Every time his dreams ventured toward those bleak memories, they were blown away, as if by a wind, and he would settle again amongst pleasing thoughts. Once in a while, he thought he spotted a raven watching him from a boulder along the beach or a corner of the abbey.

The raven did not frighten him. It was more like a comforting companion, a familiar presence.

It was still dark outside when he opened his eyes, but light enough to declare it was morning, despite the heavy falling snow outside the windows and the clouds spread across the winter sky. He let out a sigh, then felt the weight of another body pressing the blankets and furs down across his own.

Selene lay nearby, a single fur pulled over her body, her face toward his, her hand stretched out toward his arm but no longer touching him. Her black hair lay tangled around her head, and her cheeks were red. She made a small noise, then curled her fingers and drew her knees in closer to her body.

Damien blinked away the last vestiges of sleep, willing his mind to wake up. He felt refreshed, for the first time in a long time. A sense of tranquility hung across his spirit, so different from the heavy shadows of yesterday. The darkness was still there, but it had sunk back out of sight, far enough that he could only feel a sliver of its chill.

He looked again at Selene. Was this her doing? He recalled the raven watching him inside his dreams. Was that her?

Damien sat up carefully, so as not to disturb her, and rubbed his face. She had revealed so much about her gift, and yet there seemed to be even more to learn, like how she could change her appearance. And he had a feeling it was Selene who had chased away his nightmares and given him peace.

What an amazing gift. What more could she do?

He leaned forward and whispered, “Thank you, Selene.”

She never moved, just continued sleeping with even breaths.

Damien turned toward his side of the bed and stood, taking care not to move the mattress. After dressing, he glanced at Selene one more time, feeling something stir inside his heart. Was it possible that waking up next to Selene could become a familiar sight? That they could face the day together, live life together, like his parents and his grandparents had?

Was this something she desired also?

22

Amara gasped as she sank back into her body. Her heart raced like a horse inside her chest, threatening to burst forth. Her knees were numb from kneeling on the cold floor while she was in the young stableboy’s dreamscape.

She sucked in a lungful of air and looked up. The boy lay still across the sleeping mat inside the tiny room. A faded quilt was pulled up across his chest, his fingers fanned along the edge. Pale moonlight streamed through the narrow window to the left. His face . . .