Chapter 80: Strange Obsession

"SHIELD OF ARAMUSATU!" I yelled. "I have heard it before. In my dream when you were talking to your friend. What was his name? Conrad?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets with a sigh. "When I said we needed to talk ... well, there's something you have a right to know."

My eyes widened in surprise and anticipation. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He smashed his eyebrows together and began again. "All of this stuff about your aunt is important, but I need to tell you more about me because it ... affects you, too."

"Okay."

The air shifted, feeling heavier. I settled myself on the bed against the headboard, hugging one of my decorative pillows like a lifeline and staring at him with rapt attention. I wanted to learn everything I could about the mysterious Zander Hughes, whose face was flushing an attractive pink before my eyes. I tried to chill out a little, relaxing my strangling hold on the innocent pillow.

He cleared his voice again. "I never exp