Slip of Fate (Scent of a Mate) Ch. 04

He winced and shook his head, giving me a miserable, guilty smile. "I'm sorry, angel, but I can't let you remember that I was here with you. So when I leave now, your mind will erase all memory of our dream encounter."

"No, please don't do that! I want to remember you like this. And everything we talked about." And the things I felt. "You said you came here to help answer my questions!"

"Milena, believe me, it's going to pain me so much more than it will you to do this. But I can't risk Alex accessing your memory and finding out that I was here."

"Please, please don't do this?" I begged, feeling the burn of unshed tears behind my eyes. "I don't want to forget!" It was a small comfort that he looked as miserable as I felt.

"You will remember everything I've shared with you about my family's history, as well as the concept of a mate and the role of a vessel," he promised, squeezing my hands. "When I leave, you'll be left with the vague memory that it was my Grandma Lucia, the last vessel, who came to visit you in your dream and imparted all the information that I've disclosed.

"Clever, eh?" he wagged his eyebrows in a lighthearted attempt to inject some humor and garner my approval for his quickly fabricated ruse. "Alex will be so fucking irritated." He chortled blithely, although the emotion seemed strained.

While his reasoning made sense, and the precaution was likely warranted, I still didn't like it. I also knew I wouldn't be able to sway him. So I nodded dolefully as I stared into his beseeching eyes.

He gifted me with a tight smile and a wink. "Thank you."

I'd had no choice in the matter. Much like everything else in my life lately. I wasn't sure what he was thanking me for.

"Oh, and Milena," he said with a final squeeze of my hands, "when Alex visits you in your sleep now, you won't let him push you around or intimidate you, okay? You will recognize that you are dreaming and that he has invaded your mind, but you won't be fearful of him in the same manner you are in the flesh. Understood?"