23. Chapter Twenty-Three - Leigh
I overslept after last night’s dream, delaying my trip to the lunchroom.
Ravi is the last person I want to see, but he might be the only one who can explain what’s happening to me.
But if I tell him about the dream, will he think I’m cracking?
He could tell Alden, who would exploit any weakness.
I have to be very careful how I describe what happened.
Thinking back to the nightmare—me, strapped down, moments from a horrifying procedure—sharpens my determination.
It’s clear Janus wants me off the throne, and I believe she’s using Stellan to do it.
Ravi sits alone at the large table, absorbed in reading an article on his tablet.
Despite the tempting aroma of coffee and fruit, the pit in my stomach doesn’t ease.
“Where’s Alden?” I ask as I take my usual seat, which happens to be across from Ravi.
He doesn’t pause his reading, leaving me to tighten my grip on my fork while an attendant fills my glass with iced tea.
“He went out while you were sleeping.”
I sip my drink.
“Out where?”
“Breakfast.”
My eyes narrow.
If he’s making more messes to clean up, I need to know about them now.
“With whom?”
Ravi sets the paper aside, his gaze finally meeting mine.
He takes in my attempt to look presentable, but his eyes linger on the dark circles betraying my sleepless night.
Makeup can only hide so much.
“Rough night?” His question is simple yet grating.
I stab my fork into the salad.
“You could say that.”
The clink of metal against the plate is unnaturally loud in the quiet room.
Ravi assesses me.
His attention is sandpaper against my skin.
“What?” I challenge.
“Tell me about your dream.”
My spine collides with the back of my chair, the hardwood unyielding against my tense muscles.
“H-how did you know?”
Ravi raises an eyebrow, then plants his hands on the table as if preparing to dissect my mind.
“You have the look of someone touched by the unexplainable,” Ravi says, his voice level.
“So, tell me about your dream. What did you see? Or who did you see?”
My heart stutters.
How did he .
.
.
Ravi smiles.
It’s scary how disarming it is.
“Don’t worry. Every Lunar Witch experiences it eventually.”
“Experiences what?” I whisper.
“Dreamwalking.”
I set my fork down.
Dreamwalking?
“What does that even mean?”
Ravi sighs.
“Don’t you understand the breadth of your abilities? Lunar Witches possess the gift of dreamwalking. It allows us to navigate and influence the dreamscapes of others. To analyze the subconscious.”
A sharp inhale.
So, this is not me losing my mind?
“How do I know whose dreamed I entered?” I ask before I can help myself.
Ravi shrugs.
“There are always clues. Tell me what you saw.”
I hesitate.
Have I already said too much?
“Leigh?” Ravi nudges again.
“Dreams might reflect hidden fears or desires or even serve as omens.”
“You think what I saw reflects someone else’s desires?” I ask.
My heel taps a nervous rhythm against the floor.
Janus reigned supreme in the dream, orchestrating events with cruel precision.
If that’s true, does it mean her hunger for my position is, too?
To know for sure, I must enter her dreams again.
“Could I do it on purpose?” I ask.
“Enter someone else’s dream?”Now that I know it is a dream, maybe I can coerce Janus into giving answers.
It’s as if she’s working with Stellan and Beatrix to dethrone me—to cause a rift among the Council to make herself more appealing.
“I wouldn’t advise it,” Ravi says carefully.
“Accessing the subconscious can be dangerous for you and the person whose dream you’ve entered. The mind is often volatile, and you could get trapped in the dream.” He pauses, considering his next words.
“I’m happy to teach you more about your magic, but we should start with the basics, like shadow manipulation. Or talking with ghosts. Have you ever crossed anyone over? There’s an expiration date for how long a ghost can remain in this realm before their visitation rights are revoked.”
I hesitate.
The prospect of mastering my magic is tempting, but prioritizing the exposure of Stellan’s mole before they strike again is paramount.
Still .
.
.
this could be an opportunity to unravel his and Alden’s plot, to peel back their intentions like the layers of an onion.
Before I can even respond, Alden strides into the room.
Far from hungover, he’s as crisp as a daisy in a tailored suit.
He’s even freshly shaven.
His cologne—a complex blend of spice and pine that I refuse to admit I enjoy—fills the condensed space.
“Good afternoon, party people!” Alden says.
As the staff rushes to accommodate his needs, I cross my arms.
“Where have you been?”
With a guarded grin, Ravi dives back into his article, unfazed.
The tapping on his screen softly counterpoints my heart pounding.
“Well, while you were catching up on your beauty rest—you look radiant, by the way—I had the most enjoyable breakfast.”
“I didn’t realize you knew anyone that would bother to take you out?” I say.
“I do.” His response is cryptic.
I huff.
“Well, quit leaving me in suspense. Did you meet them last night?”
Alden settles into the seat beside me.
He steals a tomato off my plate.
I scowl.
“Janus.”
I strive for a nonchalant air, desperate to mask any indication of the burgeoning tension between Janus and myself, acutely aware of Alden’s scrutinizing gaze.
“Huh, didn’t realize you two were chatting," I say, ignoring the unease creeping up my spine. The hell? Why wasn’t I invited?
Alden sighs. “Janus reached out after yesterday’s failed luncheon. I’m surprised you didn’t know, given how close you and your Council are.”
My jaw hardens while Ravi pretends to be absorbed in reading, but he hasn’t turned the page. He’s hanging on to every word, a silent observer in this dangerous game. Alden thinks he’s caught me in a lie.
“What did you two discuss?” I ask.
“All sorts of things.”
“Such as?”
Alden snags a crouton, the loud crunch —like the splitting of bone—in his mouth sending a jolt through me.
“You know,” he drawls, “last night’s . . . adventures are catching up with me. Think I’ll grab a nap. Wanna join?" He shoots me a wink, and I can’t quite place the look in his eye.
“I’d honestly prefer suffocating myself with my pillow.”
Alden yawns, then says, “Suit yourself.”
“My offer still stands to practice magic together,” Ravi says.
“That’s a great idea!” Alden claps. I frown. I don’t like them teaming up against me. “Do spells, read each other’s cards, or whatever you witches do in your spare time, then we can go out tonight. The three of us.”
Alden leaves the room.
I inhale a deep breath, hating that Alden spent time with Janus. If those meetings are going to keep happening, I need to uncover Janus’s plans sooner rather than later. Ravi may not want to teach me about dreamwalking, but I will convince him to.
“Sounds great,” I say to Ravi. He blinks as if he can’t believe I agree. “I’ll meet you in the gym in an hour.”
After Alden’s fingers violated my uneaten lunch, I no longer have an appetite. With a quiet, determined exit, I leave the room, my heart a drumbeat urging me toward action.