Foretold (Daughters of Saraqael Book Three) by Raine Thomas Read Free Book Online Page B

months.
    Realizing she was dreaming, she smiled. She actually enjoyed dreams. Though they were rarely as vivid as this, dreams were usually fun and unpredictable, allowing a form of escape.
    “And what is it you want to escape, Skye?”
    Stiffening, she turned slowly with wide eyes and spotted the speaker standing behind her just a few feet away. After reminding herself it was just a dream, she responded, “Hello, Grolkinei.”
    He was dressed entirely in black. Some kind of flowing silk shirt, conforming black pants and black knee-high boots. She found herself thinking that the outfit was highly unoriginal for a villain. Then he raised an eyebrow and took a few steps closer. Although she desperately wanted to retreat, she found her limbs paralyzed. His dark hair blew around his compelling face as he stared down at her. A small, thoughtful smile tugged at his lips, creating a dent in his cheek.
    “It is quite amazing how much you look like Olivia,” he said, his red eyes roving from her hair to her feet. “I imagine Amber looks just like you, as well. Perhaps it was nature’s way to distinguish each of you that you have the different eye colors and markings. Quite fascinating.”
    She wanted to speak, to respond in some way. But her body wouldn’t cooperate.
    “Ah, yes.” He stopped less than a foot from her. Reaching up, he stroked the light blue streak in her hair, seemingly enthralled. “Layla is having a try at controlling your dreams so that I can enter them. We were not at all certain how successful we would be. The protections in place at your location are quite prohibitive. But it appears we managed to succeed tonight.” He caught her gaze. “I imagine Layla wants you to feel as helpless as possible. She does not particularly care for you.”
    Her heart raced. She understood then that this was no simple dream. Struggling against panic, she turned her thoughts inward, drawing on skills Knorbis and Malukali had taught her and her sisters to guard her thoughts. As she did so, she found herself reducing Layla’s hold over her. When Grolkinei reached out again, this time to touch her face, she staggered back.
    “Caleb!” she shouted when her vocal chords were free.
    Her cry echoed strangely in the dream landscape. She tried to bring forth her power to protect herself, but couldn’t. Layla’s influence strengthened again over her mind. It was like a vise tightening over her entire body. This time, when Grolkinei approached and reached out to touch her, she couldn’t move away.
    “How interesting,” he murmured.
    His fingers caressed the side of her face. He traced the three markings around her left eye, then down along her cheek. It felt as real as if they were actually standing beside each other. She could even smell whatever cleanser he had used on his skin. Her heart vaulted into her throat as his touch moved to the side of her neck and then along her shoulder. The comfortable but thin sleep tank and shorts she wore suddenly felt indecent. Terror threatened to overpower her.
    Then he reached back up and ran his thumb over her bottom lip, his gaze focused on her mouth. “You shouted for your Gloresti,” he said, his tone intrigued. “Not for your sisters. Not for the powerful elder Gabriel. But for a young, untried Gloresti. I wonder what that signifies?”
    His words stunned her. Determined not to give him any more than he had already managed to pull from her mind in her dream state, she closed her eyes tightly to concentrate on repelling Layla. She felt the moisture of tears trickle down her cheeks and trembled in disgust and fear when he wiped them away.
    “Don’t touch me,” she managed as her efforts to free herself loosened her jaw and her voice.
    He chuckled, obviously pleased with her refusal. She kept her eyes shut, trying hard to ignore the fact that he continued to caress her wherever he pleased. Then air touched her waist.
    It’s just a dream. Just a dream!
    The thought echoed