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?"