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Fortunately, Ash was able to help me work through some of my fear by using the lyra instead of the silks. Then I’d slowly worked my way back into my confidence with Geraint and Nic’s help. I didn’t want to lose it again.
I stumbled my way through my bathroom routine, pulled on some clothing and shifted the nightmare essence into yoga pants and a long t-shirt, and left my room in search of coffee.
Traces of people I knew, and didn’t know, lingered in the air. I found the one that reminded me of Ash and followed. She would know where to find the coffee. Food wouldn’t break my heart, either. I saw fresh traces of both Dio and Geraint, also. Hopefully that meant that they had recovered from our adventures in the corn, and the subsequent shadow travel I’d inflicted on them.
If they didn’t find me before I finished breakfast, I’d check in with them next. I needed to see how Baz, the real Baz, was doing and if he had woken up, but I shied away from that. I had managed to convince myself that sleeping Baz was not the being who had tortured me, but I wasn’t sure if that would hold if he were awake. He looked different asleep, or in a coma. Or whatever his current state was.
I did need to check on him, though. Anxiety churned in my guts, and I pushed my hands against my stomach.
“It can’t be that bad.” Ash’s familiar and welcome voice came from behind me.
I turned. Some tracker I was. I’d been going in the wrong direction, apparently.
“Just…” I sighed. “Everything is a lot.”
My cousin nodded, her expression going to what I called her lawyer face.
I ran my hand through my hair. “Hey, you’re going through even more. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t complain.”
Ash’s shoulders eased as did her expression. “I’m sorry. It’s a lot for all of us. Even the Dream people are dealing with a lot. And just because I’m having challenges doesn’t mean yours aren’t valid and stressful.” She came over and put her hand on my shoulder.
“Yeah, but we’re not trapped here.”
Ash’s expression shuttered. “Yeah.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
My cousin shoved her hands in her pockets. “Naw. Really, the best thing to do is to focus on kicking this dreambound bitch’s ass, so we can try and find a way to get me home.”
“Okay. So, step one. Coffee?” I added a hopeful note to my voice.
Ash laughed. “This way. Oh, you missed the audience with the Dream princesses. And the King and Queen. It was quite the experience. I’m sure I was very embarrassing.” She led me back the way she’d come.
Her words brought a smile to my face. “That’s okay. I’m sure I’ll be even worse than you were.”
“They seem nice enough. Everyone’s worried, obviously.”
“The princesses don’t have their mate. Dream isn’t at full strength, and neither is Nightmare unless Baz wakes up and we can actually stand each other. And we’re up against someone who also just wants to go home.” I let my gaze wander as I walked. Sure, it made me look like a tourist, but I really hadn’t had a lot of time to look around the rainbow and pearlescent halls of Dream palace. It was a beautiful place.
“Yep.” Ash shrugged. “And whoever she’s managed to recruit to her side.”
“Clowns.” I shuddered.
Ash mirrored my distaste before opening one of the “secret” passages everyone used to get around. The inside was plain gray stone, but well-lit and obviously well-traveled.
“I’ve found a couple of passages that are actually secret, or no one uses them,” Ash said as she led me through the corridor. “It was pretty cool. It took me from an upper room all the way down to the lower storerooms. It was dusty with no footprints, so either a dream feature, or disused. Hard to say in a place like this.”
It didn’t take long before Ash pushed open another door and the aroma of food nearly overwhelmed me. My stomach growled, and I wound my way through the rows of scarred wooden tables until I reached the counter.
I wondered what combination of dreams had inspired the mess area but was grateful that it seemed to always have food ready. It was always delicious, too.
Ash and I both got lattes and plates full of breakfast foods. There were eggs, pastries, fruits, bread, cheese, and sausage, and it was certainly fare from the best epic fantasies out there. I wasn’t sure I could eat it all, nor was I sure how it all fit onto the plate, but the way my stomach rumbled, I’d put a significant dent in it.
While Ash and I stuffed our faces, a trio of women walked in.
They all eyed me curiously, but their attention lingered on Ash. Each and every one of their expressions turned contemplative.
I turned back to Ash with a questioning frown.
