Julianne said nothing as she continued to pace, wrapping her arms tight around herself.
“Their extinction was a lie, wasn’t it?” He shot to his feet and blocked her path, his hands clamping onto her shoulders. “Wasn’t it, Julianne?”
She lifted her gaze to his, her eyes sharp with a raw, wild fear.
And he knew he was right. Goddamn it, he was right.
She wrenched out of his hold and backed up. “Go away, Zeeland.” Her voice was tight, but hard. “Go back to Britain. You know nothing, and we’re going to keep it that way.” She bared her teeth even as terror swam in her eyes. “Your life depends on it.”
He stared at her, the ramifications flying through his mind. The Ilinas lived. Though he hadn’t been around a thousand years ago, he’d heard enough stories to know that the once-peaceful, all-female race had turned violent shortly before its demise. Most believed they’d been infected by dark spirit and become evil and corrupt. Many believed they’d destroyed themselves from the inside out, though some held that their queen…their queen…Ariana, had destroyed the race herself rather than see them turn against the creatures of the Earth.
Now…goddess…it appeared they hadn’t been destroyed at all.
What did they want with Julianne? Little sister, the woman, the Ilina, had called her.
Chills raced over his skin as the truth clicked into place. She was one of them. Of course she was. Who else could have entered his dream as she had?
His Julianne.
Holy shit. An Ilina.
Powerful. Dangerous.
No. Not Julianne.
“How long have you known you were one of them?” he asked softly.
She blanched and looked away, shaking. Visibly shaking. And his heart broke for her.
“Sunshine,” he said softly. “Come here.”
She stopped her pacing and met his gaze, as vulnerable as he’d ever seen her. Her head gave a quick shake. “I’m not what you thought I was.”
He held out his hand to her. “Come here, Juli. You may not be what I thought you were. I suspect you aren’t what you thought you were, either. But the very fact that you’re trying to protect me tells me you’re who you’ve always been. My sweet, strong Julianne.”
For long moments, she didn’t move, just watched him, searching his face for a truth he hoped she’d find. Finally, she reached for him, placing her hand and her trust in his and allowing him to pull her into his arms.
As she pressed her cheek to his chest, her arms wrapping tight around his waist, a deep, violent shudder went through her, followed by a sigh of surrender. He held her and promised himself he’d never let her go.
“I’ve only known for a month,” she told him.
“That Ilina came to you? The one who was just here?”
“Yes. Melisande wanted me to find something for her, so she told me what I was—the daughter of an abomination, a half-breed.”
“Everyone thinks they’re extinct.”
“That’s what they want the world to think. They’ll kill to keep their secret, Zee. Melisande told me they killed my mother when she broke that promise. And my father because she’d told him.”
His grip tightened on her, hearing the threat inherent in her words. “She’s never going to hurt you.” His words came out as a growl, and a promise. “I won’t allow it, Julianne.” She pressed closer to him, and he cradled her against his heart. “Tell me the rest.”
With a shudder, she did. “A long time ago, one of the Ilinas became pregnant by one of the human males she’d forced into sexual slavery. The baby was my mother. Since only true Ilinas can survive for more than a short time in the Crystal Realm, the Ilina took the baby where Therians would find her and raise her as one of their own. Then she watched her carefully from afar to ensure that she developed none of the Ilina’s powers or abilities. As long as she didn’t, they never had to tell her what she was.
“Her human blood seemed to have counteracted the Ilina blood. All except her immortality. She posed no threat to them.” Julianne’s body grew tense. “Until I was born. My birth apparently triggered her magic. The Ilinas are connected in some way, and they felt it. My mother was warned never to tell, and she didn’t for nine years. Then she told my father the truth. Melisande silenced them both,” she said bitterly.
Zeeland tightened his hold on her. “Melisande told you that?”
“Yes.” She began to tremble again.
“Dammit, Julianne. That’s an act of war.”
She pulled back until she stared up at him with haunted turquoise eyes. “They’ll kill whoever discovers their existence.” Her face tightened. “They’ll kill you, now.”