Page 113 of Realm of Dreams & Shadows

Chase believes that.

And, dammit, I want to believe it too.

“You shouldn’t come,” Chase says again, pulling me from my dark thoughts.

“It’s not up for argument,” I say.

“You’ll be untethered, which means that if we get separated, you could get stuck in the Nightmare Realm. And, Cora, I don’t want to los⁠—”

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence.” I snap the words out, my voice low and hard. “You’re the one who turned me into Consummation Girl by keeping me alive. Maybe you do love me. Or maybe you just got tired of killing my family, and I drew the lucky card. I don’t know. But either way, you’re the person who put me here. You’re the one who knocked down all the chess pieces until we ended up right here. And if you lose me, it’s because that’s how you stacked the deck.”

“Uh, that’s cards, not chess,” Tia says, then waves the words away when I shoot a glare at her. “But a great mixed metaphor.”

“Do you think I don’t understand what’s at stake?” I shoot a killer glare at Chase. “This isn’t a destination wedding. I’m not getting married. We’re going in to rescue Finn. And then we’re getting the hell out of there. As for the rest,” I say, rolling my shoulders as I stand up straighter, “well, I guess we’ll figure that out after we get my uncle away from Adric’s crazy girlfriend.”

I look around the room, my question for all of them. “Deal?”

They all nod. I exhale, weirdly satisfied, and for the first time feeling like maybe we can win. And that maybe I have more cojones than I’d realized.

Without thinking, I glance at Chase and see something that might be pride reflected in his eyes.

I look away. Somehow, I don’t think the Chase thing can be fixed with a speech. Not when there would be so many bodies buried under all the pretty words.

“Question,” Tia says, shoving her hand high. “Is Finn just bait? Or do we think that Kali, well, you know.”

I look around the group, frowning at the realization that they all look decidedly uncomfortable. “What?” I say, feeling like the last marathoner to cross the tape.

“I mean, of course, you’d try to rescue him,” Tia says. “But, well, I mean, he’s your uncle.”

“And?”

She glances toward Chase as if for help.

“Same bloodline,” he says. “Long game.”

It takes me a second to get it, then I feel a little sick to my stomach. “Oh, god. You think she kidnapped him as, like, breeding stock?”

“No one’s growing any older in that realm, right?” Tia asks. “Or at least not quickly. So what if it takes a few tries—or even generations? Eventually he’ll have a daughter or great-grand-daughter or great-great-great-great⁠—”

I hold up my hand. “Yeah. Got it.” I look to Chase, who nods, his expression grave.

“You already considered that.”

“I did. But it’s a moot issue, as we will rescue him.”

“Unless he’s already boinked Kali. Or, more likely, she boinked him. What?” Tia asks in response to all our shocked faces. “Just saying.”

“Well, stop,” I say. “Like we don’t have enough to deal with.”

“All of you stop,” Whistler growls. “It’s time to get this show on the road.”

Chase looks at me, and I know he’s about to argue again for me to stay behind. I just cross my arms and look him in the eye.

His expression never changes, but I see the struggle play out on his face. Then he simply nods to Mr. Griffin. “We’re ready.”

I glance at Tia, who flashes crossed fingers and a thumbs-up at me. She and Mr. Griffin are staying behind to monitor. Part of me envies her. A bigger part of me wants to keep her by my side. I know the game Kali is playing, and Tia’s definitely got a next victim stamp on her forehead.

I’m counting on Griffin keeping her safe—and on us keeping Kali and crew preoccupied in the Nightmare Realm.