IRIS WAS BACK in her bed at Cobalt. She wasn’t sure how she had got back here, but she was almost used to it. This was the third time she’d woken up confused in this room, and it was starting to feel familiar. According to the clock on the wall, it was only half-past midnight. Even so, that meant less than 24 hours until the full moon.
Cate was standing over her. ‘Sorry,’ she said, ‘I thought it might be best to get you here as quickly as I could. We need Cobalt to trust you.’
Iris nodded against the pillows. ‘What happened to Lilith?’
‘Um, well, she seems to be in a sort of coma. Some of her body’s usual functions seem to have shut down to power the spell opening the connection between you and Alfie. It’s not unheard of. She’ll be fine. I think.’
‘It’s OK?’
‘We don’t know for sure. A witch like Lilith going down is rather rare and the outcome is unpredictable.’ Iris went to say something and Cate held up her hands. ‘Yes, even for witches.’
‘And, um, am I connected to Alfie. Right now?’
‘Yes, but the connection will be strongest on your morphial plane.’ Cate paused. Iris made a face. ‘Just accept it, Iris. It’ll be easier. The morphial thing means that you will probably dream about him and be able to communicate with him in your dreams, but that might not be the most useful thing. Dreams can be slippery. Try to speak to him as you are falling asleep. In that state. That’s probably best. Meanwhile, I’ll work on the decloaking spell’
‘OK.’ Iris shivered, thinking of the last time she had seen Alfie; he had been totally thralled to the Divine, chaining her up in the cavern under her directions. She swallowed. ‘He might not want to talk to me.’
‘He might not. But his feelings for you are still there, even if the thrall has control of him. He still loves you or this connection wouldn’t work. Use your power. Use your love for him. The more you open your heart to him the stronger your connection will be.’
Iris felt suddenly frightened. The reality of having to communicate with that Alfie, not her Alfie. The Alfie that could cheerfully leave her to die. ‘But I can’t. He hurt me. I can’t let him hurt me again.’
Cate smiled, nodded seriously and walked away. At the door she turned and said, ‘You don’t have a choice, Iris.’