Shade woke up screaming.
He was somewhere else.
A void. A place of nothing.
Except for Lucian.
Waiting for him.
Shade's voice was hoarse. "Where—"
Lucian smirked. "You're in your mind, Shade."
Shade clenched his fists. "Then I'll kill you here, too."
Lucian laughed. "Oh, my dear boy."
He stepped closer.
"I am you."
Shade's heart stopped.
Lucian's grin widened. "There is no escape."
Shade's own voice whispered in his head.
You never had a choice.
And for the first time?
Shade wasn't sure if he was ever going to wake up again.