Page 55 of Realm of Dreams & Shadows

“Wait,” I say. “He’s not bound to his castle. He’s come into my dreams, and I’m here in St. Augustine.”

“You are,” Chase says, “but he’s not coming to you, Cora. He’s drawing your dream-self to him.”

“Oh,” I say, then hug myself to stifle a shiver despite the heavy warmth of the night. I can feel Tia’s eyes on me, but I don’t look at her.

What have I dragged her into? Brides and monsters and nightmares that are as real as this world. Realms. Just like Vance had said. And a Nightmare King who pulls me into his.

It’s all true. It’s all horribly, confusingly, hopelessly true.

“Are you hurt?” Chase asks, which under the circumstances seems like such a mundane question that I can’t help but laugh. “Cora,” he repeats, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Are you hurt?”

I touch my shoulder, then wince. When I pull my fingers back, I see the blood. And, of course, it starts to hurt even more.

“We’ll get you cleaned up,” he says, the words as soft as a caress. “Until then, keep pressure on it.” He nods to Whistler, who rummages in his pockets and pulls out what I hope is a clean handkerchief.

I take it, then press it to my shoulder. It still stings, but the pressure helps.

I turn to look at Tia again. Now, I feel nauseous thinking about what might have happened if Chase and Whistler hadn’t been around. “I’m sorry.” The words come out softer than a whisper, but I know she heard me from the way her expression changes.

“For what?”

“Um, this. I mean, that monster attacked us because of me.”

“Wow,” she says. “I didn’t realize you thought I was so lame.”

“What? No. I⁠—”

I snap my mouth shut when she rushes over, grabs my hand, then forces her pinkie around mine. “Would you bail on me if I suddenly went all witchy?”

“No.”

“I’m not bailing on you, either, dummy.” She shoots a look toward Chase. “I’m thinking now she got in because of her uncle and not her smarts.”

“Hey!” I shout, but it’s only in mock protest, and I happily accept her arms around me with the order to hug it out.

When we pull apart, I see both Chase and Whistler looking at us with expressions that seem one part amused and nine parts baffled.

“What?” I ask, then repeat the question when the men look at each other again.

“It’s a girl thing,” Tia tells them. The adds in an overly casual tone, “You want to tell us what attacked us?”

Chase pinches the bridge of his nose, and I get the feeling he’d rather do anything other than answer the question.

“Chase,” I press. “It’s time.”

His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I think he’s going to argue. But then he nods—just a simple tip of his head—and says, “Vexarin is a mare.”

“A female horse?” Tia asks. “That freaky-looking thing?”

“As in nightmare,” he corrects. “And a powerful one. Most can’t cross over so completely.”

Tia looks at me, her expression one of utter confusion. “Cross over from where?” she asks, her voice surprisingly steady despite the tremor in her hands.

“From the Nightmare Realm,” I whisper before Chase can answer. “Just like what Vance said in that room.” I look up at Chase. “That’s where I go in my dreams,” I say. “That’s where you’ve been protecting me.”

“Yes,” he says, and I feel my whole body relax as that one simple word explains so much.

“So what are you?” I ask, unable to stop now that he’s finally talking. My gaze shifts to Whistler. “What are both of you?”