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Three
I stood frozen, unable to move. Regardless of his rugged good looks, angled jawline, and the sexy, light scruff framing his chin and mouth, I wasn’t about to willingly walk into the unknown. I knew the dreamscape could be a dangerous place.
Running his hand through his short dark hair, he lowered his arm back to his side. “I thought you wanted answers.”
“I do. But oddly enough, I don’t think they lie through there.” I pointed to the swirling cosmos behind him, positive I was offending him in some way.
With his hood back, I could see the twitch in his jaw and the tightening of muscles beneath his broad shoulders as he contemplated what to do. Standing over six feet tall and in all black, he stared down at me with a slight grin pulling at his lips.
Lips I suddenly wanted to kiss.
I started toward him, leaning in, then caught sight of the stars shimmering behind him and stopped. “Wait. Are you doing this? Enchanting my dreams again?”
His smirk grew wider. “And what if I am?”
“Then I’d ask that you kindly stop and take me seriously. I want answers, and I will not be bamboozled by your tricks or charms.”
“Bamboozled?”
“Yes, bamboozled!” I mentally stomped my foot. “I demand to know the truth.”
The slice behind him wavered, changing from an expanse of stars to a deeply shadowed forest instead. “Then I suggest you swallow your fears and follow me.” He spun on his heel, walked through the rip in space, and disappeared into the new scene waiting beyond.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, searching for the truth. My well of magic fluttered softly in my gut as I focused on the rip before me. No warnings flared, and I couldn’t deny I was desperate for answers. Swallowing hard, I walked forward and followed him into the unknown.
Evergreens surrounded me, stretching into the sky, interspersed with white trunks and the vibrant yellow leaves of a beautiful aspen grove. “Where are we?”
“My home.”
“You live in the woods alone… like me?”
“Alone. Yes. But my home here is sheltered. Hidden from the outside world.”
I could feel it in my bones, the chill on my face, the animals scurrying through the woods—his home might be outside of our realm, but this place was real. I spun in a circle, trying to decipher exactly where I was, but I didn’t have a clue.
“This is real.” It came out as a statement, not a question, but he answered anyway.
“Correct.”
I knew it. He was real. My cheeks reddened as I remembered the cold feel of the glass against my lips during our made-up kiss.
I pulled up the collar of the jacket I now wore, spinning to face him. “If this is real, then how are we still inside my dream?” I snapped the lapels of my coat to emphasize my seriousness. “Where does your magic come from?”
“Like yours, it’s been handed down from generation to generation. But unlike you, only one can hold the magic and title of Weaver at a time.”
“Why? If it flows from your family, why would only one be given the right?”
“Those are the rules, Milly. And having more than one Weaver has never been allowed. It’s simply not possible.”
I searched his sparkling eyes for the hint of a lie but, again, only saw truth in his words. “So Weaver is your title. And the magic is passed from generation to generation. That means you must have been selected, right?”
“Correct again.”
“By whom?”
“The one who came before me.”
I mulled over his words. “So it’s a retirement thing. A position passed from one witch to another?” The trees swayed, bringing with them the sharp scent of pine and a cold wind that sent a shiver up my spine. Maybe I was pushing my luck.
