Chương 158: Chapter 158: In Dreams

Jude POV

Following Tulaska's decisive declaration, Jude sought Ravyn's feelings on the matter.

Conflicted. A mass of feelings, swirling and spinning. But emerging from the mass, he perceived something he didn't expect.

Acceptance.

He shouldn't be surprised, despite Ravyn's initial shock, disgust, and outrage at the revelation. After all, she'd been the one pushing for compassion towards Hades. And who but Ravyn Rolfe Faolan would even consider allowing Hades to stay?

She saw the logic in it, and as a witch, she always kept sight of the bigger picture.

"I agree," Ravyn said in a soft voice, her amethyst eyes seeking Jude's answer.

Everyone else stood in silence, reading the situation correctly. They seemed to know that protests, anger, and futile schemes to kick Hades out of Jude's body wouldn't go over well.

Jude had willingly accepted Hades, who, admittedly, was a master manipulator ... or he had been. Then, he sacrificed himself to try and stop the Dark Goddess-and end his own torment. It might be one of the most honest, real things Hades had done in a long, long time.

Even knowing that, could he truly live with Hades inside his head?

"Everyone," Jude said in a hoarse voice, "you should go and brief the others in the waking world. I'd like to talk in private to the man who may be living in my body as a roommate for the rest of my life."

Garnet tensed. "Jude--"

"Hades won't hurt him," Cyran assured her, looking to Talon and Kelara, who nodded.

A swirling white maelstrom of power surrounded Hades suddenly, trapping him. Lilia said in an adamant tone, "You better not hurt my father."

Hades stood serenely, spreading his hands. "Those days are done, Lilia."

"You can believe him," Tulaska asserted, with a shake of her dream medicine rattle that made the whirlwind disappear. Glancing at the instrument in her hand, Tulaska murmured, "Well, what do you know? I'm still learning new tricks."

"Always," Cyran said fondly. "You can believe Hades, Lilia."

"We'll be watching you," Talon warned. "Ancestor or no."

Hades smirked. "I'd expect nothing less. Now, go, and reassure that brave boy of yours ... and little Logan Padraig, your future son. He'll also be a bold and courageous prince."

Kelara, composed and gracious, said, "Thank you."

The group vanished, leaving Jude and Hades alone by the lakeshore. The occasional dark semicircle of a serpent's coil breached the water as they stood together watching the tranquil lake. For a long moment, neither man uttered a word.

Finally, Jude broke the silence. "I accepted you into me. That shocks me."

Hades shrugged. "You seem like a forward-thinking Alpha--and you have witches in your life as a wife and a stepdaughter, as well as brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews who are mages."

Blinking, Jude conceded the point. "But to take you into my body--"

"Believe me, you were the best option available," Hades said frankly.

"Do I ... have power? Magical power? I mean in my blood?'

"You mean apart from being a magical, fearsome beast of legend? Yes, I'd say you do."

"The family history--"

"Come, come, you're not that naive. The Sinsworths literally walled up and destroyed any evidence of me." Hades sounded perfectly sensible and rational. "There could have been a Sinsworth in your family line, maybe one with a different last name."

What a startling thought. But maybe it explained his comfort with the family, beyond their Cresta connection. "It's possible."

Hades reasoned, "But I think I'd sense my own blood in your veins--and the Dark Goddess would locate my new home instantly. It's more plausible that one of your merchant Alpha ancestors turned a witch, and no one knew. After all, the disaster that was my parents' mating and my own would have intimidated many witch-shifter couples to omit key details, if not outright lie about them."

"I'd buy that."

"So would I." Hades' eyes twinkled. "Maybe we could use this dream state to, er, dredge some family secrets from this metaphoric lake? Apart from the familiarity we both have with this peaceful setting, water is a symbol for consciousness, and the unconscious as well. Maybe we can do a deep dive--"

"And get in too deep? Maybe drown in the revelation?"

Hades laughed uproariously. "I think I'm going to enjoy being part of you. You're funny."

"You, too."

He'd said it automatically, to be polite, but he realized he meant it.

Delighted, Hades clasped his hands. "I promise you. Jude, that I'll only enhance your life."

Shadows swirled over the lake, because Jude felt mired in doubt. "Except if the Dark Goddess finds out the truth."

"Hopefully we'll have months before that happens. You'll see your--our--new offspring born."

The idea made Jude feel possessive. An heir. Another heir to the throne. Another playmate for the Faolan-Cresta-Sinsworth-Blackthorn pups.

"But in the meantime," Hades continued, "shall we?"

"Shall we what?"

"Why, use this lake to reveal your unknown witch ancestor, of course. I couldn't have been comfortable very long inside your body if you didn't have magical blood." Hades met his gaze. "It'll prove my sincerity."

"Then I agree to your experiment. Let's do it. What do we do?"

He felt free in this dream state, and powerful. Why had he never taken advantage of shifter dreams before? He'd always respected the power of dreams to reveal his inner thoughts and feelings, and to unveil revelations from the Moon Goddess and his wolf Arcturus. But like crystals, he'd misjudged the true power of dreams.

No more.

Hades' hand slipped into his as a guide and a brother. "Let's dive in, shall we? Not literally. We have to immerse ourselves. We must respect the lake and all its wisdom. Don't mind the lake serpents."

"Misunderstood creatures."

"Aren't they?"

Jude and Hades walked together, wading into the lake. Slowly they submerged in the dream waters and dove into the depths.

So much water. Shades of crimson and blue swirling around them. The water caressed their bodies. And, far below, a faint glow. A person awaited them at the bottom of the lake. Jude's heart did a somersault.

Who could it be?

Only one way to find out.