Sam had no idea how long he’d been in the windowless, blindingly bright room. It was impossible to know. Perhaps days. He’d been beaten and burned, again and again, and he’d blacked out several times, but the lights never went out.

  He was exhausted but he couldn’t sleep. The flower-man wouldn’t let him sleep. But maybe that was a blessing, because Sam was afraid to sleep, to dream, for dreams were Lilith’s domain. With Sam’s current mental exhaustion, he’d be powerless in her kingdom.

  Maybe that was the point all along. Maybe the flower-man was just softening Sam up for Lilith to sink her claws into him.

  The flower-man was softening him up again now. He was biting off Sam’s fingers slowly, bit by bit, like a preying mantis eating a cricket one foot at a time. Sam was pinned against the wall and screaming.

  It lasted a long time, until all of Sam’s fingers were chewed down to the nub. His blood covered the floor, staining the lights red.

  And finally, Sam blacked out and stayed out.

  For a time, Sam was safe in the dreamless sleep of total exhaustion.

  But as time passed, he dreamed. His memories and fears were all stirred up in a frenzy, and someone else was guiding his thoughts.

  Sam couldn’t think clearly. What was he doing here in the caves again? Where were Rowan and Ezekiel? Little Zeke. His son. His life. His joy.

  What were we talking about? Oh, the fathers I met while I was wandering Eden in search of your Mama.

  There was this one time, I was working on a farm down in Lower Garden. The farmer’s daughter had eloped with a neighbor’s son, and she was begging her daddy to forgive her and love her new husband.

  The farmer was angry, but he said ‘I just want you to be happy. I don’t like your decision and I don’t like how you handled it, but I love you. I love you for who you are, not the person I imagined you were.’

  And I’d never seen anything like that. I’d never seen nurturing love. And it broke me, because I wanted that when I was growing up. I wanted someone to hold me and comfort me and teach me to be confident and happy.

  When I first held you in my arms, such a tiny little thing, I felt that old hurt and anger. And I knew I had to do right by you. I wouldn’t do to you what my parents did to me. I wouldn’t abandon you. I wouldn’t hurt you.

  You look just like your Mama. But with my grey eyes and black hair. I’m so glad we had you.

  Shouldn’t you be training? You have to be ready for the day Adam or Lilith come.

  Didn’t Lilith come already? No?

  No. Training, right. We should be training. The Ivory Blade. Right.

  What? No, the sword is yours. You have to hold it.

  They think the sword is what matters, but it’s you, son. You’re what matters.

  Of course.

  We talked about this.

  The sword is just a conduit. You’re the Ikon.

  Oh, I don’t know. We’re safe here underground. No one can find us.

  Well, your Mama will know what to do. I leave those things to her. She knows this world better than I do.

  I suppose I would go to Safo. Your Aunts Gwen and Morgan live there. Sooner or later, Rowan will go there. So I would just wait there.

  Wait.

  Why do you look so much like me?

  Why are you so upset?

  Son, I love you. I just want you to be happy.

  Son?

  Hormiz?

  -8-

  Reynard ran most of the way to Morgan’s feirm. He saw the shimmer of hoodwinks on the wind, nearly invisible but for a trained eye. They would fly ahead to warn Morgan and Hinata that someone was approaching.

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  The feirm was on a rolling green field by the beach, where dozens of seals lounged in the sun. The farmhouse was built near a cliff wall. Wooden fences kept the dense forest on one side of the feirm.

  The house Morgan, Hinata, and Gwen lived in was quaint. One floor, built of carved wood and slabs of rock from off the cliffside. There was an artistry in its construction, built of talent and love. A barn for the goats was attached. The goats were out among the fields and on the cliffside, despite the heavy clouds that threatened to fall at any moment. Cracks of thunder frequented Reynard’s climb, but the goats and seals were all unbothered.

  As he neared the farmhouse, Morgan stepped out onto the porch with an ax and ready shoulders. Her black hair, tied back into a ponytail, had streaks of silver. She wore practical clothes. As Reynard came into focus, Morgan dropped the ax and ran to him, giving him a tight hug and saying, “It’s so good to see you! You’ll come in and tell us everything.”

  Hinata was already inside cooking a fish in a fragrant sauce. Their hair was done up into a knot and they were sweating from the heat.

  The kitchen was rustic and grand, with intricately carved decorations and evidence of life, love, and wear all around. Hinata hugged Reynard and said, “I’m so glad you’re back! There’s so much you can help us with.”

  “I can try, but I don’t know how long I’ll be staying,” said Reynard, sitting at the table. “I need a safe place to dream. The caves were attacked. I don’t know the attackers, but they have Sam. Zeke is stranded on Haven.”

  Morgan and Hinata looked afraid at each other.

  “You know you can rest here,” Morgan answered. “This conversation can hold until tomorrow. If there’s nothing you need, your bed in the farm is as you left it. Gwen isn’t using it these days.”

  “What’s wrong with Gwen?”

  “Oh, she’s… We can talk about it later.”

  Reynard hesitated but nodded. He excused himself to the barn. The bed was elevated, built of feathers and soft sheets, and surrounded by sleeping charms to protect against interference. As soon as his head touched the pillows, he was out.

  -8-

  Sam was thrown back.

  This is a dream. The boy? Was he real? What did he tell him? Oh no. Morgan is in danger. And he knows about Zeke!

  Oh no, oh no, oh no!

  Stay calm. You’re driving this dream. Don’t lose it.

  That mind. It threw Sam back as if recoiling from harm.

  How did it know about Hormiz? Was that Lilith?

  No, Lilith’s dreams didn’t feel like that. Lilith would have boasted. She would want Sam to know that she had control over him.

  But if not her, then who was that? The flower-man?

  He had summoned fire. His torment felt personal.

  Is this just another way to torment Sam?

  Could it be possible? But how? Hormiz died years ago. Didn’t he?

  Didn’t he?

  What if… Oh no. Oh no.

  That monster! That horrible, cruel, vicious monster! How could she?!

  Did Rowan know? Oh God. Did Rowan know?

  Rowan! Where are you?

  Rowan, I need you! I can’t do this without you!

  Rowan!

  Rowan? Is that you?

  Wait, I’m coming!

  Sam opened the door to Rowan’s dream home. Hers was designed of hardened lava flows. Pictures covered the walls of Rowan’s lost family, so she’d never forget them.

  Rowan’s dream house was very different from Sam’s. He had built his on an open plain. No walls, no ceilings, just carved earth and open sky. But he had forgotten to go back there. He had been lost in dream space. Rowan’s home was an anchor for his mind to latch onto.

  Rowan and Sam embraced tightly.

  “Are you alright? How’s Zeke?” he asked.

  “I’m unharmed. Zeke is safe. But we need you! What happened? Where are you?”

  “I’m sorry. The flowerbugs took me. I’m on a ship covered in light, and they’re taking me to Nod!”

  “Shit!”

  “It gets worse. I’m so sorry. I told them about Zeke. I told them about Morgan! I’m so, so sorry! I was weak!”

  “Shh,” Rowan whispered. She put her hand on his face. He wasn’t scarred in dream space. “What did they do to you?” she asked with heartbreak in her voice.

  Sam couldn’t answer. All he could say was, “I’m so sorry.”

  Rowan hugged him again. “No more sorries. We knew this would happen one day. We’ve been preparing for this. Zeke is safe for now. At least, I think he is safe. But something is coming, and I don’t know when. I need to dream deeper. I’ll try to save you, but I don’t know how to reach Nod without the Ivory Blade, and Zeke lost the damn thing!”

  “What!? How did he lose it?”

  “I can’t tell you now. Lilith could arrive at any minute. Zeke is safe. I have to go. I have to warn Morgan!”

  “Wait! What happened to Hormiz?”

  Rowan flinched. She hadn’t spoken of Hormiz since before Zeke was born. “I told you what happened. Why are you asking me this now?”

  “Rowan, I think he’s alive. I think maybe Lilith stole him.”

  Rowan’s dream house collapsed and Sam found himself adrift.

  Imagine home.

  Imagine the plains.

  Remember that night under a lean to, watching the clear starry sky. Imagine the deer and bugs and snakes. Imagine the cool bubbling stream nearby.

  It’s okay. Rest here. She’ll come.

  Rowan stepped out from behind a tree. She had lost it there for a second, but she was okay now. Sam was relieved to see Rowan upset. It meant he wouldn’t have to insult her by asking.

  “Are you certain?” she asked.

  “No, I don’t know for sure. But I think he’s the one interrogating me.”

  Rowan faded from focus and then collected herself. “Lilith will have trained him to defeat us. This changes everything. You have to reach him. You have to tell him how sorry I am. How sorry we both are! You have to stay alive! I am coming, you hear me? I am going to save you. I don’t know how, but I will find a way! I will not leave you, either of you!”

  “Rowan, it’s a trap! Lilith wants you to bring her the Ikon. You cannot bring Zeke!”

  “I will find a way,” Rowan said in that quiet, steely voice she had sometimes.

  Then Rowan walked behind the tree and was gone.

  Sam was alone again.

  No. Not alone. He was being watched. He felt a mind far out in the distance. The same mind as before. Sam reached out but felt a slap.

  So Sam sat down by his lean to and started a red and yellow fire. The color of Rowan’s heart. And Sam let his guard down. He opened his mind to the stranger intruding on his dreams.

  “So that was her?” said a petulant voice. “That was my other mother, the one who gave me up?”

  “Rowan would never have given you up! There’s no way!”

  “All she cares about is revenge. She didn’t want me.”

  “You’re wrong. She didn’t know Lilith stole you. She couldn’t have known.”

  “Then why didn’t she look for me!?” the voice yelled. “Why didn’t you!?”

  “We thought you were dead! I didn’t even know you existed until after Lilith took you!”

  “Lilith loves me! She’s my real mother! She raised me. She wanted me. She needs me. You both gave me up or left me for dead!”

  “Rowan was broken when I found her. She was devastated after losing you.”

  “But you sure got over me fast enough, didn’t you?! Had yourself a nice little replacement son. That sword was the only way to take me back, and you gave it up to replace me! You never even looked for me!”

  Sam’s dream home was fading out of focus. He was overwhelmed by the hurt and anger hurled at him. He tried to remember the dream.

  But Hormiz wasn’t finished. He was in full focus now. His dark kitsune features looked monstrous with hate.

  “But I’ll find that little shit! I’ll put him in a cage next to yours. And I’ll make you watch as Lilith puts his soul back in the Ivory Blade! Maybe then you’ll remember me!”

  Sam looked at his son, grief-stricken. “I’m so sorry. I promise you, son, I’ll get you out of this.”

  Hormiz screamed with rage, and Sam woke up.

  Sam opened his eyes weakly.

  The flower-man was retching into Sam’s waste bucket.