My stomach dips. But I know without question that if the roles were reversed, Eryx wouldn’t hesitate to do this for me.
I push back my shoulders and lift my chin.I’m ready. Teach me how to use you. How to be a true Nightmare Queen.
It almost sounds like Nightmare is smiling when it replies,It would be my pleasure.
And just like that, I cross a line I can never uncross. I'm not just Chelsea Nightshade, wife of the Nightmare King.
I'm about to become part of the nightmare itself.
Eryx
She’s been with Nightmare a long time. So long I’m beginning to think she won’t come back.
What if Nightmare keeps her? What if being inside her mind is better than being inside mine? What if she likes it there—the ancient power, the near-limitless awareness—and doesn't want to come back?
What if I lose her to the very thing that brought us together?
Nonsense, Eryx. I won’t keep her forever. I will let her return to us. At least, I think so.
That’s not helping.
I study Chelsea’s face. She’s still standing, and her face looks so blissful—eyes closed, lips slightly parted, like she’s sleeping.
They should be back by now. She should be awake. I should be coaching her how to maneuver through the dreamscape.
Maybe we’ve decided to elope.
Not funny. What if you decided to ignore us?
You’re suggesting we’re magically doing it.
I clench my jaw.Yes.
We wouldn’t go against you if you expressly told us not to.
You did it before.
You hadn’t set the ground rules yet. You hadn’t explicitly said, ‘Nightmare, don’t make your new wife orgasm before I do.’ I never saw that memo.
Would you stop joking? This is serious.
Nightmare goes quiet.We were attacked.
Using your magic.
As much as I hate to admit it, yes, that’s true.
So we have to attack.
With a brand-new wife?
I rake my fingers through my hair.She tried to kill Chelsea.For the first time since my father died, I feel weak, helpless.If I hadn’t arrived when I did?—
She would be dead.
She would be. And I caused it.
Hmm…don’t you think it’s interesting Helena showed up now?
