She gives him a pitiful smile. “How could you stop them? You’re trapped.”
A dark laugh hums behind his lips. “I’ll tell you a secret about killers. They’re all deeply, pathetically afraid. Whoever they are, they’re bound to have a nightmare soon. And when I find them, I will scare them to death.”
“Can people truly die in this realm?”
“Anyone can die anywhere. Nowhere is safe, especially not here. If they come, I will kill them.”
“But what am I to do when I wake up? How will I survive while we wait for them to fall into your world? Your plan is too passive.”
“Well, how close are you to setting me free? I could do more out there than I can in here.”
“I’m nowhere near,” she whimpers, staring at her feet. “The Astrologia wing is condemned. All the materials I need are locked in there.”
“You said the previous student was working with Professor Lamour. Get him to teach you.”
“He sought her out, though. He hasn’t offered his teachings to me.”
“Then make him.”
She pinches the space between her brows, then nods. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow, but you need to give me something now. I won’t risk going back to Cygnus with no defenses.”
He stiffens. “You want power.”
“Ineedit,” she says through gritted teeth.
“Power is dangerous, Starling. Too much too fast can drive you mad.”
“Too little too slow can get me killed. Help me, Dorian. If I die, you’ll never be free. It’s in both of our best interests for you to give me what I want.”
“I can’t,” he says, resting his hands on her shoulders. “It would hurt you more than help.”
She growls, “You’re notlisteningto—”
“But,” he cuts her off, “I can give you more time, and I can show you somewhere to hide.”
She stills and raises her brows, waiting for him to continue.
“When I was a scholar at Cygnus, I learned to remain lucid while sleeping in order to have more time to study. I learned how to enter the Realm of Nightmares at will, which meant I had a place to practice magic away from the prying eyes of competitive students and strict professors. I could teach you. If you ever found yourself in real danger, you could leave your realm and come here until it’s safe.”
She’s hanging on his every word. More power. More time. More time withhim. “Show me.”
He nods. “Our magic comes from desire. The more you want, the more powerful you become. Once you master it, you can manifest with it.” He steps back, flexing his hands as though readying for a fight.
“Watch.” He dots something along his palm with his claw. Little beads of black blood glow against the darkness, and then appears a white spider lily in his hand. Claudia smiles wide when he comes close and tucks it behind her ear. “You can create something as soft as a flower or as strong as a weapon. And this”—he gestures to the world around them—“is the perfect place to practice without getting caught. You’re still a first-year, after all. You’re not supposed to know any of this.”
Her heart pounds, blood buzzing with desire. She reachesup and touches the flower in her hair. Velvety petals tickle her fingertips.
Gods, it’s real. He conjured it from nothing.
No—not nothing. He manifested it withdesire. He created something real out of pure want.
Claudia can hardly believe it, and she can’t fathom having this ability herself.
“To enter the Realm of Nightmares through desire instead of fear, you must conjure a Doorway, just like the one that brought you to Cygnus. When you close your eyes at night, picture it. Feel it. Hear it. Make it as real as you possibly can in your mind. Once your desire is strong enough, it will open for you. But I must warn you, Claudia, this place is costly. It eats away at your sleep, and your sanity. When you’re here, you’re not truly resting or recovering.” He hooks her chin. “You can come here as long as you can survive it, but be honest with yourself. Do not come if you are too weak to withstand the cost, and only come when you have nowhere else to hide. Promise?”
She releases a shaky breath. “I promise.”
He touches the flower in her hair and runs the back of his hand along her cheek. “When you wake up, speak to Professor Lamour. Get him to train you in the art of the stars. Then, when and if you ever need me, you come here, and I will teach you to master nightmares. But for now, you need rest.” With a gentle hand, he guides her body down so that she’s lying flat on her back. “Close your eyes and drift back to Cygnus. I will see you again.”
