Page 39 of Realm of Dreams & Shadows

I shrug. “Maybe. But in another realm.”

“Oh.” She frowns. “Oh! Like a dream realm. That’s pretty cool.”

I shiver despite the thick, warm air. “Except what if it’s not just a dream realm?” I ask. “What if it’s a nightmare realm?”

She pulls back, her eyes wide again, and her fingers start to play with the crystals around her neck. “That’s pretty freaky,” she finally says. “But it makes sense. Well, as much as any of this makes sense. I mean, you told me your mom mentioned a Nightmare King in her journal, right? That would be your shadow-coat guy. King Silver Eyes.”

I nod. “Adric,” I say, thinking of the man and the intense pull I’d felt toward him. “And she mentioned a Hunter in the journal too.”

“Dream Chase,” Tia says. “The dragon rider.”

I nod. “He hasn’t admitted it. But I’m sure they’re the same.”

She gapes at me.

“What?”

“Hasn’t admitted it,” she repeats. “Are you telling me you actually asked if he was the man of your dreams?”

“Well, not like that. But, yeah. I did. He said no.”

“Big surprise there. But we don’t believe him.”

“We don’t.”

“Wow.” She leans back, nodding slowly. “I wonder if he knows.”

“Knows what? That he and his dragon keep rescuing me? I’m pretty sure he does.”

“No, dummy. Not that he’s rescued you, but that he’s rescued royalty. I mean, come on. The guy could be dating a princess. Or maybe even a queen.”

“What? No.” I’m not sure why I verbally brush off the words. Because the truth is, I kind of like the sound of that. I mean, after the whacked-out life I’ve led, the idea of having some serious power? That’s just neato.

If Tia notices the way my thoughts have gone, she doesn’t say so. Instead, she just grins. “That king is like totally hot for you. And Dream Chase? He keeps saving your life. So, you know, total boyfriend material.”

“Tia,” I whisper, and then, dammit, I have to wipe away a tear.

“What? Oh, god, what did I say?”

I sniffle. “It’s just, well, it’s just that you believe me.”

“Yeah, well, if you were lying, I wouldn’t believe you. So good on you for not bullshitting me.”

I laugh and would lock her into a massive hug, but I’m too distracted by something poking at my memory.

“You just remembered something,” Tia says. “I saw it on your face. What?”

“They both have a scar. One on the left cheek and one on the right.”

“Oh, oh!” She bounces a little on the stone bench. “Like they were conjoined twins or something.”

“Not identical, though,” I say. “But they’re both wildly good-looking in that dark, brooding, ultra-sexy R-rated kind of way.”

“The point is, they both want you. Just like Chase,” she adds with an aha tone to her voice.

“If Chase wanted me, he wouldn’t keep disappearing on me.” But the words are only for form. There’s an attraction, no doubt—the mutual kind. And I’m certain that’s not just wishful thinking on my part.

“Chase doesn’t have a scar on his cheek,” Tia says.