I gently shake her off. “If he is, he’s pretty convincing. He appears out of thin air! He appears in my dreams!” I sigh. “Look, come meet him with me. He’ll probably admit the same thing to you. After all, his dream link is broken so he can’t go home right now, and—”
Both are just looking at me with utter horror.
“She’s truly gone crazy,” Jen utters seriously.
Sandra shakes her head sadly. “Hypnotized by the dick.” She looks at me. “You slept with him, right?”
I look at her and flush because, yes, I’ve done some things with Lorien. Not now but in my dreams. “No, I haven’t slept with him.”
Sandra continues shaking her head slowly. “Many a woman has fallen victim to the dick hypnosis. He gave it to you good, huh?”
My mouth drops open. “That’s none of your business—”
“It is now that you have a crazy homeless person in your house. One who is either hallucinating or completely out of his mind,” Sandra points out.
“Lorien is neither,” I say, oddly furious with them for attacking him. Yes, he’s weird. Everything he says sounds crazy. But he’s never said or done anything hurtful to me.
I rub the back of my neck again. “Come on. At least come talk to him before you commit me. He might be able to convince you where I can’t.”
“I guess we have nothing to lose,” Jen says, looking at Sandra in a way that clearly says they aren’t expecting this to go well.
“You’ll see,” I say, trying to convince myself as well. “Lorien isn’t what you’re thinking. He’s just…”
“Just?”
“Himself,” I say, and then I turn and leave the room.
9
Lorien
When Tess and her friends have gone, I quickly get up to peek over the back of the couch where Jerrek and Reve are huddling together, looking shaken.
Reve has his hands over his face. “I suppose it makes sense. The three of us resonate so strongly. Of course our mates would find each other and resonate too in this forsaken world.”
Resonance is a fae concept that describes the way we sometimes meet and feel very strongly in tune with one another. Like we were drawn to each other by fate.
“I’m glad they’re together.” Jerrek agrees. He palms his face in chagrin. “But this isn’t how I wanted to meet her. I had so many ideas—”
“I know.” Reve agrees, looking ready to cry over it. “I’ve been preparing for this all my life. I had dream sequences—”
Jerrek pats his back. “There, there. I know. I had plans too.”
“Wait, those are your mates?” I hiss at them.
They look up at me, blinking.
“Yes,” Jerrek says.
“Of course,” Reve says.
“Then get out here,” I say urgently. “You can’t just disappear like that on Tess.”
“Why not?” Reve asks, pouting. “This isn’t how I want my dream mate to see me. I wanted to make it special, and—”
“Well, that’s not an option right now,” I say. I’m still tired from dealing punishment and arguing with Tess and getting over the way my heart felt like it was collapsing in on itself like a dying star when I saw her there on the ground. “Look, none of this is how it was supposed to be. Our mates should have been in the fae world. We shouldn’t have had to come here. But we’re here now, so how are you going to handle it?”
Reve sighs. “I guess so.” He is an idealist, and I can tell this is hardest for him.
“What are we supposed to do, though?” Jerrek asks. “Lie to them about who we are? Try to pursue them at the same time as we help you with Tess?” He shakes his head. “It’s not possible.”
“How have you been doing surveillance?” I ask because I know they’ve both been making sure their mates are safe in some way.
It’s impossible not to when you know someone will be your whole world.
Jerrek rubs the back of his neck and stands slowly. “Well, we made a deal. Reve’s been watching out for Sandra, and I’ve been watching out for Jen. We agreed to keep each other’s mates safe but not show ourselves so that when we move on to the next mate pursuit, we can fully focus.”
I nod. “It’s a serious mission, pursuing one’s dream mate. It’s the fight of a lifetime, even in the dream realm. It’s even harder here. Sometimes plans aren’t going to go as expected. Sometimes things aren’t going to go right, and we just have to adjust. Okay?”
Reve stands next to Jerrek, and they both walk around the couch.
“So then what do we do?” Reve asks, folding his arms.
“I—” I cut myself off as I hear a door open down the hall where Tess went. “We just play it by ear. If you want to tell your mates who you are, so be it. But they are our mates, and nothing changes it. And nothing’s over until you give up on it. A warrior of love never gives up despite any adversity,” I say, putting my hand out for my friends.
Their hands cover mine, and we nod at each other, committed despite this unexpected change in events.
“Warriors of love,” Jerrek says.
“In honor of the Great Connector,” Reve says.
“In honor of our mates,” I say.
Then we break apart just as Tess walks back into the room with her friends.
“There are three of you,” Sandra, whom I was introduced to, walks forward. She’s almost as tall as Tess, with dark hair and eyes and glowing brown skin. I feel Jerrek go utterly still beside me at her approach.
“I’m Sandra,” she says, putting a hand out to Reve and then Jerrek even as suspicion gleams in her eyes. I don’t blame her for her doubts given how human warriors act.
“Reve,” he says, letting her shake his hand awkwardly. But his eyes are elsewhere on the little copper-haired woman coming in behind Sandra.
“I’m Jerrek,” he says, cutting in to take Sandra’s hand in his. Jealousy cuts through the air, dark and confusing, and I slant a look at Jerrek, reminding him to control himself.
He always did get poor grades in controlling his possessiveness.
Sandra takes Jerrek’s hand and stares up at him blankly, and the zing in the air lets me know at least one of my friends will be fine.
Reve is just staring awkwardly at Jen, who moves slightly to hide behind Tess.
Tess begins to move her out to shake hands, but then all of us are distracted as Jerrek goes down on one knee, a hand on his chest as he looks up at Sandra in awe.
“My queen, I’m sorry we had to meet like this—”
She jerks back from him, pulling her hand away and staring at him with wide eyes. “Queen? What the—”
“Excuse him,” I say, stepping forward. “He’s…” He’s been waiting a lifetime to find you. He’s just glad you truly exist. How do I say any of this?
Jerrek stands, his usual, stubborn nature getting the best of him. “What is wrong, dream mate?”
Sandra raises an eyebrow, folding her arms. “Dream mate? Excuse me? I don’t even know you.” Her eyes slide over his body, and her cheeks heat, giving away that she’s not totally unaffected by him, but Jerrek doesn’t seem to notice. He’s too hurt by her quick rejection.
His hands tighten at his sides, and he stands up straight. “You will when I start my mate pursuit.”
She chokes out a laugh as Tess moves forward to get between her and Jerrek.
“Wait,” Tess says. “Just hold on a minute.”
But both Jerrek and Sandra ignore her, facing off in the center of the room. Reve sends me a look that asks if we should panic, but I just shake my head at him.
Sometimes love has to work itself out.
“Don’t deny what you feel for me, dream mate,” Jerrek says, gentling his tone slightly. “Not when I’ve waited so long just to see your face.”
Sandra takes another step back. “I don’t date crazy.” She shakes her head. “Not even when it looks like that.”
Jerrek smiles slightly at that and takes a step forward. I want to sto
p him, remind him that none of this is in our training and he needs to step back and think it over.
But I guess nothing is that easy with love.
He points a finger at her as she flushes. “When I pursue you—and I’m going to pursue you when it’s time—you will fall for me, dream mate. My training allows me to promise you that.”
His posture is tight, his words strained, and I sigh as I move forward, grabbing him by the arm to jerk him back.
“You have to calm down,” I whisper in his ear. “I know it hurts. Remember Love 101. The more you love someone, the more they can hurt you. But you can’t just react.”
Jerrek slowly calms. “You are right, Lor. But I understand now what you’ve been going through. It is truly hard to be rejected by—”
“So, um…” Jen walks forward, red, wavy hair bouncing. Reve is standing more awkwardly than I’ve ever seen him, staring at her like if he even blinks, she’ll disappear.
“I’m Jen.” She puts out a hand for Reve to shake, and he takes it gently, lifting it to his mouth for a kiss.
Jen flushes and just stares at him but then yanks her hand away just before his lips can touch skin. “Just who do you think you are?”
Reve steps back, disappointed. “You don’t… All right, soul bond. I will wait.” He walks to Jerrek, putting his arm around his to link them at the elbow. “Don’t worry about who we are, then. We’re just here to help Lorien with his mate.”
I’m glad Reve has a little more control than Jerrek.
Sandra is still glaring at Jerrek who I can still feel trying not to get riled up. “So why are the three of you telling my friend you’re fairies? You have about three minutes to explain before I chuck you out, and that’s only because you helped Tess.”
I swallow. “I won’t be thrown out. Not when there are rapists free in your society.”
Sandra cocks her head at him. “What?”
“I won’t leave. I’ll stay here on the ground if I have to. And I am a fairy. And I do have powers. And if I don’t use them to protect the woman I love from danger, then I am truly a worthless worm.”
Sandra stares at me, blinking, looking truly surprised for the first time since I’ve met her. I get the feeling this human has seen a lot with those wary, intelligent eyes. “What do you mean rapists free in society?”
I shake my head. “Where I come from, it’s unthinkable. Doing that in the middle of an alley. Warriors must be controlled—”
Sandra blinks. “Wait, so… you’re super worried about men being rapists?”
“Anyone being a rapist,” I say. “Of course I am. But in this lawless society—”
“We have laws,” Sandra says. “I would know. I’m a lawyer.”
“Then why was a man, several men actually, free to assault my mate?”
Sandra coughs. “I mean, we can’t jail them until they’re caught.”
In my peripheral vision, I can see Jerrek and Reve nodding sagely.
“No wonder they have problems,” Reve says.
“It’s too late once they’ve already done wrong.” Jerrek agrees.
Sandra sighs. “So you saved my friend here, and instead of asking what she wore or what she did to deserve it or saying not all men are rapists, you simply are pissed for her sake?”
I nod, wondering why that isn’t obvious.
Sandra lets out a bitter laugh, taking another step back. “Maybe you’re something like fairies after all.”
“We are,” Reve says, stepping forward. “We’re here on a mission to—”
“I don’t care,” Sandra says, putting up a hand. “Maybe you’re decent people, but you can’t stay here. Tess needs rest. And…” She sighs. “Come on, fairies?”
I take a step forward and let my wings shoot out of my back, arcing to the ceiling in colorful beams of light.
Sandra and Jen both take a step back, gasping simultaneously.
“I’m a fairy,” I say firmly. I point to Tess. “That’s my dream mate. My soul bond. I will die for her, and anyone who wants to stop me from protecting her will have to fight me now.”
Jerrek and Reve step forward. “You can’t fight queens,” Reve says.
“I don’t want to fight anyone,” I say. “But I’m staying.”
Everyone in the room stares at each other, and then Jen finally giggles, which breaks everyone in the room, save me, into nervous laughter.
“Fairies,” Sandra says, slapping her leg as she sits on a stool in the kitchen, letting out a sigh. “I guess I’ve really seen it all now.”
Jen walks back to lean against the counter next to Sandra. “I—I can’t believe it. But just look at his wings.”
“I mean, he only wants to protect Tess,” Sandra says.
For humans, they’re actually taking this pretty well, so I let my wings retract.
“Look,” Tess says, walking forward. “The three of us have always known we were slightly different. These guys, these fairies, maybe they can help us understand why. We don’t have to mate them. But I can promise Lorien has never meant me harm. I mean, he’s a cream puff.”
If she saw what I did to those rapists, I doubt she’d say that again. But still, it feels good for her to defend me.
Even if it isn’t needed.
“I will prove myself to all of you,” I say. “By the time my mate pursuit is done, you’ll see that no one can make Tess happy like I can.”
Tess puts a hand over her face. “See? He says the most embarrassing things, but he’s not dangerous.”
“Not embarrassing but true,” I say. “And I’m willing to win your friends over too.”
“I thought you were going to fight us,” Sandra says drily.
“Not if I don’t have to.”
“How can you be so innocent if you’d fight a girl?” Sandra asks.
I feel my face go red. “I didn’t mean physically. I might just transport Tess temporarily to a safer realm. I meant only that I won’t go along with anyone who won’t let me protect my soul bond. Tess is a queen. One day, she won’t need my protection when she sees that she’s not human at all and realizes her strength. But until that day, I’m staying right here.” I fold my arms. “And I intend to get her to choose me.”
The room is quiet. Then Sandra nods slowly. “Well, I guess we’ll see.” She looks at Jerrek. “We’ll see about all of you.”
Jerrek lets out a hiss and turns to Reve. “Let’s just go. We’ve already ruined everything.”
Reve shakes him off, looking at Jen. “We will be back, soul bond. I promise it will be better next time.”
Then they both disappear, leaving me both confused and slightly relieved that I can focus solely on my mate.
Everyone stares at me as I back up and sit down on the couch again.
I can’t believe it. King of the eighth realm, head of my class, stared at by three fae who are crazy enough to think they are human, as if I’m the one who is crazy.
Really, the sooner we convince them and get them out of this world, the better.
“That guy was so conceited,” Sandra mutters.
Jen looks more torn.
“He was so handsome, though,” she says. “Do you really think—”
“That gorgeous men from another dimension are here to fall for us and save us from everything?” Sandra shakes her head, pinning me with a stare. “No. Though, I have to believe they are supernatural after what I just saw.”
“We were in a supernatural club in college,” Jen says, giving me a warm smile. “So I’m actually excited that you exist.”
I suppose it makes sense. Deep down, they must sense they aren’t human and that it’s not a surprise that more of them exist.
But I’m still unsure where to go from here. I just want to hold Tess. I’d give anything to just check her over slowly and make sure everything is okay. To just be able to talk to her without her banishing me for once.
I’m not sure if her friends are going to be foes or allies.
Tess is standing with a hip cocked. “Well, this has been an interesting evening.”
“We’re staying here,” Sandra says sharply, eyeing me still. “Just in case.”
I throw my hands in the air. “I don’t get it. Why am I being judged like this?”
“Because Tess is our friend, and this is all crazy,” Sandra says. “And I don’t trust human men, so I definitely don’t trust fae men.”
Well, that certainly checks out.
“I could never hurt my soul bond,” I say carefully. “That is the last thing I would ever want to do, and that’s before all my training.”
“This training you keep talking about,” Tess says. “What is it?”
I swallow, wondering how much I should say. They already think I’m crazy. “Where I come from, warriors are prepared to meet their mates and win them over. We see them in a dream—”
“Stop.” Sandra puts up a hand. “My head hurts. I can only take so much crazy for one night.” She goes to the fridge and pulls out another bottle of what I recognize as wine, as Reve, Jerrek, and I were just drinking it. “Let’s just relax and get to know each other the old-fashioned way.”
I raise an eyebrow as she pours four glasses and sets one in my hand. “Old-fashioned?”
“Yeah, we’re just going to talk and have drinks. And when Jen and I are satisfied that you aren’t going to harm Tess, we’ll decide whether we need to stay or not.”
“Thanks, guys,” Tess says. “But Lorien does seem harmless.”
“Then why did you call us over?”
I look at Tess, trying not to get caught up in the way my heart slams against my ribcage, trying to fly to her every time I look into her eyes. “Yes, why?”
“I don’t know,” Tess says. “It wasn’t so much not trusting.” She runs both hands through her blond hair, mussing it. “I just feel like I’m going crazy lately.” She looks at Jen. “You know I’ve been thinking I was hallucinating. I mean, one was bad enough, but three? I needed my friends. I needed confirmation.”
Jen nods sagely. “And you were right to call us.” She blushes. “Do you really think that Reve guy—”
“No,” Sandra says. “Don’t listen to any guy who says he loves you before he even knows who you are.”
Sweet Dreams Page 8
