Page 40 of Realm of Dreams & Shadows

“In the dream world, he does. And in this world, he has a brother. He told me at the party. A brother I don’t think he likes too much.”

Our eyes meet as certainty hits both of us like one of those cartoon anvils. I’ve been right all along.

Dream Chase really is my Chase. My protector from four years ago. The man of my dreams. Like, literally.

And the Nightmare King is his brother, just as dreamy, with the added firepower of being both hot and mysterious and a little bit edgy.

“Wow,” Tia says after we run through it all. “I mean, seriously, wow.” She holds out her arms. “Look—I’ve got goosebumps.” She meets my eyes, somehow looking both excited and freaked out. “This is really real. Holy freaking shit.”

My mouth is so dry that I have to pull my water bottle from my backpack and take a sip before I can talk. “You think we’re right? We’re not both sharing some freakish delusion?”

“Well, duh. I’ve seen you clawing your way out of a nightmare, remember? And you told me about your mom’s journal and all about Dream Chase and the Shadow King. And,” she adds with a shrug, “I’m me.”

I grin. “Thank goodness for that.”

“So does that mean that Adric’s wandering around campus somewhere too?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t think so. I’ve never seen him anywhere—not even in my dreams—except at that cave.”

“Hmm.” She bounces a little. “I’ve seen a lot of weird shit, but this is seriously freaky. I just wish I could—” She cuts herself off with a shake of her head.

“Could what?”

She shrugs. “Help you.”

“Um, hello? You’re helping me right now.”

“I guess. I just mean…” She trails off, then cocks her head and dives back in again. “Okay, so your mom said she was being hunted in her dreams. Probably because of that royal bloodline, right?”

“I guess.” I groan. “Why the hell didn’t Mom prepare me for this? I mean, she knew stuff. She had to know I’d get these dreams one day. Why didn’t she tell me? I know she kept other journals, but I’m pretty sure she got rid of them. She sure as hell didn’t leave them where I could find them. Just the one she was writing in when she died, but it was pretty much empty. And she wrote that letter, but it was all torn up, with huge chunks missing, and it was in the trash. So it wasn’t even like she intended me to find it.”

“Oh, sweetie,” Tia says, squeezing my hand. “She probably thought she had time. To plan or organize or sit down and talk to you.”

“I guess.” I say it, but I don’t believe it. I loved my mom—loved visiting flea markets to look for funky jewelry or antique Tarot cards. Loved watching as she polished stones. I even got into helping her organize all her crafty things.

All quality time as far as I was concerned. But she wasn’t the hand-holding kind. I’d always been awed by my friends’ parents. Moms and dads who doted on their little ones. But me? I’d pretty much always been alone. Still am, I suppose.

Except I’m not. My chest tightens, and I pull Tia into a tight hug.

“What was that for?”

“Pretty much everything.”

She gives me a shoulder bump. “I’m so glad we found each other.”

I nod, my throat too full of tears to speak.

For a moment, we’re quiet. Then Tia says, “Too bad your uncle doesn’t know more. We still don’t know why someone in the dream world wants to kill you—and probably killed your mom.”

I shudder but nod.

“Is there only one Hunter out there in dreamland?” Tia asks. “Or a whole herd of them?”

“Honestly, I don’t know.” The admission weighs on me. And each tiny step forward reminds me of how long the path to answers really is. And how much my mother didn’t share.

“And what about the creepy baby monsters, or why you’re still alive? This Dream Chase guy—has he been protecting you from whoever killed your mom? Or is he just stringing you along before he slits your throat?”

“Thanks, Tia. Loving the insightful questions.”