“Jerrek didn’t do so well in his jealousy classes,” I say, feeling almost silly for talking the same way the fae do. But they’re my friends now too, sort of, and I believe them.
“Well, Jerrek has no right to be jealous,” Sandra says. “But I don’t intend to dance with any men tonight. Much more fun to dance with my ladies.”
I laugh. “Good point.”
“We mostly go to keep an eye on the others, make sure everyone can have fun,” Sandra says. “It’ll be fine I’m sure. If anything, you have to worry about Lorien going all overprotective if you do something to intervene in a bad situation.”
I frown. “Good point.”
“You could let him handle it. Just poof bad guys away or whatever he does.”
I sigh. “I don’t know about that. Surely, people would notice if guys just start going missing.” It makes me think again of the guys who attacked me the other night.
What Lorien might have done with them…
The thought gives me a slightly sick feeling in the pit of my stomach because, as much as those men would deserve it, I can’t imagine Lorien would like dishing out pain.
“All right,” I say. “We’ll just be careful.”
“Right,” Sandra says, amused. “Us and our dancing fairies.”
I can picture Lorien on the dance floor, his wings out, his armor shining, hair flying behind him like a cape as he spins and sparkles to music.
Suddenly, I want very badly to see what he dances like.
“Yeah, dancing fairies,” I say, sucking in a breath to keep from drooling at the thought of Lorien’s gorgeous, capable body. “And ladies’ night.”
“See you then.”
* * *
Lorien
“So how was last night?” Reve’s tone is knowing as he leans back in the chair, munching one of the pink donuts. My favorite kind.
I resist the temptation to swipe it from him and send him a grin. “Let’s just say initial compatibility testing seems to have gone well.”
Tess told us to just hang out and enjoy the donuts, as she had some work to do on her computer in the bedroom.
I miss her already.
“You rocked her socks in bed, huh?” Jerrek asks.
“Rocked her what?” I stare at him curiously.
“Jerrek’s been watching too much human TV in his free time,” Reve says, rolling his eyes.
“It’s pretty fascinating,” Jerrek says. “Been giving me a look into human culture. This place is so different from our world.”
“How so?” I ask.
“Well, they even show rape or other crimes in their entertainment media, though it is usually shown as a reason for the male lead to demonstrate strength or a motive for revenge.”
“What about female leads?” I ask.
Jerrek shakes his head. “You don’t see them that often, and sometimes they only barely escape rape as well.”
My nose wrinkles. “I just don’t get it.”
“It’s something very odd and cultural,” Jerrek says. “That the humans are obsessed with something so savage, rather than trying to eliminate it, as we have.”
“It appears that women are simply expected to stay inside at certain times and not go to specific public areas in order to avoid it,” Reve says. “From what I’ve observed watching Jerrek’s mate.”
Jerrek scoffs. “It all sounds upside down to me, to restrict women’s lives, when it is men committing the violence. Did you read the crime stats Vex and Leander sent over?”
I shake my head. “Why?” Leander, my brother, tried to insist I should know more about how this world is different from the dream realm before I tried to win my mate, but I was foolish and didn’t listen.
“Eighty percent of violent crime, including murder and rape, is committed by men here,” Jerrek says. “Our matriarchs were right, warriors need to be managed.”
I sigh. “Seems like humans don’t understand the impact of testosterone on a male’s judgment and emotional regulation.” In the fae realm, we have only had female leaders for a very long time. Females are less prone to violence, more open to communication. I wonder if human females differ somehow.
“I mean, there are good people here too. Even men,” Reve says. “It’s just confusing that there is no one to separate out and punish nightmares. Other than Tess, that is.” He gives me a grin.
I sink back in the chair, exhausted from just thinking about how dangerous this place is. “We need to get our mates out of here.”
Reve sighs, and it’s a sigh full of pain. “I wish we could take all women out of here.”
“Well, I’m not going to think about it too much,” Jerrek says, standing to pace the kitchen. “It’ll only make me too angry to think straight. We are surveilling our mates, which will keep them safe. We don’t have the ability to change the human world.”
“No,” I say. “We don’t. We just have to do the best we can while we’re here.”
I understand now why Tess wants to go vigilante every night for hurt women.
I kind of want to do the same thing myself.
“So back to last night, which seems like it went well. Do you think you’ll be able to convince her?” Reve asks.
“I think so,” I say. “To win her at least. I’ll have to keep up my best work, which I would want for my mate anyway. The vile machinations of human men here appear to have scarred her and made her fear and doubt real love.”
Jerrek nods solemnly. “The more I’m here, the more I get that.”
“Men lie,” I say. “To get sex. To get casual sex!” I shake my head. “They hurt women they could love and bond with all for something that ends in minutes.”
“I don’t understand it,” Jerrek says. “I want only my mate.” He sighs, leaning back with folded arms over the maroon sweatshirt he’s wearing. “It feels like forever before I’ll get to be in her arms.”
“Hey, maybe you can get lucky while dancing,” Reve points out. “I intend to try and win Jen, at least a little.”
“A tease, hm?” Jerrek muses. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”
“It’s ladies’ night.” I remind him. “A time for them to be with other women, presumably as a way to be safe and away from men who are likely to grope or assault them when drunk.”
“Ah,” Reve says. “I see why they like ladies’ night. That makes sense.”
I nod sagely. “So we need to just stand back and protect them while they have a good time.”
Jerrek nods. “We’ll make sure no one bothers them.” He sends me a wicked grin. “Does she know you can dance for her?”
I nod. “I told her I was good at it.”
“I volunteer myself to help,” Jerrek says.
Reve flushes. “I would too.”
“Why are you blushing?” Jerrek asks. “We’ve done this a million times in practice.”
“Yes,” Reve says, rubbing the back of his neck. “But my mate will be there… It’s hard to picture her liking this now that I’ve met her.”
I shake my head. “Our training is flawless, and our dancing will work. I accept your offer, Jerrek.”
Jerrek simply nods.
“Next time, I’ll help,” Reve says. “Or should you need me tonight…”
Jerrek sighs. “You’re going to deny your mate the sight of you dancing? But you’re so good at it, Reve.”
Reve flushes. “You know, the kind of dancing we do… After seeing human media, I don’t think it really matches—”
“Matches what?” Jerrek asks impatiently.
“What women like,” Reve says. “Men here barely move when they dance.”
Jerrek’s eyes narrow. “You have a point. I don’t see men dance a lot in movies.”
I stand, planting my hands on the table. “That doesn’t matter. We’re fae. We’re trained. And tonight, we’ll dance like hell to seduce and win our dream mates.”
Reve sinks his head in his arms, his ears bright red, but nods.
; Jerrek smirks in agreement.
“Maybe we should practice a bit,” I say. “In the dream realm. I’m going to go check with Tess that it’s okay.”
“But don’t you need to stay here, watch for her?” Reve asks.
“Yes,” I say. “But we’ll make sure we’re close so we can be back in a blink if she calls.”
“All right, highness,” Jerrek says, enjoying teasing me as always when I’m taking charge.
“Be back in a minute,” I say.
Then I go down the hallway in search of Tess.
15
Tess
I giggle as I go out to get more coffee, thinking about Lorien’s request to go “practice” with the other dream fae.
I can only imagine the kind of weird, synchronized dance they are probably dreaming up, and it makes me grin as I open a new bottle of creamer.
I’m just finishing up serving my coffee when the doorbell rings, and I set my mug down as I go over to look through the peephole suspiciously.
I wonder if Lorien always shows up in a blink when I call him from the dream world.
But to my surprise, there’s no one on the doorstep. I sigh as I pull the door open, mad at whatever prank someone is trying to pull.
As if I don’t have enough on my plate right now.
I look around as cool morning air hits my face and then notice a little folded-up note on the ground.
I pick it up, unfolding it carefully as I look around once more and then walk back inside.
I kick the door lightly shut behind me and then flop on the couch to read my note.
“Don’t trust the dream fae. They’re dangerous. They aren’t as good as they appear. Keep your guard up. Don’t fall for them.”
—Rainbow.
Who is Rainbow? I shake my head as I fold the note back up and shove it in my jeans. How does someone know about the dream fae? Should I tell Lorien about this?
I think for a moment and then pull the note out and lay it on the kitchen table as I lift my coffee to take a sip.
I want to just go back to work, get started on another book cover.
But something is niggling at me.
What kind of coward just says that kind of thing and then leaves? And if it’s someone who hates the dream fae, shouldn’t the dream fae know about it?
I shake my head, feeling a headache coming on from the stress of it.
But whoever left this might be a danger to Lorien and his friends, and so I suppose Lorien might as well know about it.
For a second, I hesitate, wondering if I should take this warning seriously. Certainly, it’s in my nature to be suspicious. That’s why I sent Lorien away so many times before.
But I don’t need this note’s warning. I’m already going as slow as I can.
But still, after last night, I’m pretty sure I’m already falling for Lorien.
Thinking of him and his friends, I just can’t think they’re that dangerous. After all, they have faced me fearlessly from the start, not snuck around and left notes.
I drum my fingers on the table as I sit down on a chair with my coffee, which I set down.
I lift my head to speak, feeling slightly stupid. “Lorien?”
Instantly, he’s there in a poof of purple smoke that I bat away with my hand.
“Do you always have to do that?” I ask.
“No,” he says. “But Jerrek saw someone do it in one of your movies, and I like the dramatic effect.” He spins as the smoke dissipates. “I’m here, dream mate. For what do you need me?”
I just stare at him for a moment, biting my lip as I try to think how to address the note.
He wiggles his eyebrows. “Ah, I see. Too flustered to say? Want more of what we had last night?”
I shake my head, and he quickly masks his mild disappointment.
“Well, I’m good at many things,” he says, folding his powerful arms. Even in a blue sweatshirt and jeans, he’s built like a warrior. Even with his hair short and dark, he’s so beautiful that he’s out of this world.
“I get that. But no, I’m not asking anything, per se. I just wanted to show you this.” I push the note over to him, and he frowns as he opens it up.
His brow furrows deeply as he reads it, and then he looks around as if expecting to see someone there.
“Who would have the audacity to call themselves by the name of Rainbow? You fraud! Get out here and show yourself.”
“There’s no one here,” I say. “This note was dropped off by my front door.”
Lorien goes rigid, then stomps to my front door, yanking it open. He looks both ways, then clomps down the cement walkway that leads to the other apartments that face the street. He stops and slams his hand against one a few doors down. “Get out here, imposter! Fraud!”
“Who is this Rainbow guy?” I ask. “You know him?”
Lorien shakes his head. “No one does. He’s a myth. Clearly, whoever sent this is trying to mess with us. I should have known there would be nightmares in this world. If dream mates like you and your friends could somehow end up here, I guess other dream fae could as well.” He slams his fist against the door in front of him, making it rattle. “Get out here, coward! Answer for your words, nightmare!”
But no one comes.
“I’m about to make your whole house go poof into the dream world if you don’t answer me, traitor!” He snarls. “So get out here and show me who you are!”
I’ve never seen Lorien mad like this, so I guess he takes anyone maligning the dream realm seriously.
To my shock, the door slowly opens, and someone in a ratty gray bathrobe with the hood up opens the door. “Hello?”
I peek around Lorien to get a look at the guy who presumably sent the note, based on Lorien’s insistence on yelling at this door.
“I followed your trail here,” Lorien says, reaching for the door to wedge his way in.
“Get off my porch, or I’ll call the cops,” the guy says, still shaded by the ratty robe. The smell of stale pizza emanates from the room behind him. I’ve never met this neighbor before.
Most people here keep to themselves.
I turn to go, but Lorien pushes his way in the door, holding the man by the front of his bathrobe.
I follow them in and gasp at the state of the apartment in front of me.
It’s even worse than mine, with clothing and pizza boxes everywhere.
The man in Lorien’s hands looks disheveled, and when his hood falls back due to Lorien shaking him, he looks younger than I would have thought, given the grizzled, tangled gray of his hair.
“You sent this,” Lorien says, releasing him with a shove so he can hold the note out.
The guy takes it and looks at it, then shakes his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Lorien narrows his eyes. “Don’t lie to me, nightmare.”
The guy sighs, looking beleaguered as he goes to pick up a pizza box off the nearby coffee table. To my shock and disgust, he takes a bite, tossing the box back down again. “Do I look like I would sign a note ‘Rainbow?’”
Lorien pauses, looking a bit confused as he turns from me to this odd man.
“Josh,” he says, putting a hand out to me. “And you are?”
“Her protector,” Lorien says, stepping between us. “And you’re not getting near her, nightmare. So stay away from now on.”
I don’t know whether to be turned on by Lorien’s possessiveness and big, strong show of bravado or to be mad at the fact that he insinuated himself into what should be my own confrontation.
The guy, Josh, just shrugs at me and flops on the couch. He opens a pizza box, holding it out to me. “Want some?”
My lip curls up. “Um. No.”
“Suit yourself,” Josh says, kicking his feet up on what looks like an ottoman made out of pizza boxes.
He might not be a dream fae, but this guy is pretty weird.
Still, I have work to do, and he’s clearly not saying anything. Maybe the note
was just a prank from someone who overheard us.
“We’re going to go now,” I say, grabbing Lorien, who is still bristling, by the arm. “Sorry for bothering you.”
Josh just narrows his eyes and watches us, taking a bite of God-knows-how-old pizza as I drag Lorien out and shut the door behind us.
I don’t stop until we’re back inside my apartment, and then I practically shove him inside and close and lock my door.
He stumbles back and sits on the couch, looking up at me in shock, then he smiles. “Ah, my queen is strong. Of course.”
I put my hands on my hips. “What the heck was that? Why did you think it was that neighbor?”
“I felt a stream,” Lorien says. He folds his arms. “You wouldn’t understand, not yet.”
“Stream of what?”
“Magic,” he says softly. He puts a hand to his chin. “Then again, maybe my magic isn’t working as well without my dream link. The man truly is the furthest thing from what a dream fae warrior should be.” He shakes his head. “Well, as long as I’m here, whoever left that note shouldn’t be able to pull any shenanigans.” He sends me a beaming smile. “And that guy will for sure think twice before bothering you again if it was him.”
I nod. “What do you think of that note, though? Why would they say you’re dangerous?”
Lorien’s eyes narrow. “Whoever sent that is probably a nightmare. Nightmares always assign their crimes to someone else. Their bad intentions. They would want you not to trust me so as to leave the way open for them.” He glowers. “I won’t let them manipulate you.”
I laugh lightly, walking back into the kitchen. “Well, I appreciate that. But for what it’s worth, I didn’t believe the note.”
“Really?” He raises an eyebrow. “But I thought you didn’t trust any of this.”
“That’s changing somewhat,” I say, wrapping my arms around myself because it’s oddly cold in the kitchen.
Lorien is there in a moment, hugging me gently from behind and wrapping me in his arms, resting his head on my shoulder as warmth fills me up.
I didn’t know anyone could make me feel like this.
Sweet Dreams Page 12
