In Her Dreams by Bolryder, Terry (the reader ebook .txt) 📕

and sexual assault and murder and rape and thieving. And bullying.

All things we stomp out of our kingdoms. Things we are trained as warriors to not allow, both in ourselves and in others.

So the sooner I can help her leave this world, the better.

I’m going to start trying to help her see that more tonight.

“It’s getting late,” she says, turning her gaze from the sparkling black sky above us to look at me. “You want to head in?”

I look into her deep-brown eyes, which are reflecting little sparkles from the stars above her.

So damn beautiful.

“I want to be wherever you are,” I say, putting my arm around her and pulling her in tighter. “And to be honest, I really enjoy the sky in the human world.”

“Oh yeah? Why?”

“I don’t know,” I say, staring up at it. “It’s just so chaotic and random. All those fiery bodies, all those planets spinning, all those huge celestial objects, and then us, little bugs looking up and watching it all. Humans live such short lives beneath the watch of things that are eternal.”

She sighs, squeezing my side. “I love the way you talk sometimes. So smart.”

I grin. “I have to be in order to keep up with my dream mate.”

“You have a good point, though,” she says. “I do feel this infinite sense of smallness when I look up at them. In a good way. Like no matter what, they’re watching over whatever happens here.”

I grin. “And now that you know you’re immortal, you don’t have to think about the fact that you’ll soon be dust, blowing across the planet.”

She wrinkles her nose. “That’s a terrible thing to say about humans. About everything in this world.”

“Everything dies,” I say. “Even dream fae at some point, if they fail to bond. Humans are still interesting creatures, and some of them are kind and amazing. Some of them will literally die for strangers. But it’s the random element I can’t deal with. The way you are all mixed together and the way you often elevate nightmares.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” I say. “According to Joey, most of the nightmares at his school are rich and popular. Well, he calls them bullies.”

“Right,” I say.

“I wish humans didn’t see odd things as worthy of acclaim. Things like where you live or how much money you have. What we are in our hearts is everything.”

She grins at me. “And this is why I love you. You’re so good inside, Reve.” She leans in to kiss me, and heat zings into my toes.

I let the kiss go for a moment, just savoring the feel of her, and then I pull back, my hands on her shoulders. “Jen. I want to go somewhere with you. Don’t take it wrong.”

She cocks her head. “Where?”

“Your dream realm,” I say. “Well, your dreamscape, which is bordering the dream fae realm.”

“My castle?” She bites her lip. “But only I go there.” She laughs. “It was like having a secret playhouse as a kid. I honestly thought it was just a dream until you told me otherwise.” She sighs. “I haven’t been back there lately, though.”

“It might need some upkeep, but we should at least go see.”

She peers at me suspiciously. “Is this about getting me to live in the dream realm?”

“I don’t see why you don’t want to,” I say. “But can’t we at least go look at it together? I mean really get an idea of what you think?”

She swallows nervously. “I guess so. I just… didn’t really think about going there with someone else.”

“Even though you have a huge castle?”

“I mainly just played in the outer yards. I didn’t know whose place it was when I was a kid and thought it belonged to someone. I didn’t want to get in trouble.”

“You won’t ever,” I say. “It’s your place.”

“Thanks.” She looks slightly reassured. “But I still don’t want to go there.”

It’s my turn to swallow nervously. “Jen, I know you love this world, but it’s not truly your and Joey’s world. It’s more like you’re here as refugees. Which doesn’t mean you can’t stay, but there’s a world for people like you. Fae like you.”

“I’m not even a full fae,” she says. “What if they don’t accept me?”

I shake my head. “Impossible. You’re my dream mate. You’re full fae.”

“What about Joey? Will they accept him?”

“Of course,” I say. “He would have busy but doting grandparents. And start warrior training.”

She flinches at that. “And if I don’t want him to?”

“I don’t know. This is a situation the dream realm has never seen before. Lorien, Jerrek, and I are the first warriors to claim we have mates outside the dream fae realm and outside the other fae realms.”

“What do you mean?”

“Lorien’s brother Landon knew his mate was in the fae realm and left to find her. That’s what led to Lorien finding out about this world and figuring out that Tess might be here. All of us came with him just on the possible hope of our mates being here too. And they were.” He cocks his head. “And now we know why. Because they are sending at least some dream fae here, based on Josh being here. Though, he’s not a nightmare, and they should only banish nightmares, so I’m not sure.”

I look over to see her eyes wide. I’m probably confusing her again.

“Anyway, I would never let anyone do anything you and Joey don’t like. I’d fight them to the death first.”

Her cheeks heat prettily. “But that’s not necessary if we just stay here. It seems safer away from people who just banish people.”

“There are rules there,” Reve says. “But I grew up in health and safety, and everyone I knew did as well. There is order, and for that to happen, rules must be followed.”

“Such a goody-two-shoes,” she says.

“I have heard that phrase,” I say. “I do like keeping rules. That’s why I wish I could take you to your dream world, but I’m incapable of doing anything you don’t want. It’s against everything in my