Page 8 of Realm of Dreams & Shadows

“Grad school,” he confirms. “I just can’t stop the learning.”

I giggle, then want to smack myself. Way to be cool, Cora. Then I pull myself together, draw an unsteady breath, and meet those stunning eyes one more time. “Right. Well, sorry again for crashing into you,” I say, my cheeks burning as I edge sideways, eager to get away from this strange confusion that’s probably just insta-lust.

“Cora.”

I pause, looking up at him. His eyes never leave my face, studying me in a way that makes me feel warm all over, even while conjuring thoughts of gladiators and epic battles. A hint of a smile touches his lips, and I’m certain he’s going to say something about the wolf and the girl with a flower behind her ear. I mean, that practically screams fairy tale. But all he says is, “Be careful.”

“Careful?” I repeat, still thinking of shirtless gladiators and their swords.

He takes a step closer, and my breath hitches as my thoughts return firmly to the present.

“Some places in this town aren’t as safe as they look. Especially after dark.” His expression hardens. “You should know that better than most.”

I grimace. “Yeah. Good point.”

A hint of a smile tugs at his mouth, and there’s something so, so familiar about his face. More than just the lustful memory captured by my fifteen-year-old mind. I’m struggling to figure out what’s teasing my memory when he says, “Maybe one day we could⁠—”

He cuts himself off with a shake of his head, leaving me feeling unpleasantly cold and hollow inside. “What?”

“Nothing,” he says, his voice now sounding almost business-like. “Just remembered someplace I need to be.”

He’s lying. I’m certain of it. But why?

“It was nice seeing you again, Cora Lyte. Especially since this time I didn’t need to fight off an attacker.”

I freeze, my entire body going cold as the memory crashes over me.

He had fought off the Wolfman. But he’s done more than that. Lots more.

Because this is the man from my dreams. I’m certain of it.

The only difference is that Golden Eyes has a scar in my dreams. Even so, as freakish as it sounds, I’m certain Chase is my dragon-riding savior, and less than an hour ago, he’d thrown a knife through a sand creature’s chest, then swooped down, his dragon’s wings kicking up sand as he pulled me onto the beast and settled me between his legs, his arm going around me even as I’d awakened with a jolt to the mundane safety of my dorm room.

It was him.

And that definitely wasn’t a normal dream.

Freakish, yeah. But I’m positive I’m right.

Too bad I haven’t got even the remotest idea what to say now.

While I stand frozen, he steps around me, pausing just long enough to study my face, as if committing it to memory. Then he moves on, leaving the way I came, his final words drifting back. “I’ll catch you later, Cora Lyte.”

The way he says my name—like he’s tasting it, memorizing it—sends another shiver down my spine. And as I continue across campus, I can feel his gaze following me, intense enough to leave a physical sensation between my shoulder blades.

But when I turn back, expecting to catch him watching me, there’s nobody there.

I tell myself that’s a good thing. After all, handsome boys with sexy vibes are a distraction I can’t afford.

That’s what I tell myself over and over as I continue my walk across campus, then down the path to the stately Spanish colonial that is the Dean’s House.

By the time I reach my uncle’s door, I’ve almost convinced myself I’m right.

Chapter

Four

The Acheron River flowed through the crystalline cave, some of its waters diverted to the silver scrying pool beside which the King knelt, his leather-clad knees pressing into sand as black as the water before him. On the scrying pool’s surface, ripples spread outward like silver spider webs, each one carrying whispers of prophecy and possibility.