Wildest Dreams (Rogue Dream Fae Book 3) Page 12

  I pull back the covers on the bed next to my mom’s and climb in.

  “So you’ll at least stay the night? See if things get better in the morning? I’m sure Jerrek will get to the bottom of things. Figure out what happened with that horrible person.”

  “I suppose,” I say, giving her a smile as I pull the covers over me. “Am I going to get in trouble for being here?”

  “Of course not,” my mom says, giving me a smile. “The fae orderlies are so nice. They’ll probably dote on you as well. Not as much as Jerrek does, but—”

  “Mom—”

  “All right, all right, but you know what team I’m on. I would feel like I was truly failing you if I let you walk away from a man like Jerrek.” Her expression grows stern. “He is a good man, I swear.”

  “How can you know that, so soon?”

  “The same reason I realized your dad was wrong, finally, and left him. Because I grew as a person, and my struggles made me strong. I can make out a fake from the real thing, and Jerrek is the real deal. I guarantee.”

  “I hope you’re right,” I say, turning over in bed and trying to get comfortable.

  It’s hard without his big, strong body next to me.

  Hopefully, tomorrow brings some calm with it, and enough strength for me to try and work things out.

  20

  Jerrek

  It was a mistake, going to see Gilla to ask why the fuck she created an illusion to scare my soul bond.

  I’d heard rumors about how she was handling things in her kingdom, but I had assumed no one in the fae dream world would let someone go that far.

  I had heard she uses chains in her harem.

  I ignored that too, to my own detriment.

  But I was just completely lost to fury, to confusion, wanting to know why Sandra was so angry after things had been going so well for us.

  And well, the rumors are right. This crazy witch keeps her men in actual chains. And now I’m one of them.

  “Who made these?” I ask, holding the cuffs up. They’re thick, steely metal of some kind, immune to my magic when I try to gather it in my hands.

  We’re in her dungeon right now because I literally set fire to her bedroom when she tried to take me there first.

  That’s how I ended up with actual, physical chains on. Not just the magic restraints she’d tried to use.

  Right now, I’m kneeling in the middle of one of the cells in her dungeon, wondering what the hell I’m going to do.

  I told my mom I’d be back later. How long until they’ll sense something is up?

  And worst of all, will Sandra think I’m here cheating?

  I can’t bear to hurt my soul bond anymore.

  I try to think back, wondering where I was when she saw me cheating. I remember going to the bathroom. I also remember going out on the balcony to look at the stars because I couldn’t sleep, thinking about how amazing it was to have finally found and been accepted by my mate.

  Was that when Gilla did the illusion? How did she time it? I wasn’t gone long…

  “You don’t need to worry about that,” Gilla says, not answering my question about the chains. “You just need to get used to the fact that we’re going to be together and stop misbehaving and running around.”

  “You’re crazy,” I say. “Pure crazy. My friends will come for me. My family.”

  She holds up a piece of parchment. “I have a reservation. And the only woman who can even challenge it is now gone.”

  “How did you do it?” I ask. “How?”

  “I don’t have to tell you that either.” She rolls up the parchment and sticks it in the pocket of her robes. “What matters is I got rid of the weak, annoying human. Really, if she could believe that about you, why would you want her at all?”

  “She has past hurt in that direction, you ugly pig.” I glare at her, wishing my hands were free and I could do more than yell at her.

  I was taught to respect queens, but I truly hate this one.

  “We are meant to be soul bonds,” she says. “And I’m going to leave you in this basement until you figure that out. Men?” She waves a hand, and her other harem warriors step forward, all with metal cuffs like I have, though they aren’t attached to anything.

  I recognize some of them from the academy, and they give me pitying eyes. I’m not sure how she treats them, but when I escape this place, I’m going to find out.

  I’m going to rescue every one of the warriors she has trapped.

  I know a little how Sandra feels about protecting the women in her world too.

  I don’t hate queens, but after Gilla, it’s going to be hard not to look at them differently.

  I hang my head, remembering the hurt in Sandra’s eyes.

  I’d do anything to go back and stop Gilla and protect Sandra from having to see that.

  I was so busy trying to win her, and sure that everything was going to work out, that I didn’t take Gilla’s threats seriously.

  No queen in the dream realm has ever behaved in such a way, and there will be consequences.

  At least, I hope so.

  If I don’t escape from this place, I’ll blow it up. I don’t care if I die. If I can’t be with my mate…

  No, don’t think like that, not yet.

  Sandra never left. At least, she didn’t ask for another portal. She might be with her mom. She could still change her mind…

  The idea of her having to rescue me is silly to me. The idea of the duel? Deranged. But I’d give anything to be with Sandra. And since Gilla seems to be the one who finally solved the mystery of how to restrain my power, I guess I’ll have to wait.

  Gilla is almost out of the basement, and I heave a sigh of relief, just glad not to have her around me.

  She pauses, then starts down the steps toward me, stopping only when a warrior puts a hand on her arm.

  “Not yet,” he says, sending me a look I can’t interpret. For some reason, I get the idea he’s on my side. “Wait until the reservation. Then you can have him on your own terms.”

  I sneer, realizing she keeps getting tempted toward me. Even when I don’t want her. “You’re disgusting. I’ll never endure your touch.”

  Her eyes narrow. “You’ll scream with pleasure when I violate you. I will train you, warrior. Just wait and see.”

  And then she storms up the steps and is gone, slamming the trap door that leads down here behind her.

  As humans would say in this situation, fuck.

  21

  Sandra

  “This can’t be true,” Kerren says, looking at a piece of parchment in her hands as she shoves through the doors and into the medical bay where I’m sitting with my mom. “I don’t believe it.”

  “What does it say?” I ask. “Is there a problem?”

  It occurs to me that it’s crazy that I’m having this close of a relationship with an actual queen, but Kerren already feels like family to me.

  “It says that Jerrek accepted the terms of the reservation.” She hands me the parchment, and I scan over it, not recognizing the odd writing. “It’s in fae. But it’s Jerrek’s signature. On a mating document.”

  I blink. “What?” I look over at my mom, because she’s the reason I stayed, and now it feels like my world is evaporating.

  “I don’t believe it,” my mom says, looking over my shoulder. “Jerrek would never choose that woman over my daughter.”

  “I agree,” Kerren says, walking over to the window and folding her arms thoughtfully. “I don’t think he could choose anyone but his soul bond.”

  I perk up slightly. “And you think that’s me?”

  She pins me with a stern look. “Not if you think he could cheat on you.”

  “I saw—”

  “I know what you saw,” she says tersely. “But if you’re going to be a dream fae, which you are, then you will have to understand that sometimes things aren’t always as they seem.”

  “That’s what I said,” my mom says.

 
“I like you,” Kerren says, and I grin because I can sense they’ll become fast friends.

  “What do we do now?” I ask. “Find Jerrek and ask him?”

  “He hasn’t been around the castle,” Kerren says. “Not for the past couple of days. I assumed he was spending time with you.”

  “He was, until yesterday,” I say. It’s been about a day since I saw him with Gilla.

  “Then you must find him,” she says. “You’re his soul bond.”

  “You’re his mother,” I say.

  “I have bonds to thousands of fae,” she says. “It is harder to sense any one in particular. But I don’t need my bond to know where he is. My guess is that witch has him in her house.”

  “So he’s been kidnapped?” I stand up immediately. “Seriously? That’s a thing here? Men getting kidnapped?”

  “But they’re so strong,” my mom says.

  “They don’t have access to as much magic as queens. The other problem is that they are taught to respect queens so much from birth that they don’t see attacks coming. They put themselves in vulnerable situations, assuming the queens would never treat them wrongly for it.”

  “I can relate to that, as a human woman,” my mom says. “I never thought that a man would treat me wrong.”

  “So what, I need to go save him?” I ask. “With my whip?”

  I might still be mad at him. I might still think it’s possible he cheated. But if he’s really being held against his will…

  “How do I know he didn’t just go to her and sign this? What if he really did?” I ask.

  She puts a hand to her head. “I sure hope not. Because that would make the contract binding, at least until Gilla’s death.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s not a soul bonding. It’s a reservation contract. She’s agreeing to watch out for him and take responsibility for him for life, and he’s… something like a servant. Unless he consents to being more.”

  “Yeah, but something’s wrong with all of this,” I say. “She just… I don’t believe her.”

  “Good,” Kerren says. “As I said, some things are not as they seem. There has never been anything between my son and Gilla. Whereas, he waited a thousand years for you.”

  That’s it. The entire wall I’ve been trying to keep up falls around me, and I feel terrible.

  “What do I do?” I ask, panicked. “I should never have left him. I should have tried to be braver. To trust him. Work things out.” Deep in my heart, I know he would never have gone willingly to Gilla.

  He told me he’d rather die.

  He hasn’t done anything for me to mistrust him, except for that one night.

  If it was an illusion…

  “I need to go,” I say. “How do I get to her castle? What do I use? What do I do?”

  “I would go with you, but you are the best one for this job,” Kerren says, eyeing me meaningfully. “Technically, you may have to break some fae rules, or, well, doors, to get to him. I must watch my kingdom, and if I were to break rules—”

  “Got it,” I say. “Get unruly, if I have to.”

  Her eyes warm. “Exactly. You know, I’ve always liked that about Jerrek. He never did what anyone told him to. He carved his own path. And that led him to finding you, a woman who fits him so well I couldn’t have imagined better. You’re a strong, amazing woman, Sandra.”

  “Now go get your man,” my mom says. “Don’t take no for an answer.” She looks at Kerren nervously. “Will she get hurt?”

  “I don’t think so,” Kerren says, producing a portal by waving one long, elegant hand. “If anything, I’m more worried about Gilla. Well, if I were capable of caring about that witch.” She puts a hand on my mother’s. “Your daughter is strong, like you. She will get to the bottom of this.” She smiles at me. “She’s a queen.”

  I smile back. Regardless of what world we’re in, women should support each other. And the good men in our lives too.

  And we should hold the bad ones accountable, when we can.

  With that, I walk into the portal, ready to see my mate.

  22

  Jerrek

  “This isn’t going to work,” I say flatly, watching Gilla pace, rubbing her hands together. “They won’t believe I signed that.”

  “But you did,” she says, grinning crazily at me. She’s actually excited today, like this is a human wedding day or something.

  And not just me, chained to one of the two thrones in her main throne room, watching her act like a crazy person.

  She looks over to me, then walks to the throne next to mine and sits down, looking out at the empty room of sparkling marble imperiously.

  Though, I get the feeling that Roth, her second-in-command, does all the work of her kingdom.

  I’ve made friends of most of her harem warriors in the past few days. Roth has been the closest. He even assured me, privately, that if someone doesn’t come for me, he’ll send someone out.

  He says that, hopefully, if I’m rescued, I’ll return the favor and tell people how she’s running things in her kingdom.

  Hell yes, I will.

  But he isn’t here right now. It’s just me and Gilla.

  She grins over at me, her purple hair piled on top of her head in an elaborate style that is supposed to look pretty.

  She’s also wearing a ceremonial gown, one like you’d wear to a mating ceremony.

  I hate her and think she looks disgusting.

  “This is how it always should have been,” she says, sweeping her hand out in front of her as if we were surrounded by adoring, kneeling fans. “Me and the most desirable warrior in the realm ruling together.” She beams, and the more she smiles, the queasier she makes me. “Tomorrow, when you’ve finally accepted the contract is final, we can start seeing my subjects. Showing them my new consort.”

  “I will never be yours,” I say, keeping my eyes pinned wherever hers aren’t.

  I can feel her eyes running over me, the tension in the air for how long she has had to wait.

  Well, she’ll have to wait longer. I’ll blow this place up first.

  Except, as she already pointed out, I can’t without hurting innocent bystanders. I can’t control that kind of outburst of strength.

  But touching anyone but my soul bond? Disgusting. Gross.

  Watching me curiously, she stands and walks over to my throne, where my hands are chained down to each armrest. The throne is made of heavy stone.

  I’m truly trapped, with a chain around my neck, ankles, and waist, keeping me sitting in the way she wants me.

  Head high, as if I’m her king.

  I will never be her king.

  But she walks closer to me.

  She places her hands on the ends of the stone armrests, not touching my hands but making me curl back in anticipation.

  “Beautiful, beautiful Jerrek. You don’t know how long I’ve wanted you. Now, you’re finally mine.”

  I just grunt, staying as far back from her as I can. “I don’t get it. Why would you want someone who doesn’t want you?”

  “You’ll want me,” she says, smiling. “Of course you will. When you get that fake dream mate out of your head, it’s only a matter of time. I’m one of the most powerful dream queens to ever exist. You’re the strongest warrior, unable to even control your own strength.”

  I grit my teeth. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “We’ll be unstoppable together,” she says. “The strongest pair. Able to rule, if we want.”

  “Your kingdom?”

  “Everything,” she says, mouth widening in a rictus grin. “Everything we want, together it can be ours.”

  “You’re crazy,” I say.

  “You’re mine,” she hisses. She puts a knee in the space between my legs, about to get up on me. “And it’s about time you knew it.”

  But just as she’s reaching for my face, a portal appears in the middle of the marble floor, and Sandra falls unceremoniously out of it, looking aroun
d confused.

  Then her eyes land on me. And light up in fury.

  “I didn’t cheat on you,” I say, still pulled back from Gilla. “Despite what it looks like, I never would.”

  “I know,” she says, curls standing in all directions as she pushes up the sleeves of her robes. “And I’m so sorry I doubted you.” Her eyes roam over my chains and then darken toward Gilla. “Oh, you bitch.”

  Gilla steps back, sighing as if this is nothing more than a mere annoyance. “Please, don’t embarrass yourself. Just go. We’re together. It’s over.”

  “She’s lying—” I’m cut off by a gag appearing over my mouth, so I try to say the rest with my eyes.

  Gilla puts out her hand, and a long, ominous black whip appears, steaming slightly.

  She really is part nightmare, I suppose, after what she’s done.

  That’s when a dream fae goes truly rotten. I’ve never seen one partially there. Shame runs through me, and I can’t help wondering if this is all my fault.

  But then I hear Sandra’s voice, centering me.

  “Jerrek! Look at me.”

  I raise my eyes.

  “I don’t believe her, okay? We’re gonna get out of here and live a long, happy life. Because we deserve it.”

  Gilla throws back her head in a cackle. “You aren’t some hero. He’s meant to be here. He’s mine.”

  “Then why is he chained? Gagged?”

  “I told you,” she says smugly. “Unruly.” She cracks her whip, and dark sparks fly in all directions. Sandra ducks one that comes her way.

  “Pull out your whip, human,” Gilla says, advancing on Sandra. “Though, it’s impossible to win. I’ve dueled for every one of my warriors. I’ve never lost.” She grins. “Love isn’t the only way to win a duel.”

  “You’re sick,” Sandra says. “I should have seen it sooner. But this place… it’s so different. Then again, you’re not so different from what I’m used to at all.” Her eyes flick disdainfully over Gilla. “Just a bully. Just a jerk.”

  “You can’t beat me,” Gilla says. “I’ve cultivated my power all my life. There’s no way you can—”