Dream Walker (The Coven, Book 3)

by Erica Stevens

  She opened her mouth to deny that’s why she’d broken up with him, but she couldn’t. “You knew that’s why I ended things with you?”

  “Not in the beginning,” he admitted. “I was too upset to see it for a couple of weeks, but eventually I realized what you were doing. Regan’s going to come after us whether we’re together or not.”

  “I know, but he wasn’t the only reason I broke up with you.”

  Reid flinched and finally met her gaze.

  “I got lost for a while, Reid. Everything in my life was happening too fast. I became a witch, became a member of the coven, battled Regan, moved, battled Regan again, and through it all, I somehow lost me. I didn’t know who I was anymore. This is going to sound ridiculous, but I never unpacked my books.”

  His head tilted to the side as he studied her. “I don’t understand.”

  “Before the coven, books and reading meant so much to me. Yet, when my dad and I moved, I never unpacked them. They sat in a box in my room until after we broke up and I finally put them away. I felt like… like I was losing myself, and I needed it to stop.”

  “And did it?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “For a little bit, and I realized I’m not vanishing, I’m just changing. It’s scary, and it’s not a bad thing. But…”

  “But?” he prodded when her voice trailed off.

  “I missed you,” she admitted on a breathless whisper. “So much.”

  She couldn’t stop tears from pooling in her eyes, and she ducked her head before he could see them. Reid clasped her chin and lifted her head so she had to look at him. “I missed you too.”

  She smiled at him, but when his fingers traced over the bandage on her temple, a steely look settled over his features. “You could have been killed.”

  Clasping his hand, she pulled it away from her hair to settle it in her lap. She should let go of him, but she couldn’t bring herself to do so. She’d missed the warmth of his hands and the callouses on his palms. Since breaking up with him, she’d missed him so much that it was a constant physical ache.

  “Good thing I’m a witch,” she whispered. “Otherwise, the tree would have been a lot further into my car.” When he gave her a questioning look, she explained about the barrier she erected before they hit the tree.

  “But we still could have been killed,” she said. “Why would Regan risk killing me?”

  “He probably didn’t expect that to happen.”

  “Maybe,” Avery murmured as she turned her attention back to the door. “I want to go home.”

  His fingers stroking over her palm sent a bolt of heat from her hands to the tips of her toes. Unable to resist, she lifted his hand and rested it against her cheek before turning her lips into his palm.

  When Reid stepped closer, his thighs brushed her knees as he bent over her. He lifted her face and kissed her in a way that made her forget every ache in her battered body. When his tongue teased her lips, and she opened her mouth to him, Regan and every other wrong thing faded away as she became focused solely on Reid. This was so right; she’d been crazy to deny them this.

  “Okay, Avery—Oh!”

  Avery jerked away from Reid and winced when the motion shot new pain down her spine. It took a second before she could turn to face her mother. Julie’s eyebrows were nearly in her blonde hairline as she surveyed them with amusement in her blue eyes. Reid clasped Avery’s hand and stepped away from her.

  Avery fought against the blush burning her cheeks, but she lost the battle. “Can I go home?”

  “Yes,” Julie said. “You don’t have a concussion and no broken bones, so they’ve released you to my care.”

  “I want to go to my house and my bed,” Avery said.

  “I’ll take you there,” Julie assured her.

  “What about Tina?” Avery asked.

  “Her parents just arrived to pick her up, but she’s also been cleared to go home.”

  “Good,” Avery breathed.

  “Reid and I will step outside while you dress,” Julie said and shot a pointed look at Reid.

  He squeezed her hand before bending to kiss her forehead. “I’ll be right outside.”

  She admired the way his shirt fit his broad shoulders and the jeans hugged his legs as he strode toward the door. “Reid,” she said before he stepped outside, and he turned back to her. “How did you find us so fast?”

  “We were already looking for you.” When she frowned at him, he smiled at her. “I heard you.”

  “You heard me?”

  “Yeah. Two distinct words; no and Reid.”

  Avery recalled the words blasting through her mind and the regret and sorrow following them. “How…?” She had to swallow before she could speak again. “How is that possible?”

  The sexy half smile he gave her sent her pulse into hyperdrive. “You got chased off the road by a werewolf from the Nightmare realm, and you find this difficult to believe?”

  Avery chuckled. “Good point.”

  His amusement vanished. “We’re bonded, Avery. Whether we’re together or not, the deep connection between us won’t ever be severed.”

  She didn’t get the chance to respond before he left the room. She sat for a moment, contemplating his words; they were true, she felt that to the core of her being.

  Sliding off the edge of the bed, she winced when she put weight on her leg. She gathered her clothes and limped to the bathroom and removed the hospital gown to stare at the bruise covering her thigh from her hip to her knee. It was ugly, but it would heal.

  She dressed as fast as her sore body would allow, left the gown on the bed, and limped into the hall. Her mom and Reid stood on either side of the door, and Tina was emerging from the room across from hers. Tina’s parents stood on either side of her.

  Avery let out a small cry and hobbled over to hug her friend. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “Are you okay?”

  “It wasn’t your fault, and I’m fine,” Tina assured her.

  Avery gulped and released her to step back. Tina smiled at her as she rested her hands on Avery’s shoulders. “Are you going home?” Avery asked and held her breath as she prayed Tina, Lila, and Karen would leave; she wanted them as far from this mess as possible.

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Mr. Gayle said, “especially with school tomorrow.”

  But Tina was already shaking her head. “Avery could use some help, and her dad is out of town.”

  “Her mom will be there,” Mr. Gayle said.

  “I’m staying with my friend, Dad,” Tina said firmly. “She needs us, and I think I can take a day off school considering I was in a car accident.”

  “You’re in no condition to drive home tomorrow. Your mom can take our car home, and I’ll drive yours,” he said.

  “Karen can drive us home tomorrow. Please, Dad, I want to make sure Avery’s okay.”

  Don’t give in, Mr. Gayle, Avery pleaded, but she saw him wavering.

  “It will be fine,” Mrs. Gayle said as she rested her hand on his arm. “And I think the girls should be together.”

  He looked about to argue further, but then his shoulders slumped, and Avery knew the battle was lost.

  Tina locked her arm through Avery’s as they walked through the swinging doors and into the waiting room. Gathered close together and leaning toward each other, the coven rose and turned to face them when they stepped through the doors. Avery stopped to stare at them; it wasn’t the way she wanted it to happen, but she smiled when she realized they were all together again.

  CHAPTER 12

  As Rosie strode down the hall, she absently returned the greetings she received with a smile and a wave. She turned the corner and dodged a freshman girl who stammered out a hasty apology before darting away. A group of giggling juniors stopped her to discuss the Halloween dance.

  When the bell rang, Rosie muttered a curse under her breath. She was late for photography. The hall emptied as students ran for their classes and doors closed behind them. Slippi
ng into the photography room, she ignored Mr. Dold’s disapproving scowl when she joined the group of students surrounding him.

  He continued with his lecture, but Rosie tuned him out as she recalled Avery’s accident last night and the hideous wolf perched on the roof of her car. Regan had made his move, but she still didn’t understand it. What had he gained from attacking Avery? But then, what had he gained from bringing them into his Nightmare realm?

  Shifting from foot to foot, she studied the cracks in the concrete wall before turning her attention to the tiles in the ceiling. This place was Reid’s domain, and the reason she’d taken photography instead of pottery was she knew he’d help her with it.

  She was not an arts and crafts person; if art classes weren’t a requirement, she wouldn’t be here. Then again, she wasn’t a school kind of person either. It was torture being locked up all day, and she did not have the time to sit still.

  “Rosie!” She jumped when Mr. Dold barked her name. “Are you paying attention?”

  Paying attention? Of course not. “Yes,” she lied, and they both knew it.

  “You come in late and dance around here like you have something better to do.”

  Because anything is better than this.

  “If you’re not going to pay attention, then get a bottle of developer out of the darkroom for me,” Mr. Dold said.

  A shiver of apprehension ran down her back; she hated the darkroom, and he knew it. “Yes, Mr. Dold.”

  She turned and brushed past the other students who barely paid her any attention. Rosie straightened her shoulders and walked determinedly to the door in the back of the class. She’d done this to herself; all she had to do was get in and out as fast as possible.

  She opened the door and peered into the dimly lit room. Even before she stepped inside, the small room made her feel claustrophobic, and the pungent smell of developer and chemicals burned her nostrils.

  Wrinkling her nose, she stepped into the room, and the door swung shut behind her. Having been the one asked to do this on more than a few occasions, she headed for the shelf on the back wall and the bottles lining it. Rising onto her toes, she removed a bottle of developer.

  She settled it into the crook of her arm when a scuttling sound came from behind her. The hair on her nape rose as her breath caught in her chest as more noises filled the air.

  Shuffle. Rustle. Scrape. Screeeeech.

  What was that? But she couldn’t bring herself to turn and face whatever had made the sound that brought to mind rusty hinges on a coffin.

  You’re just imagining things. There’s nothing else in the room with you.

  BANG!

  Rosie squeaked and spun as the loud bang reverberated through the air. Nothing moved through the shadows enveloping the metal shelves and plastic sinks. A chattering sound caused her hand to clench on the bottle.

  Then something scurried through the shadows under one of the shelves. Rosie’s back connected with the rack when she took a startled step back; the bottles on it rattled, but none of them fell.

  From the shadows under the shelves, yellow eyes peered out at her. She could almost convince herself they were rats—which would have been bad enough—but instinctively, she knew this was something far worse than rats.

  Then green and blue eyes emerged to blink at her as they hovered six inches above the ground. They stared intently as an eager chattering filled the air. That sound! She’d heard it before!

  And then she recalled standing in the trophy room with Avery while Regan’s nightmarish creatures stalked them. She’d always hated trophy rooms, but the monsters Regan created made the typical headless deer and stuffed animals frequently filling a trophy room look like a good time.

  A strangled cry tore from her as she threw herself backward before recalling a shelf blocked her way. This time when the bottles rattled on the shelf, they didn’t remain there. She threw her hands up to protect her head as the bottles rocked and fell around her. Some of them remained intact as they rolled away while others hit the ground and burst open. The stringent smell of chemicals permeated the room as liquid poured onto the floor.

  “Help!” she croaked out. “Somebody help me!”

  The creatures weaved as they crept forward. Claws clicked against the tile floor as the excited chatter increased. Then dozens of animals that looked like a cross between a rat and a scaly lizard emerged.

  They stood on their hind legs and had foot-long arms with three-inch claws at the ends of their bony fingers. Their razor-sharp teeth could shred the skin from her, and brown tufts of hair stuck to them. Their eyes weren’t beady and black like the ones in the trophy room, but they were the same creatures that attacked her there.

  “Help me!” Rosie screamed.

  Where was everyone? Why didn’t they come to help her? They had to have heard her by now!

  One of the creatures hissed, and its bird-like tongue rattled back and forth in its mouth before it rushed at her. Breaking free of her paralysis, Rosie threw the bottle of developer at it. The bottle slammed into the tiny beast and toppled it backward. Its hideous friends laughed and chattered as they watched it skid across the room.

  Then they turned back to her.

  The menace they emanated beat against her. With an ear-splitting screech, they rushed at her on a wave of impending death and destruction. Rosie gathered her scattered thoughts enough to use her power against them. It swirled within her before boiling forward. She pictured it crashing into these things and tearing them in half before releasing it.

  She sagged in relief and then froze.

  The creatures laughed more eagerly as they rushed at her. Unable to understand what had gone wrong, Rosie barely had enough time to lunge to the side and out of the way of the monsters.

  In her blind rush, she never saw the bottle until she was skidding on it. Wheeling her arms, she felt like a cartoon character as she tried to keep herself from falling. Her tailbone screamed in protest when she landed on her butt, and her breath rushed out of her.

  The impact of the first creature knocked her to the side when it pounced on her arm and clawed its way toward her neck. She reached for it, but it was useless as the rest of them attacked her. They knocked her back and pushed her to the ground.

  She couldn’t see through the wave of them and couldn’t breathe as they covered her like a colony of ants on a cookie. They tore into her legs, clawed at her clothes, and ripped out her hair. She screamed when small claws slashed her face.

  Rosie woke with a start; her scream echoed in her ears as she panted for breath. She stared around her as she tried to figure out what happened and where she was. As her eyes adjusted, she realized she was in her room, and she’d been dreaming.

  “Rosie! Are you okay?”

  Rosie jumped when her door burst open and the light turned on. Terror etched her mom’s pretty face, but then, her parents knew what happened with Avery tonight. Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be anything they could do to stop the bastard, and her parents knew this was something her coven had to face. They wanted so badly to protect her, but they couldn’t protect her from Regan.

  “I’m fine, Mom,” she assured her; feeling guilty for causing her more stress. “It was a nightmare.”

  Her mother frowned at her as Rosie’s dad arrived. “What happened to your face?” he demanded.

  Rosie’s hand flew to her face to trace over the tears in her skin. Blood stuck to her fingers when she pulled them away to stare at them with dawning dread. “I… I don’t know.”

  “Probably scratched yourself in your sleep,” her mom said as she padded closer to Rosie’s bed. “We’ll get you cleaned up.”

  “Huh? Oh no… no, I’m fine. Go back to bed, Mom. I’m sorry I woke you.”

  “Don’t be,” her mom said as she brushed Rosie’s hair back from her face. “Let me put some peroxide on those scratches.”

  “No, I’m fine. It’s just a couple of scratches.” She tried not to shudder as she uttered these wor
ds.

  “Okay, but if you need us, come and get us.”

  “I will,” Rosie promised.

  “Goodnight, Bud,” her father said.

  Rosie smiled at the endearment; he’d called her his Rosie Bud for as long as she could remember. “Goodnight, Dad.”

  She watched as her mother followed him into the hall and closed the door. She almost called them back, but the words caught in her throat.

  It was only a nightmare.

  But it was far too real, and she was bleeding.

  Unable to chance getting out of bed, Rosie sat there for hours after her parents left. She kept waiting to hear the click of the creature’s claws coming from under her. That wolf had been in their world; those monsters could be lurking under her bed, waiting for her to put her foot down so they could slice her Achille’s tendon.

  Her stomach churned as she imagined their beady little eyes beneath her bed. She may never get out of bed again.

  The tick of the pendulum clock on her wall was the only sound in the room. The clock, which once belonged to her great-grandmother, had always been one of her prized possessions, but now she wished it would stop so she could hear those things coming.

  Finally gathering the courage to crawl out of bed, she braced herself before leaning over the side. She grasped a handful of the sheets and blankets hanging over the side and held her breath as she yanked them back. She fully expected to have one of those creatures hiss in her face before leaping onto it, but she saw only dust bunnies.

  Releasing her breath, she swung her legs over the side and made her way toward the mirror over her bureau. Her knees shook with every step, but they nearly gave out when she saw the three jagged scratches marring her pale cheek.

  CHAPTER 13

  Isla tilted her head back to peer at the starlit sky. The frosty air caused her to huddle into her coat, but the fresh ocean air helped ease her anxiety over what happened with Avery earlier. She couldn’t help but smile as the waves, only a few feet away, rolled in and out with a soft whoosh.

  She’d avoided them since escaping Regan’s maze, but she couldn’t deny it felt good to be with the coven once more. For the first time in over a month, she felt whole again.