Page 62 of Realm of Dreams & Shadows

“Why are the barriers weakening?” I ask.

“Adric’s forcing cracks from his side. Every corrupted Dreamwalker or breach weakens the protective veil between realms. Another millennium—possibly less—and the barriers will collapse on their own. He wants it sooner. Much sooner.”

Fear crawls up my spine. “And I’m the key to making that happen?”

Chase nods. “When the King weds the Bride, the barriers will be primed to fail,” Chase says. “When the marriage is consummated, they will fall, and the realms will bleed together. At worst, humanity will end. There aren’t enough Dreamwalkers to protect those in the Realm of the Real. At best, humans will find themselves in an unfamiliar landscape, most likely living as slaves to serve creatures with more strength and more magic.”

“Well, that’s not good,” Tia says.

I shake my head, wishing this were the nightmare. But I know it’s real. And I know what he’s saying is true.

“Then what do we do?” Tia asks. “And how do we protect Cora and keep the Nightmare King far, far away?”

“First, you must both learn to protect yourselves. In sleep, in dreams, in between. He needs you, Cora. He’ll come for you, but he won’t kill you—he’ll treat you like a queen. He can force you to wed him, but consummation must be by your consent if the prophecy is to be fulfilled. You cannot give it. If you willingly sleep with him after you are wed, reality as you know it will fall away. Believe me when I say you won’t like what rises in its place.”

“I don’t like talking about it right now,” I admit. “You say it like it’s a done deal.”

“I will continue to protect you. But you must be prepared for the worst.”

I glance at Tia, who grimaces. “He’s right.”

Chase nods. “First, you must learn to dreamwalk. You must be as comfortable in the dreamscape as you are in the waking world, because the choices you make in the Nightmare Realm can either save this realm or destroy it.”

“But no pressure.” I glance up at his stoic expression. “Sorry. Gallows humor. I get it.”

I take a deep breath, then exhale slowly, remembering how Adric had also told me that soon I would have to choose. “When do we start?”

“Tomorrow. Tonight, you rest.” He opens a small wooden box and pulls out two small cloth pouches. “These will ward your sleep. They won’t stop everything, but they’ll help. Slip them under your pillow.”

He passes one to Tia and the other to me. Our fingers brush, and that electric sizzle sparks through me again. “They’re from the garden behind the bookshop,” he says, holding my gaze just long enough to make me feel a different kind of sizzle.

“There’s something else,” I say. “The people at Whitehall knew about dreamwalking. They offered to train me.”

“They have nothing to teach you,” he says coldly. “The Oneiroi Society has given up on preventing the collapse. They have another agenda.”

“What agenda?” Tia asks.

“They think if they deliver Cora to Adric, he’ll reward them when he rules all realms.”

My stomach twists. “Are you sure? They seemed like they wanted to help. And Vance knew my mom. He talked to me almost like he considers us family. You’re really saying they’re evil?”

“Not evil,” Chase says. “Just misguided. They’re like doomsday preppers. They think cooperation will save more lives than resistance. They see Hunters like me as the obstacle.”

The weight of his words settles like stone. Five realms. A prophecy. A king who wants to bed me to destroy the world. And a Hunter I barely know who swears to protect me.

“I should get you two back to campus,” he says.

Tia touches my arm. “You okay with all this?”

“No,” I admit. “But I’m done running from what I don’t understand.” I turn to face him. “If you can teach me to fight back, then I want to learn.”

Something flickers in his golden eyes—relief, maybe.

“We’ll start tomorrow,” he says. “And Cora? Whatever happens, you won’t face this alone.”

Chapter

Seventeen