Page 31 of Realm of Dreams & Shadows

“I’ll find you later this week and give it to you.”

My pulse flutters, and I nod like an idiot. “Yeah. That would be great. Maybe we could meet by the Widowmaker or—oh! Actually, I’m going to a party with Tia on Friday. Do you want to come with us?”

I resist the urge to cringe because I really should ask Tia first. But if Chase is coming, then she can invite Riley, and that should work out fine.

“A party?”

“Yeah, Tia says they have a rep for throwing great parties.”

“Who?” he asks, though I have a strange feeling he already knows. Maybe he did send that text…

“Whitehall House.”

“No.” He leaps to his feet before the word is even out of his mouth, then drags his fingers through his hair. “No way in hell are you going to that party.”

I scoot back, gaping at the guy who’d just pulled a Jekyll and Hyde. “Was it you? Were you the one who sent me that text?”

His brow furrows. “What text?”

“The one to stay away from Whitehall.”

His head cocks, his eyes narrowing as he says slowly, “Not me. But they’re right. You need to stay away from Whitehall.”

“Why?”

“Well, for one, you should be wary of invitations from strangers. What exactly did it say?”

“Excuse me,” I say, bristling from his tone. “Last time I checked, you weren’t my babysitter.”

“Why did they invite you?” His words are hard and measured, and although I’m tempted to just escape back into the bookstore, I’m more curious about what has set him off.

“I don’t know.” He makes a good point. Why on earth would I get an invitation to what Tia seems to think is the most exclusive party on campus?

“You don’t know, but you’re going to go anyway?”

“Maybe,” I admit, starting to deflate. “The invitation said to come if I want to learn about my dreams.”

His eyes narrow. “Your dreams?”

I look down, suddenly fascinated by the striations on one of the herb leaves and wishing I could turn back time and erase my words.

“Cora?”

“I have a sleep disorder, okay? It’s no big deal.”

“The hell it isn’t. Listen,” he says, “if someone is contacting you about your dreams—if Whitehall is in the mix—then you need to be careful.”

I go suddenly cold, as if I’d just teleported naked to the Arctic Circle. At the same time, my mind goes completely blank. I don’t even realize that I’ve stood up until I finally tune into my own thoughts. This man isn’t a crush I’m projecting into my dreams. He’s really there. Like actually, truly, really, really there in my dreams. Chase is Golden Eyes.

I’m certain of it.

And he’s saved me time and time again.

“Tell me,” I beg, my pulse quickening. “Please, please, Chase, I need to understand. Tell me about the creepy scorpions and freakish babies. About the king in the cave. Tell me how you can be there and here. And please, please, tell me how to survive.”

He only stares at me.

“Dammit, Chase. Tell me why you’re in my dreams.”