Page 74 of Realm of Dreams & Shadows

“At first, I tried to do the job myself, but that wasn’t possible. Together, we were the Guardian. Apart, we are not. Now neither of us can do what the Guardian did. As for Adric, he was banished by the Emperor’s last breath to the Nightmare Realm, destined to exist only within the confines of the castle and its grounds. He can’t even dreamwalk. When you’ve seen him, it’s because he’s summoned you to him.”

“He can just do that?”

Chase hesitates, then meets my eyes. “No. Only if the subject is willing.”

I look down. “Oh.”

Chase uses a finger to lift my chin. “He is magnetic. Enticing. Hell, even I feel his pull sometimes. But you cannot trust him. He is determined to bring down the barriers.”

With a sigh, moves to look out the window. “My brother is a fool. And he’s dangerous.”

“You said the barriers are weakening. Does that mean they’re going to fall anyway?”

He turns to face me, his expression grave. “I will do everything in my power to make sure that doesn’t happen. Many species would survive, but the Realm of the Real…” He trails off with a shake of his head. “The mortal world would be utterly decimated.”

My mouth goes dry. “What can you do?”

“Very little without Adric’s help. There are other ways to reinforce the barriers, but they require constant work. Constant vigilance. I’ve trained many a Dreamwalker to help with this task. Meanwhile, the energy that holds the barriers in place is weakening, and more and more creatures are slipping through the cracks. That’s bad enough, but unless a way is found to reinforce them—to replace the fading energy—the barriers will fall.”

“Just like the Oneiroi expect. You said unless a way is found,” I repeat, feeling suddenly cold. “Does that mean no one knows how?”

“The greatest minds in every realm—including a few rare physicists in this realm who understand the true nature of our universe—are searching for an answer.”

“But?”

“So far, we can only hope and try to slow the damage. And in the meantime, my most important role is to hunt the things that slip through the cracks.”

“And Adric? What am I to him?” I glance down, realizing I’m spinning the ring on my finger. I give it a tug, but it’s still not coming off. “This whole Bride thing. I don’t really get it.”

From his expression, I can tell this isn’t a subject he wants to talk about.

“I need to know,” I say gently.

He drags his fingers through his hair, then nods. “From Adric’s point of view, the barriers coming down would be ideal. The Nightmare Realm thrives on chaos, so he has put no effort into helping shore up the barriers. He wants them down. And that’s why he wants you. That and because you’re the only one who can free him.”

“Free him?”

“Adric can’t travel between realms. He’s bound to his castle and his grounds.”

“I know.”

“ Once you are betrothed to him, he will be free.”

I take an involuntary step back. “Um, okay. Why?”

“Part of Adric’s punishment for destroying the Guardian was to bind him to his castle until he was betrothed. The Emperor is long gone, but his curse upon Adric remains.”

“Betrothed,” I repeat. “That means engaged.”

He nods. “Adric’s freedom is dangerous enough. But once he marries the Bride and the wedding is consummated, the barriers will fall and Adric will be able to swarm the Realm of the Real—this realm—with all his forces behind him.”

“And I’m the last Bride.”

He nods, taking my hand. “You’ve seen the havoc that even one mare in this realm can do. Think about all the creatures that inhabit the Nightmare Realm bursting into this world. The tricksters in the Unseen. The monsters trapped in the Realm of Retribution. This realm is unique. It’s not armed to fight that kind of invasion. If humanity is to survive, this realm must remain an island.”

He pauses, then says gently, “Adric must know that, and yet he pursues his course. Don’t trust what he says if he finds you in the dreamscape. Trust what you know the result will be. Chaos and death for this realm and the people in it. He knows that. He has to know it.”

I sit perfectly still, trying to wrap my mind around everything he’s said.