The Dream Thief by Kari Kilgore (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

"Tell me, George."

"I was out there yesterday, taking her food like you asked. She looks ten years older, like she hasn't slept in a month. She was wandering around and sort of muttering to herself the whole time I was there."

"Could you tell what had her so upset?" Karl said.

"She kept looking at her workroom," George said. "The bedroom with all her tools in it. I think she was determined to wait until I left, but I'd bet a month's salary she was right back in there as soon as I did."

Karl rubbed his temples, trying his best to sort through what his friend knew and didn't know. He'd forgotten all about the larger Dragon Gemma was building for Loretta. If she took that with her, she’d do even more damage with no one to stop her. He couldn't tell George about this, either.

He was in the middle of driving away a woman he was well over halfway in love with, probably right this second, in part because she hid so much from him.

Since she'd come into his life, Karl wasn't behaving any better.

"Thanks for checking on Gemma," Karl said. "We probably need to get her to a doctor. Spending time out there might not be good for her. We don't know how someone who dreams is affected by being around all those ’sters. Do you think you can get her to stay in my rooms for a day, until I get back out there?"

"Not asking for much, are you?" George smiled when he said it, but Karl's guilt drove even deeper into his belly. "Yeah, that shouldn't be any problem. She seems to like me for some reason. It's been a long damned time since anyone lived out there, so something strange could be going on."

"The ones they were hiding from in the first place are still around," Karl said. "This will help me out more than you know. I've got a few things to wrap up here, but I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Sure thing, Karl. Any idea what I should tell her about why I'm dragging her back to your palatial estate?"

"Not really. Tell her you have to repair something, maybe that her well is going dry. Just don't let anyone know where she is, George. No one. If she is sick, we don't want it to get out why."

George shook his head and clapped Karl on the back.

"Brilliant as always. I'll take care of her."

Karl watched George walk away, opening his mouth to call his friend back more than once. If this worked, the latest phase of this horrible plan of his, he'd just managed to put himself in charge of Loretta's grandmother once she was gone.

A woman nearly as innocent as any of his youngest family members, who loved her bobbin very much. A woman who would not be the least bit happy with Karl for deceiving her or her granddaughter.

What he would tell Gemma might not be as hard to work out as where she was supposed to live after all of this. Worst of all, he had no intention of admitting any of it to anyone who didn't already know.

Karl actually drew breath to call out, then held it until George turned out of sight.

His plan was in motion, for better or for worse. Karl hoped he could live with the fallout.

Chapter 57

Loretta stood with the men and women between the rocky coast and the iron fence around Joffrey Columns, watching many of the same couples pair up and walk inside. The matches were clear and long-lasting, at least compared to how such things usually went.

She'd gone in on her own more often than Karl would have approved of, frequently during the week when almost no one else waited. Seeking out and paying one of the more desperate fishermen had been well worth her time, and her coin. The man never hesitated to bring her day or night. More importantly, he never asked questions.

She'd never even needed George's badge, but she'd made sure to keep it with her for every trip out here. Loretta worked her way over to the side as each person left the group, closer to the deep shadows of a huge oak tree with every departure.

No one ever had a problem getting in or leaving, but she felt terribly exposed. The detective hadn't mentioned her visits out here, but she'd been involved in this line of work long enough to know raids and arrests were always a possibility. She waited several minutes after the last two joined up and disappeared through the gap in the fence before she followed.

The paradox of feeling safer inside the gray stone walls of the asylum was not lost on Loretta, but that didn't change how much more easily she breathed. This was a routine she knew, almost as well as the one she left behind in Waldron's Gate. Even if the detectives did know she was here, finding her wouldn't be an easy matter.

She crossed the dark lawn and let herself into Karl's building. Loretta paused outside the door to his apartment, thinking about staying there for the night. He'd be in Waldron's Gate for at least one more day. The brick tunnel was unpleasant enough even when she knew the sun was only a short climb away. At night, the moldy air inside was thick and heavy against her skin, and the smell lingered almost as badly as the reek of the monsters.

She touched the scuffed door with her fingertips, considering. She'd had her own key for a few weeks now, and she could be warm in Karl's bed, even if by herself, within a few minutes. The dreary hike out to Gemma's took almost half an hour.

The shared bath here was a far less pleasant prospect. Gemma, true to form, had the large tub at her house supplied with more hot water than everyone here was forced to share. A long, hot