Page 158 of Sorrow & Strangers

Summer

“You want to touch me, princess?”

I lurch up in bed. Sweat trickles down my forehead and I am panting. Alice is still sound asleep next to me, snoring and completely oblivious to me.

I grab my phone and open my messages with the stranger.

Summer

You’re still messing with my dreams.

His reply comes immediately. It doesn’t surprise me that he’s still awake, but it does bring me joy that I know he can’t watch me while I’m in Alice’s room.

Unknown

Clarify.

I growl.

Summer

You’re still fucking around with my dreams. Admit it.

Unknown

Check the oath mark on your hand, little fae. Then accuse me.

I open my palm and twist my hand to catch the silvery light coming in through the windows. The mark of our deal is faint, proving that no boundaries are even close to being invaded. There is absolutely no workaround to the dream part, but if anyone could find one, he could.

Summer

You must have found a loophole.

Unknown

Come outside.

I frown.

Unknown

Come outside and check my mark with your own eyes.

I curse myself for not making time to research oaths. I had hoped that mine would react if he was fucking around. But when he touched me yesterday, mine was unaffected, while I could tell his was burning and seething. I could feel his pain.

With a sigh, I climb out of bed and pull on a sweater before padding downstairs and out to the porch, where he is already waiting for me. He’s leaning against the railing, and I can feel his smirk before I see it.

“Was I fucking you?”

“Excuse me?”

He chuckles. “In your dream. I was fucking you, wasn’t I?”

“I—you—” I sputter. “That is not your concern.” I cross my arms over my chest. “What have you done to interfere with my dreams?”

He pushes off the railing and prowls toward me. I back up, but he keeps advancing until the wall is at my back. He doesn’t touch me, but he towers over me, bracing one arm above my head. “I do hope you imagined me accurately.”

I try to keep my heart rate even, my breaths even, my nerves even. “What did you do?” I ask, my voice betraying me only a little.