“Yes, um, that happened in the dream room.”
Stave nods, probably knowing as much. “The power rippled out, through the district. From what I understand”—his eyes cut quickly to Chelsea and then back to me—“it was also felt in Castleview.”
“That far?”
Stave nods. “Which also means if anyone was looking for that kind of power, sir, they would have felt it.”
The sorceress wants power. And last night Chelsea and I just lit up like a beacon, broadcasting exactly where to find it.
Shit. This is a problem.
We can fix problems. We’re good at that. But after we braid her hair, maybe?
I push Nightmare out of my head. It’s not in the mood to focus on anything except Chelsea.
Trust me, I understand the feeling.
“Is something wrong?” Chelsea asks.
Stave looks at me and I nod. “That power surge might have caused us trouble. If the person who sent the monster felt it, then they might do something to get it.”
She frowns. “Something like hurt my family?”
“It’s not out of the question.”
Chelsea squeezes my arm. “Then we need to go there. Now.”
Her family. Of course that's her first thought. Not her own safety. Not the threat to us.
This is who she is. And because she loves them, I will protect them.
I turn to Stave. “You heard the queen. Have my car brought around front. We’re going to Castleview.”
Chelsea
My hands shake on the ride to my house. Eryx didn’t want to use magic to travel because, well, he didn’t say so, but I think he’s unsure what would happen if he tried it.
After the whole crumbling walls thing, I can’t say I blame him. I get it, I really do—we’re separate, but now that part of Nightmare is inside of me, what happens when we each work magic separately? Will our magic find the other person and intensify?
Or will nothing happen?
Maybe nothing.
I tap my foot, and Eryx reaches over, takes my hand and kisses the inside of my wrist.
My entire body loosens. There’s something about this man’s presence that eases every tight muscle in my body.
“Thank you,” I tell him, smiling weakly.
He only gives a faint smile in return and then shifts his attention back to the road. We approach the barrier, and as we slide through, I feel a tug of magic pulling me back toward the Nightmare District.
I also feel magic tugging me toward Castleview—toward the home I’ve always known.
We arrive at the house a minute later. Eryx comes to a screeching halt, shuts off the ignition and says, “Wait.”
I frown, unsure why he’s told me this. Then he gets out and comes around to open my door.
Oh, that’s why.
