Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 235897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1179(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 786(@300wpm)
“That’s an understatement.” I take in our surroundings with a quick glance. The field is barren, but if this dream is anything like his others, it won’t be for long.
“You aren’t safe.” He shakes his head and stalks toward me. “I can’t keep you safe.”
“This isn’t real.” I take his ice-cold hand in mine, then startle. I can feel that. “Why can’t you escape this place? What keeps you here?”
“I do,” the Sage answers from behind Xaden.
Xaden whips around, reaching over his shoulder for a blade that disappears, and I move to his side.
The Sage pulls back the hood of his maroon robe, revealing the freakishly young face that haunts my—Xaden’s—dreams, and smiles, cracking the skin of his chapped lips. The veins along his temples pulse crimson as he folds his gnarled hands like this has the possibility of being a civil encounter. “It’s so nice of you to join us, lightning wielder.” He tilts his head. “Or should I call you dream-walker?”
My lips part. Xaden’s nightmares are eerily on point. “We should go,” I whisper.
“He can’t.” The Sage’s smile widens, and he lifts his bony hand.
Xaden rises and claws at his throat.
“Wake up!” I shout at Xaden.
“I told you, he can’t. And here I’d hoped you’d be a quick learner. How disappointing,” the Sage lectures, then slits his eyes like a snake toward Xaden. “You lost something I wanted, but you will bring her,” he demands.
“Never,” Xaden forces through his throat, and his feet kick for the ground.
“Don’t worry,” the Sage says with a twisted smile. “I’ll be a more merciful teacher than Theophanie.”
Fear races down my spine, and I reach for power—
Stop. This is a dream. It isn’t real. He isn’t losing air. He’s breathing just fine in our bed. I have to wake up, but that only ever happens once the Sage strikes.
His sword coming down on me…
Pain. I need pain. I reach for my thigh but only find a smooth layer of leather.
“I am done waiting,” the Sage snarls. “Done playing this little game. You may have raised your wards, but they won’t save you. We have the advantage, and if you will not deliver her, then she will come herself.” He closes his fist, and Xaden wheezes. “It’s simple, dream-walker. You come or she dies.”
She who?
This is a dream, I remind myself, and if it were mine, I’d be armed.
I slide my hand down my hip and find the hilt of a dagger. Before I can second-guess my plan, I wrench it free.
The Sage’s eyes widen on the polished, wooden handle, but I’m already swinging it toward my arm. The blade sinks into my skin—
I jolt upright in bed and gasp for breath, blinking furiously to clear the haze of the nightmare as dawn breaks outside our bedroom window.
Xaden.
His spine is arched beside me, his head thrown back in pain as he strains for the very air he’s breathing.
“Wake up!” I put both my hands on his chest and shove with my body and mind. “Xaden! Wake up!”
His eyes flash open, and he falls flat against the mattress as his heart pounds beneath my fingers.
“It was just a dream.” I shift my weight to kneel beside him, then push his hair off his clammy forehead. “We’re in Aretia. In your room. It’s just you and me.”
He blinks at me a few times, then blows out a small breath. “That sounds like a much better dream.” His hand splays over my hip and his heart rate slows as he looks up at me. “You were there.”
“Yeah.” I nod, tracing the scar above his heart.
“I saw you pull the dagger. I knew you were there. That’s never happened before.” He sits up, bringing our faces closer.
“I…” How do I explain it? “You know it’s not the first time I’ve recognized it as a dream, but it is the first time I knew it was your dream—that it wasn’t mine. The second I realized it, I became myself, separate from you.” My brow knits. “I just don’t know how.”
“It sounds like you figured it out pretty quickly.” He searches my face.
“I shouldn’t have been able to do it.” My voice fades to a whisper. “Andarna’s gone.”
His thumb strokes the top of my hip. “Maybe the power’s gone but the ability still remains.”
“Tairn?” I reach down the bond.
“I have encountered this as many times as you have.” His reply is gruff with sleep.
Not helpful.
Before I can sink any deeper into my thoughts, someone pounds on our door.
It’s too early for anything positive. “That can’t be good.”
“Agreed.” Xaden throws back the blankets and heads for the door in nothing but his sleeping pants, and I scramble for the armoire. “Garrick? You look like shit.”
What could Garrick possibly be doing here at this hour? I grab my robe, then tug it over my cotton nightdress before hurrying to Xaden’s side.