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Finding Sienna's dream was a piece of cake that night, but as with the night before, I was very careful not to let myself be drawn in. But as I circled her dream-bubble, I saw things going on that I wished I could erase from my mind; Sienna was a skilled dreamwalker, as it turned out, and I felt sick to the stomach as I watched her torment the triplets, having apparently dragged them into her dream so she could inflict all sorts of horrible fates on them. But as much as I longed to go in there hammer and tongs, I knew better; if Sienna sensed my prescence, she'd drag me in and make sure I suffered alongside my siblings.
So I bided my time, circling her dream-bubble until eventually, my siblings were released, each one vanishing from Sienna's dream as they were returned to their own bodies. Sienna's dream-bubble then started to dim, and I seized my chance, jumping in as Sienna moved towards waking. I felt a moment's shock before I seized control, and my surroundings grew bright again as I dragged my wayward half-sister into her own dream. Her eyes bulged in shock, but I used Whisper's lessons and tied her up hand and foot with silver chains before gagging her. She looked like she wanted to be sick, and for good reason; werewolves, as well as anyone with werewolf blood, were highly allergic to pure silver, having been the victims of this metal for centuries. But it was the one way Sienna wouldn't be able to escape, and though I felt a small amount of sympathy for her, it served her right for lying to me. "I could kill you here and now," I told her. "But I won't. I've too much mercy, and you're still my sister, God help me. I'm going to leave you here instead." I stepped closer until I was practically nose to nose with her, and her eyes widened even further as I leaned in close. "This is your one warning," I told her. "Whisper's checking your mind for your worst fears. Once he's found it, he's going to tell me what it is. If you so much as blink wrong, I'll sic it on you, and be damned for playing me like a fool in the first place. You've been nothing but a deceitful bint ever since I met you, and you're getting off a hell of a lot lighter than you deserve, do I make myself clear?"
Sienna's eyes were wide and terrified, but she nodded, and this time, I knew she was scared right down to her toenails. "Good," I said. "Now, keep your damn mouth shut. I'm going to find my siblings and get them the hell out of here. Then you and I are going to have a nice, long talk. You won't like it, but that's what you get."
I'd never seen a person go so pale before, but the fear was genuine, and I thanked my lucky stars. I was too merciful for my own good, which was why I could never carry out the threats I'd used to sort her out. That didn't mean I was going to let her get away unscathed, of course; she deserved justice for her part in Wanda's scheme, and she'd be looking at a long time in prison for her crimes. "Now, if you'll excuse me," I said, "I've a rescue mission to carry out. Just you watch your step; I'm already mad enough to bite heads off, and if you push me, I'll start with yours."
That had the desired effect, and as Sienna shivered in the first real terror I'd ever seen her show, I flexed my hands. 'I hated doing that,' I confided.
'Sometimes, the illusion of a hard person can be all that's needed,' Whisper reminded me. 'I've found your siblings. Go back into the dream realm and I'll point them out to you. I'll keep an eye on Sienna, and if she looks at me wrong, I've got a few methods to put the fear of God back into her.'
And he lacked the scruples that held me back from really laying into my half-sister. 'I'll leave it in your hands,' I said, never more relieved than in that moment that he was on my side. 'This shouldn't take long, but if it does, leave Sienna and come find me. I don't have your clout as yet to fend Wanda off if she tries anything smart.'104Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtVWHQIASW
'I'll keep an ear out,' Whisper promised.
'Thanks,' I said. With that promise giving me strength, I took a deep breath before stepping back into the dream realm once more. Sienna was properly cowed enough not to try anything, and Whisper had my back. That was about as good as it was going to get.
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