He closed his eyes, trying to wake himself up. He was losing time to find her. When he opened his eyes, he was still on the beach.
“I gotta get outta here,” he said.
“Why?” she asked.
“I have to find you.”
“I’m right here.”
“No, the realyou. I have to find you before it’s too late,” he said impatiently.
“What if – “
“We have forever to talk things out,” he said. “But I don’t have forever to find you.” Rhyn trotted away from the beach as he spoke. Katie scrambled after him.
“Rhyn, wait!”
“Katie, I can’t. I’m running out of time.”
“Be careful, Rhyn.” Her soft, forlorn words sounded like a farewell.
“This is killing me,” he muttered. He strode to her, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her. She yielded more easily in the dream than she ever had in real life. Her soft, warm lips welcomed him hungrily, and he lost himself in her sweet musk, warm skin and honeyed taste. He didn’t want to leave; he wanted to spend the rest of his life making love to her on the beach. He wanted to feel his skin pressed against hers and for her to run her fingers through his hair before scraping her nails down his back. He wanted to take her every way he could imagine, until they lay spent and panting on the beach, until nothing but their entwined bodies and souls remained of their world.
If he stayed, he’d lose her forever.
Struggling against the demands of his roaring blood, Rhyn closed his eyes, sought his magic and willed himself awake.
The phantom Andre was squatting beside her when Katie awoke. She jerked, surprised at how close he was. He was real enough for her to feel his body heat, even if he was invisible to everyone but her and moved without a sound. The fact that Gabe was sleeping a short distance away didn’t seem to faze the ghost. Instead, it pointed to something it had written in the dirt beside her.
Demon.
Katie pushed herself up. She raised an eyebrow at the word. Andre pointed to the death-dealer.
“You think Gabriel is a demon?” Katie whispered.
Andre nodded. She frowned.
“Or are you a demon?” she challenged.