Dreamer (The Dream World Chronicles Book 1) by Camille Peters (thriller books to read .txt) 📕

I softened at his imploring expression. I supposed tales of Earth were very different than my dream-watching abilities. Plus I couldn’t deny I wanted to share parts of myself with him.

He listened with rapt attention as I told him about growing up in my cottage covered in ivy and honeysuckles, my bedroom tucked away in the attic like a treehouse, the dusty bookshop whose books crumbled with age, the vibrant forest that was always quiet and peaceful, as well as my favorite village shops and festivals.

I also described the hours working side by side with Mother in the garden. As I spoke, I could almost see each dainty flower, feel the texture of soil against my hands as I carefully tended the plants, smell the blossoms’ sweet symphonic scent, and Mother—my eyes grew misty and I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat.

“I’d ask whether you’d ever consider taking up Cultivating,” Darius said. “But after what happened with the nightmare flower…that reservation aside, I bet you’d be good at it.”

“I’m too busy trying to survive our Weavings.”

A smile caressed Darius’s lips. “I can’t deny that.”

We laughed, both scooting closer as we did so. “I’m sorry, that’s probably more than you wanted to know about my old life,” I said.

“Nonsense, I want to hear more. You haven’t mentioned your friends yet.”

I lowered my eyes. “I didn’t have any.” My cheeks warmed at the admission. “Even before they discovered my powers and burned my home, the villagers always avoided me. They always suspected I had magic; I suppose it’s difficult to trust the only villager with colorful hair. That’s why I can never go back.”

His expression hardened. “Were they rude to you?” At my nod, his hands curled into fists. “Give me names. I’ll study them day and night until I discover what scares them most so I can give them the most frightening nightmare imaginable.”

My heart warmed at his sweet defense. “Isn’t weaving for a Mortal that’s not your own against the rules?”

His hand returned to my face. “I’d risk it for you.” He lightly traced the outlines of each star sparkling my cheek. Slowly, effortlessly, the walls I’d built to harbor my burning resentment again crumbled. Sitting with Darius made it so easy to trust him, to hope that the smoldering look filling his eyes was real rather than just another dream. I leaned into his stroking fingertips, but just as I was deciding his caress felt rather nice, he pulled his hand away.

“Seen any good dreams lately?”

Instantly, the moment we’d so carefully spun between us with each mesmerizing twist of the flying colors unraveled.

“You set me up.” Even though I’d suspected it from the beginning, heat flashed through my body as all my resentment—which had been festering since learning of Darius’s betrayal—returned and boiled over.

He flinched as if I’d slapped him. “No, I—”

“Stop playing games, I know exactly what you’re up to. The only reason you wanted to watch the flying colors together was so you could uncover more of my secrets. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’ve never seen any dream except for the one you wove for me.”

“Eden, I swear, I wasn’t trying to—”

“Stop. No more lies.”

His jaw tightened and he jerked to his feet. At first we had a silent, glaring stare down before all at once his expression cleared. “Eden…”

“Go away!” I turned my back to him, my wall securely built back up. The only sounds between us were my heavy breaths and my heart pounding in my ears.

“I’m sorry,” Darius whispered.

I waited for a moment, and when he didn’t say anything more I spun around, but he was already gone, swallowed by the audience.

Chapter 28

I watched, unseeing, as a lime, carnation, and pansy-colored aurora display lit up the sky, their colors swaying like ocean waves, their beauty eclipsed by the tornado of emotions raging within me.

Stardust floated over. “Finally, he’s gone. You two were getting pretty cozy. So much for your promised silent treatment.” She caught a glimpse of my face, which I only then realized was streaked with tears, and her annoyance immediately softened. “What happened?”

I frantically tried to wipe away the evidence of the pain Darius had inflicted. “You were right: it was all a setup to get more information from me.” Even though it came as no surprise, it still stung, especially after I’d tentatively extended my trust to him again.

“I did warn you,” Stardust said. “Nightmares are nothing but darkness and would do anything to lure you into their web.”

I’d received that warning countless times since arriving in the Dream World, but I’d been certain Darius was different. I could still feel the shadow of his touch, see the fervor in his gaze…the memories caused the warmth he often made me feel to surge through me, one that felt different than the hot fury simmering inside of me.

“Please, I don’t want to talk about him.”

Stardust searched my expression and I wondered if she could detect the true reason for my heartache at Darius’s betrayal—that what existed between us was something more than a weaving partnership, making each time he violated my trust all the more painful. I braced myself for an interrogation, but thankfully she merely curled up beside me.

“At least he left before the show ended so we could watch the rest of it together.” She snuggled closer and I absently petted her, each stroke helping soothe some of my pain.

The flying colors’ dance was beginning to slow, their artistic patterns becoming fewer and further between as the show neared its conclusion. But instead of the colors fading into the night they suddenly shifted, transforming from vibrant, cheerful hues to dark shades. The patterns separated to twist into large, looming letters, appearing one by one across the sky, before arranging themselves into a message, scrawled in eerie script: The Balance is Tipping. Dreamers Beware.

A tense, foreboding silence filled the air as the glowing