Tella had never been so cold inside one of her dreams. Her breath came out in thick white puffs that lingered like fog, as she wandered through a house of cards, which was actually more nightmare than dream. All of the cards were either queens with her smiling likeness, or kings with Jacksâs cruel face, winking at her whenever she dared look at them.
âI know youâre here somewhere!â Tella called. She didnât know how heâd gotten into her dream. Sheâd taken precautions to keep him out after heâd tried to kill her. But clearly those measures had failed.
Jacks sauntered out from between a pair of red queens with her face that both had the audacity to blow him kisses.
She stormed forward and slapped him across the cheek, hard enough to leave a red mark against his pale skin. âI will never forgive you for what you did today.â
Every king and queen on the cards scowled or covered their mouths in shock. Some looked as if they might even march out of their cards and attack, but Jacks waved them off with a lazy hand as something that was probably supposed to be sadness flickered in his silver-blue eyes.
âYou were never in danger, Donatella.â His voice was far more serious than usual. âI knew he wouldnât let me kill you.â
âThat doesnât justify what you did!â She tried not to shout, tried not to show how much heâd hurt her, how much she cared. Sheâd never meant to trust him, but heâd been there when her mother had died, heâd cared for her when Legend hadnât. She knew he was a Fate, she knew he had little to no conscience, but sheâd started to believe he was trying to fight against his nature for her. âWhat would you have done if he refused to give you his power? Would you have let me die?â
âI knew he wouldnât refuse.â
âThatâs not an answer.â Tella clamped her hands into fists. She wanted to slap him againâshe wanted to tackle him to the ground and take the entire house of cards down with him and hurt him the way that heâd hurt her. But Legend was right, Jacks was an immortal and she was clearly his obsession. There was no good ending to their story. He wasnât even capable of the same emotions as she was. If he felt any guilt, or if he had any real feelings for her, heâd have never tried to kill her.
âWhy do you care?â Jacks said. âYou just said youâd never forgive me.â
âYouâre still ignoring the question.â
Jacks rubbed the cheek where sheâd slapped him as he leaned back against one of his paper kings. âWould you even believe me if I said no, that I wouldnât let you dieâthat I would never let you die?â
âNo,â Tella said. âI wonât ever believe you again. And I want you to stay out of my dreams.â She knew heâd made a blood vow not to use his powers on her, but if he wanted to she knew heâd find a way around the vow, like he did with everything else. âHow did you even get tonight?â
The paper king that Jacks leaned against gave Tella a crooked smile. âYou and I have a connection. Iâve never needed permission to enter your dreams.â
Tellaâs blood ran cold. âNo, we do not have a connection. And after this, I never want to see you again.â
The paper kingâs smile faded, but Jacks looked undisturbed. âYou say that now, but youâll come back to me.â