions, his body, everything, as if he were truly standing in the room with her.

“Not exactly.
Making love to you here would leave us both feeling empty. I swear I’ll come to you, even if it’s only to taste your sweet lips in the real world.”

Regardless of what he said, he obviously planned to leave.

“If you won’t stay, why tempt fate?” Her heart ached at those words.

“You won’t want my past,
Precious. I can only bring pain and suffering if I stay.”

“And if you’re wrong?”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m not wrong.” Once again, he disappeared, leaving her all alone.

A tear rolled down her cheek as she opened her eyes and slid under the blankets. She felt their connection through a dream. Real, solid, and so similar to the bond many of her friends enjoyed.

Jamie wanted that. A mate. Someone to call her own. It was going to break her heart to have him only to watch him walk away
. He was hers in a way no one else could be.

* * * *

The untraceable satellite phone rang as he pulled his suitcase from the luggage carousel. Devlin’s heart sank. The Dales were already after him. There was a very good chance Leonard was dead or wished he were. He never imagined they would be able to find the old forger his father had used for as long as Devlin could remember.

“Where are you hiding?” Sarah purred.

Devlin hoped his friend’s death had been fast. Knowing Sarah, it was more likely to have been slow and drawn out. All because Devlin had escaped. His only consolation was Sarah didn’t know where he’d gone, so he was safe for the time being. At least the entire Atlantic Ocean was between them.

“Where the hell are you, Devlin?”
she screamed. In his mind’s eye, could see her gray eyes swirling with shadows, her dark hair shifting as if a breeze picked it up.

Her rage fueled his bravado. “You can’t control me through the phone. Nice try though.”

“I’ll find you. I’ve tasted your blood and I will track you down.”

Devlin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “After everything they took from you, why are you letting the Dales pull your strings
? I remember you telling me you wanted to get away from them, or have you forgotten that?”

“
DeMarco gave me this one mission, and my reward will be my husband.”

His heart nearly stopped. That name in the
blog post came back to him in a wave of horror. Brody Dean, Fallon’s groom, was Sarah’s husband. Everyone believed her to be dead, but they were only half right.

He was tempted to break
the promise he had made in a dream and keep on running. Jamie’s sweet command came back to him, and he knew he couldn’t disappoint her.

Father taught him to run. He could stay two steps ahead. First, he would go to the wedding, then he would meet Jamie in person. After that, he had to disappear so no harm would come to his little wolf or his sister
, who could never know who he was.

His tone was intentionally cruel. “How many years ago did you choose death over having your husband’s child?”
That wasn’t quite how it went down, but close enough to what she now believed.

Her answer came without pause. “I am everything he ever wanted. He will not turn away from me after pleading with me so many times to accept he was a werewolf.”

I wouldn’t be too sure.
“Well, good luck, Sarah. You won’t find me.” He hung up without another word, thanking the Goddess for the sunrise that was quickly approaching, and the fact Sarah would have to get creative to take a plane across the ocean.

* * * *

Jamie woke up early, threw on an old pair of jeans and ran out the door. First stop, A Good Book, and she hoped like hell Liz or Tremaine would be there to help her find what she was looking for.

The drive was short, and thank
fully the light was on when she walked up to the door. She knocked, because it was only five in the morning.

A few seconds later Liz came to the door, a frown on her face.
“Isn’t it early for you to be here after that party?”

“
I could say the same for you,” Jamie quipped.

“
Couldn’t sleep. The guys are on assignment.”

A sad smile graced Jamie’s face
. She wanted one man, and Liz had two completely wonderful and awesome men to love and cherish her.

Not wanting to dwell, she changed the topic.
“Do you have a book on Dreamwalkers?”

Liz’s brow arched. “
Dreamwalkers? As in those who visit others in their dreams?”

“Yeah.” She nodded, feeling awfully stupid, but Liz turned
toward the shelves and walked away. Jamie followed, shutting the door behind her.

“I take it you have something?” Jamie
prompted.

“Of course. I have
some of everything. However, I want to know what you need it for. It’s not a skill that can be taught.”

“I know, but you’d probably think I was crazy if I told you.” Jamie winced, knowing she should have kept her mouth shut.

Liz smiled over her shoulder. “Doubtful. Remember, I’ve seen, and done, plenty of crazy shit.” She had a point.

Jamie
rubbed the back of her neck and looked up at the ceiling. “Do you swear you won’t tell a soul?”

“
Not a word,” Liz promised.

“Well, I’ve been dreaming about this guy. It doesn’t feel like a
dream though. I can actually
feel
him while dreaming and that
doesn’t
happen.”

“You’re getting empath readings from
this guy while you’re asleep?” Liz clarified, sounding excited.

“Yeah. Crazy, huh?”

“Not so much.” She reached up high, slid a book out and turned toward Jamie with a grin. “Careful with it, and I’ll want it back. It’s the only one I know of. But, you can borrow it and find what you want to know.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Still, I want to know who it is you’re dreaming about.”

“I wish I knew, but I don’t. Never seen him before
. So it’s sort of weird.”

“And where did you come up with the
label Dreamwalker?”