“I-I don’t want to be alone.”

“You’re not alone. I’m here. And the Light is with you as well.”

Sunlight moved across the window as time turned, and still Damien remained beside the bed. As the sun began to set, Quinn opened his eyes again. “I see it,” he whispered, his eyes bright and feverish.

Damien lifted his head from where he had laid it on the edge of the bed. “What do you see?”

“The Light.” He let out a long breath, a content smile on his face. “It’s beautiful, Damien, just like Father said it would be. So . . . beau . . . ti . . . ful.” His lips stopped, and the life faded from his face.

Damien sat up. “No,” he whispered. “Quinn, you can’t leave me.” He shook Quinn’s hand. “Do you hear me? Quinn! Quinn!”

Damien bowed his head and broke into uncontrollable sobs. Selene had never seen a man cry like that before, but instead of being repulsed, she wanted more than anything to wrap her arms around him. She could feel his deep and piercing grief through the dreamscape. Such love. Such anguish.

Beyond the dream, she heard Damien moan.

I need to change this. I need to find good memories. Happy memories.

Selene spread her wings and flew up along the wind current, high above the nightmares flashing across Damien’s mind, and searched.

She dove down toward a memory, pressing her power against the dreamscape, changing the scene from that dark bedroom to this new one, full of light and laughter.

Three children stood below an ancient oak tree. The trunk was wider than a doorway, with thick branches spreading high above, its leaves forming a canopy of green over what appeared to be a city square. The sun shone brightly overhead, surrounded by a blue sky.

Selene recognized two of the young people. Only one family had that shade of blond hair. As she circled down, she realized the third was a younger version of Damien, on the brink of manhood.

The girl clasped her hands together as she stared up into the tree. “Quinn, be careful.”

Damien folded his arms and laughed. “See, Tyrn, I told you Quinn would beat Elric.”

The other boy—with that pinched look of adolescence—scowled. “I think they’re both foolish and should come down before someone catches them.”

A burst of laughter came from high above. Selene landed on the closest branch and looked into the tree. Two boys were making their way up, laughing along the way. One with dark hair, the other with the telltale blond.

“I’m almost there, Elric,” shouted the dark-haired boy.

“Think again, Quinn!” Elric yelled as he gathered speed and climbed the next few branches in a flash. By now, the two boys were nearing the top, where the branches were thinner and sagging slightly under their weight.

“All right,” Tyrn hollered from below. “Time to come down before one of you falls.”

“He’s right, Quinn,” Damien shouted. “I don’t want to be the one to tell Father that you broke your leg.”