Page 100 of Realm of Dreams & Shadows

“Yeah, well, that too.”

He flashes a playful grin, his hand now teasing along my spine, making me want. Making me need. “You did,” he says, his tone turning serious. “And yet…” He trails off with a shake of his head.

“What?”

At first, he says nothing, and I think I’m going to have to push.

“I can’t help it,” he finally says. “I don’t like that he kissed you.”

I lift a brow. “No? Because I have to admit, this you-being-jealous thing is kind of flattering. In a manipulative high school kind of way.”

As I’d hoped, the corner of his mouth curves up. I meant what I said—the jealousy thing isn’t cool. And yet at the same time, the fact that both these men are hot for me is ridiculously, seriously amazing. I mean, I’ve never even had a real boyfriend. Now two dream men—literally—both want me.

Maybe that makes me shallow, but I can’t deny that their attention is one hell of a boost for my ego.

“—selling you.”

“Selling? What?”

His brows rise. “Where were you?”

“I plead the Fifth.”

“Uh-huh…”

“Fine. It’s just that you’re a really good kisser, okay? If this is supposed to be class time, then fewer kisses and more clothes are in order.”

“In that case, the bell just rang. School’s out.”

“Good,” I say, snuggling against him. “But you said something about selling. What were you talking about?”

I tilt my head up, and he kisses my forehead before answering. “I don’t like the bullshit he’s trying to sell you. This he’s-all-about-saving-the-world thing. That’s his fucked-up view of reality. And my so-not-a-pacifist brother is working damn hard to tear down our reality.”

“Are you sure? I mean, the last time you had a conversation with him was when? About the time Caesar was crossing the Rubicon? So you don’t really know.” I twist to see his face, and what I find there isn’t anger. It’s tired and sad and achingly familiar, like a man watching a storm roll in that he’s seen a thousand times before.

“I’ve talked to him,” I say. “He’s passionate about balance and unifying the realms. It’s not evil.”

He cups my cheek. “You’re being naïve.”

I try to pull back, but he holds me close. “I’m not,” I insist.

He runs his fingers through my hair. “I assure you that evil doesn’t self-identify. Evil beings don’t twirl their mustaches and cackle. They are the heroes of their story.”

“Fair enough. But then why not sit down with him? Explain why he’s wrong? Try for an armistice or a detente or whatever it’s called. I slept through history that day. Point is, just freaking talk to him.”

“Do you think I haven’t tried?” He snaps the words back, then visibly calms. “My brother refuses to see anything but the result he believes will come, and he’s willing to destroy what works so he can take a chance on something that will fail. He’s done it before.”

I frown, then look up as understanding dawns. “The Guardian. But what if he’s right? What if the realms really can go back to the way they were before the Sundering? And besides, he gave you your freedom. You’re no longer half of one being. Don’t you cherish that?”

“He gave me the freedom to move in this world,” he says softly. “And without that, I would never have met you. So for that, I cannot condemn him.”

My breath hitches at his words, even as a shadow crosses his face.

“But he also took my brother.”

My gut tightens with understanding as tears prick my eyes. “So that’s it?” I ask, my words soft. “That’s why you won’t even look at his solution—because you’re angry and hurt?”

“No.” He frowns, then slides out of bed and starts to pace, his naked body like a sculpted god.