A Beautiful Dream: The Dream Trilogy

by Samantha Barrett

  Holy fuck, snap out of it, Ryan! You’re acting like a hussy! I mentally bitch-slapped myself out of my thoughts.

  “Next time you want to lie to me, try to do a better job of keeping your breathing steady and your heart rate normal. You’re not very good at deception, are you?” He was looking me straight in the eyes, and I was rooted to the spot. I had to keep reminding myself to breathe. I couldn’t speak, so I just nodded. He smiled; he knew what he was doing to me, and he loved it. Simon is attractive, don’t get me wrong, but something just felt off, like it wasn’t him I was feeling these feelings for. I couldn’t explain it. “I must return to my people now, but I will be back soon. If you find yourself in trouble or in need of my assistance, just say these words.”

  He handed me a card with what appeared to be gibberish, smiled, and then he was gone. I put the card in the pocket of my sweats for safe keeping and prayed I never needed it.

  Chapter 18

  After Simon left, I lay on my bed, thinking of everything that had happened. A week ago my life was normal—or as normal as it could be. I was so bothered that things had changed so much.

  After arriving in Alaska, everything went to shit pretty much straight away. I started learning about my family’s secrets, only to wish they had stayed hidden from me. My sister had changed so much; she wasn’t even the same person anymore, and after the other night, I found it hard to imagine how we could ever have a loving relationship again. We had only seen each other a few times over the years, but we always talked and texted as much as we could. I thought that not having Mom around would mean we could finally have a normal relationship—how wrong I was.

  I needed to figure what the hell was wrong with my sister. I couldn’t survive the loss of another family member; she kept me sane through so much of my life with our mom. She would talk to me on the phone for hours when Mom was drinking or gone on a bender for a few days. Stevie would tell me, “Everything’s going to be okay, you will be eighteen before you know it, and you can leave and come and stay with me.” And that was the first thing I did when I turned eighteen and Mom vanished.

  A knock sounded at my door and pulled me from my thoughts. “What?”

  Alex poked his head in the door. “Dinner’s ready, and Stevie just walked through the door. We have to try to convince her, Ry. I don’t want to go against her, but if it has to be that way, so be it.” His voice was just a whisper so the others couldn’t hear our conversation.

  I gave him a nod and stepped out of my room, trailing him down the hallway to the kitchen. As I entered, I saw Chase plating up the food, which smelled divine. I didn’t notice how hungry I was until my stomach growled.

  “Easy, tiger, dinner’s nearly ready,” Chase said, giving me a wink. I took a seat on the opposite side of the table to my sister.

  Once I was seated, I looked at her and gave her a shy smile, which she returned. That helped relieve the tension in the air a bit. Alex took a seat beside Stevie, while Chase served each of us our plates. He had made an amazing spread: steak, potatoes, and a crisp green salad. I couldn’t wait to dig in.

  We all ate in relative silence. Every now and again, the boys would try to bring up stories from the past, trying to engage my sister and me into the conversation, but it never worked. After we all finished our meals, I pushed my plate away and exhaled a breath. I cleared my throat and looked my sister in the eyes as I began to speak.

  “Stevie, I need to tell you something, and you must listen to me, because what I have to say is life or death.”

  “Like what, Ryan? Please do tell me what is so important.” I gritted my teeth, not wanting to take the bait and engage in a fight with my sister.

  “What you are doing with Randall Cane is wrong, and deep down you know it. The fae didn’t kill Jackson’s father or our father, it was—” She cut me off before I could finish.

  “You think you have the right to tell me what I am doing is wrong? What would you know about this world we live in? You are new to this life and know nothing of what lurks in the shadows. I am the leader of this coven, and I say what we do and don’t do, am I clear?”

  “If this coven is so great and powerful, how come I have never seen or met any of them then?” Stevie glared at me before answering.

  “Because I have not allowed it. I will not take in someone who cannot respect the orders of their queen or someone who will embarrass our family. When you get over your insubordination and the victim act you play so well, then you will be welcomed into the coven, and not until then.”

  I was so shocked by her words that I couldn’t answer her straight away; I kept opening my mouth and then shutting it.

  “You have no right to speak to her like that, Stevie, and you know it. What you just said was a low blow and uncalled for. What the fuck has gotten into you in these past couple days? This is not you.” I looked up to see Chase on his feet, chastising Stevie for her behavior.

  “I am finally seeing clearly, cousin. Maybe you need to open your eyes and see what is going on around you. We are on the brink of war with the fae, and all you and Alex are concerned with is coddling my sister. If she chooses not to side with her people, then she does not belong here.” Fuck that hurt, to hear my own sister say that I didn’t belong. I was trying so hard to fight the tears that were threatening to fall.

  “What are you saying?” Alex asked Stevie.

  “She’s saying that if I don’t agree with her sealing the fae realm off, and start obeying her every command as my queen”—I said that last word with air quotes—“that I have to get my shit and leave, and I will not be welcome here anymore.” I couldn’t hold back my tears now.

  “Stevie! You cannot do that; she is your sister, and you two just got each other back after all these years. You need to listen to her and hear what she has to say.” Chase was trying to appeal to my sister, but it was clear her mind was made up.

  “I have heard enough. Either she is on our side or she is against us. They killed my father, Chase!” Stevie screamed, and I could hear the heartbreak in her voice. My own heart hurt for her, but she was so wrong. The fae didn’t have anything to do with our father’s death.

  “No they didn’t! Randall fucking Cane did, Stevie!” I yelled back at her.

  We were both standing at this point, staring at each other; her eyes were filled with disbelief and anger. Her eyes seemed darker, they were a dark green now.

  “You’re lying! Randall has done nothing of the kind. Ever since Jackson’s father was killed, he’s been the only one to see the fae for the blood-hungry monsters, and now that I am queen of the coven, I will be joining our forces with the vampires to ensure the fae never return to this realm.”

  My anger was reaching breaking point, and I could feel my magic rising inside of me. I took a few calming breaths to try to tamp down the magic burning inside of me; I didn’t want to hurt anyone again.

  “If you seal the fae realm, you will not only kill the fae, but you will also kill me. Randall knows this. He wants me dead, because he’s afraid I’m the only one that can kill him.” My sister just scoffed and pinned me with a death glare.

  “And why, dear sister, would it kill you? And why in God’s name would Randall be scared of someone like you? You have no control over your powers and cannot wield them. You are untrained and weak as a baby.”

  “Fuck you, Stevie. He wants to kill me because I am part—”

  I was cut off before I could finish. The front door swung open and in walked Randall Cane and his enforcers, at least eight of them.

  “What the hell do you think you are doing, Cane?” Alex roared.

  “Keeping peace among our people,” Randall said with a smug look in his face.

  “What the fuck does that mean?” Chase snapped.

  “It means that you are either with me and my decision, or against me,” Stevie answered.

  “Against you for what Stevie?” I asked.

  “You either respect my decision and help us close the fa
e realm, or you are against me. I have the right to detain my enemy until I can figure out a punishment for disobedience,” she snapped back at me.

  “How could I be against you if I am not even part of your coven?” I tartly replied.

  “Don’t play coy with me, Ryan. CHOOSE NOW!” she bellowed.

  I couldn’t believe what my sister was doing. She was out of her mind, and there was no way in hell I was going anywhere with Randall. I looked at my cousins, seeking an answer as to what the hell we were going to do. Chase gave me a nod and a small smile; he was with me whatever I decided. I looked to Alex for his decision. He looked torn as to what he should do, but then he took a deep breath and gave a stiff nod. Alex would stand against Stevie, if it meant doing the right thing.

  “I cannot let you do this, Stevie. I may be new to all of this, but even I can see what you are doing is wrong. I am begging you to reconsider.” I looked to my sister, pleading with her to change her mind, silently begging for her not to do this and tear us apart. I just got Stevie back and now it seemed I was about to lose her again.

  “You do not understand what you are asking, Ryan. I must do this for our people. It is our law—blood must have blood. You need to learn the ways of our people and fast. You will go with Randall until I can think of what to do with you.”

  “She’s your fucking sister, Stevie! You can’t do this. It’s wrong and you know it,” Alex said, exasperated with how my sister is behaving.

  “Just because she is my sister does not mean the rules don’t apply to her. She dares to defy me and thinks she can go unpunished!” she yelled.

  At the mention of punishment, I could feel the magic coursing through my veins, and no matter how many deep breaths I was taking, I couldn’t tamp it down. My anger was too strong. It was fueling the magic, and I couldn’t stop it. One of Randall’s men made a move toward me after receiving a nod from my sister, and as soon as his hand touched me, I exploded.

  Blue light shot out from my hand, and he went flying back, landing unconscious on the floor. Two more men started toward me, and without thinking, I stretched my arms out toward them and they went sailing back, as well. One hit the wall with a cracking of plaster, and the other went through the window, sending glass shooting across the room.

  “Stop now, Ryan, before you do something you cannot come back from!” Stevie shouted, but I was too far gone.

  “Fuck you, Stevie; I will not let another person try to lock me away!” I spat at her. I was distracted for that brief moment, and when I felt two hands clamp down on my arms with a vice like grip. I screamed with rage. Alex rounded the table and shot a purple light from his hand, and my captor went sailing, unfortunately with me still in his grasp. Luckily, when we landed, he broke my fall.

  “Run now, Ry!” Chase yelled while fighting with two of the guards. I looked to Alex, who was fighting another with magic. I went to make a run for the front door when Randall came out of nowhere and hit me hard in the face. I landed on the ground with a thud, hitting my head. I was stunned by both the blow to my face and knock to my head. I put my hand up to touch my head, where the thumping was happening and the shock of pain made me flinch. I pulled my hand away to see blood on it.

  “You smell so good my dear,” Randall sneered, hunger giving his voice a disturbing edge.

  “Don’t you fucking touch her!” Chase yelled from across the room. He and Alex were trying to get to me, but the guards wouldn’t let up; they were all still fighting. I tried to bring my magic back by getting angry, but I couldn’t feel it—it was just gone. Randall was on top of me in a flash, and I was pinned on my back, held captive by his weight. He leaned in close to my ear, his lips brushing my lobe, and whispered.

  “I will not end you quickly. I will drink from you until you are within an inch of your life, then I will feed you my blood to heal you. I have a vast arsenal of ways to inflict pain on you. I have been waiting for you for four decades, and I plan to make you pay for all the years I was searching for you.” He pulled back slightly so I could see his face, then he lunged like a cobra.

  I screamed as soon as his fangs pierced my skin. He had a death grip on my head. I couldn’t move. I heard my cousins shouting out my name, but I couldn’t answer them. My eyes rolled, searching for help, and landed on my sister, who stood by, watching Randall drink, a smile on her face. The look of satisfaction on her face broke my heart. She wouldn’t have to wait long for my death; I could feel my head getting light and my eyes getting heavy. I could feel the pull of death, and I welcomed it. Just as I convinced myself to let go, there was a whoosh of air, and Randall was gone.

  I couldn’t get my eyes to focus, and I was drifting in and out of consciousness. I felt an arm at the back of my head and then one under my legs. Someone was carrying me. I was trying to fight to open my eyes, but they refused. The harder I fought, the faster the darkness came, and eventually I couldn’t fight any longer and darkness won.

  Chapter 19

  I could feel the heat of the sun on my face; it was so bright I could see it from behind my eyelids. I smiled to myself, thinking it was going to be a beautiful day, when I was suddenly hit with the reminder of what happened the night before.

  I opened my eyes to see I was on a bed—but not my bed. I peeled the duvet off my body and flung my legs over the side. It was then that I noticed that I was not in my own clothes. I was in a silk nightgown; it was a low cut one to. Who the fuck changed me?

  I hopped of the bed and walked over to the window. I had no idea where I was. I was surrounded by trees and open land. I turned away from the window to further inspect the room. In the middle of the room was a beautiful king-sized bed that I had just climbed out of, two flanking side tables, and a rug at the foot of the bed. The room had antlers on the walls, and a small open fireplace at the other end, with two single chairs positioned in front of it.

  I was making my way over there when I heard the door open. I stopped dead in my tracks and looked to see who it was. I let out a large exhale of relief when I saw it was my two cousins. My smile dropped when I saw who walked in behind them: it was Melakai and Jackson. What the fuck were they doing here?

  Chase rushed over to me and pulled me into an embrace, I had to tap on his back a few times before he got the hint that I couldn’t breathe. He pulled away to look at me, as if to make sure I was really here. I was then yanked away by Alex, who pulled me in for another bone-crushing hug. He managed to let me go before I had to tap on his back. We all stood there staring at each other for a moment before Jackson finally broke the silence.

  “I am very glad to see you are okay, Ryan.” I gave him a small smile in return.

  “What happened last night?”

  “You nearly died,” Alex stated with a look of anger on his face.

  “I thought I was going to die to be honest, I couldn’t get him off me” A shiver ran down my spine thinking about how close I had came to dying last night. Randall wanted me dead and my sister never lifted a finger to help. I could feel tears welling at the back of my eyes, I felt so betrayed. Chase put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle squeeze.

  “We thought we were going to lose you last night until Melakai came and knocked Randall off you, He helped us hold off the remaining guards and escape with you. If it wasn’t for him, you would be dead and we would be Randall’s prisoners right now.” Alex said with a look that was begging me to understand what Melakai had done in order to save us. Obviously Kai had told them that I might not welcome his presence.

  He went against his king and his people to save me and my cousins. I looked past Alex and Chase to meet Melakai’s gaze.

  “Thank you for saving me last night and for saving my cousins. I am forever in your debt, Kai.” I couldn’t hold the tears at bay any longer. Kai saved us, even after I rejected him.

  “I couldn’t help you when you needed it most, mi amor, but like I told you, I will always protect you from now until my dying breath.” I could tell he meant every word; h
e really would lay his life down for mine.

  “Where is Stevie? What happened to her?” They all exchanged uneasy looks, but Alex was the one to answer.

  “She got away. By the time we took the remaining guards down, she was gone.” My sister is a coward. The next time I laid eyes on her, the gloves were coming off.

  “Where are we?” I asked no one in particular.

  “We are at my home,” Jackson answered.

  “Why are you helping us, Jackson?” I thought werewolves and witches didn’t get along.

  “Because what your sister is doing is wrong, and I cannot stand by and watch her hurt innocent people. My pack is divided at this time; some want me to agree with her and the king, the others do not wish death on innocent people.” I could tell he was conflicted.

  “I am sorry that this is all happening to all of you. I wish I had more to offer but I don’t. All I can offer you is my help.” Each of the guys gave a smile and a nod.

  “The first thing we need to do is try find a fae, or a way to talk to one, so we can get some answers and warn them about what is going on,” Chase said

  “I think Ryan may be able to help with that.” Jackson was looking at me with knowing smile; dammit, he knew all along I had been talking to a fae!

  “What is he talking about, Ry?” Alex asked.

  “She knows one of them. I could smell it on her the night we came to the cabin to sign the treaty.” They all turned to me expectantly, waiting for my answer.

  “Okay, so maybe I have talked to one a couple of times, that doesn’t mean I know him,” I sheepishly replied.

  “HIM?” Jackson and Melakai boomed in unison. I rolled my eyes at their reaction.

  “Is there something you want to tell us, Ryan?” Chase gave me an accusing look.

  I let out a large exhale and told them everything that Simon had told me. Their faces morphed from stunned to angry as I spoke. I knew they would be upset, but I never expected them to be that mad just because I had spoken to a fae. Melakai and Jackson seemed to be sharing a look of understanding between each other, but I didn’t have long to ponder that look before Alex spoke and disrupted my thoughts.