There is less relief at that assertion than Devin would have expected or wanted. He barely knows X, and while he's been nothing but honest and amiable in their interactions, Devin still cannot find it in himself to trust the reader. One viciously traumatic incident of a friendly face masking a monster and tearing apart his life was more than enough.

And the Dreaming, Devin knows, has no qualms about exposing his deepest wounds. It's done so before, more than once.

"Don't." The vampire turns back to the books to renew his work, taking the barest of comfort in what are now familiar shelves and volumes. He's privately grateful for the training that keeps his hands from shaking. "As long as you're able. This world may not grant any of us that grace forever."