Chapter 14
CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Is murder really that bad? Wouldn’t the world be better off without a creep like Tom? I bet he doesn’t have any friends. Ada wouldn’t care. She’d probably be grateful to not have a predator lurking around so close by.
My claws dig into the arm of the divan, the velvet fabric beneath them giving way like butter.
“Hey, cut it out!” Rhys snaps, clapping his hands at me and sucking my attention back to my surroundings. “I get that you’re agitated, but leave my poor furniture alone. Gods, I’m going to have to get a spray bottle for the next time you come and visit if you keep that nonsense up.”
Embarrassment cuts through my bloodlust, and I pull my hands back into my lap like they’ve been burned. “Shit. Sorry.”
He narrows his violet eyes, peering down his delicately sloped nose at me. “I take it the efforts to woo your mortal aren’t going well?”
I glare back at him, though there’s little point with the mask hiding my eyes. “I’m not trying to woo her.”
Rhys waves his hand dismissively at me. “Well, maybe that’s your problem then. If you’d give in to your lustful obsession with the little human instead of fighting it, I bet she’d be having happy dreams again in no time.”
“I’m not the problem! Not everyone cares about love like you do.” I huff. “It’s that fucking creep Tom.”
My annoying cupid friend blinks at me, setting down his glass of wine. “I’m missing something. Who is Tom?”
My fingers itch with the need to wrap around the slimy human’s neck like they did in his dream. I ball my hands into tight fists so I don’t get yelled at for clawing the furniture again like a naughty cat.
“Tom is her neighbor who’s been harassing her and keeping her from enjoying my efforts to put her into the holiday spirit,” I say, my voice growing rougher as my anger builds again. “I went into his dream to scare him off, and it turns out he’s more of a monster than I am.”
“You’re not a monster at all,” Rhys says softly, latching onto the one part of what I said that doesn’t matter right now. Still, the reminder helps cool my violent thoughts.
I’m not a monster. If I kill Tom, I will be. Therefore, I can’t kill Tom, even though I really, really want to.
“How do you know he’s a creep?” Rhys asks, brow furrowing slightly. “Please tell me you didn’t go to the mortal realm in person and follow him around. You’re already testing the limits of what is safe by showing up to decorate your girlfriend’s house and online shop for her.”
“She’s not my girlfriend, and I didn’t,” I snap, the reminder of the risks I’ve been taking unwelcome.
Especially after I spent yet another night physically at Ada’s house, making her snowmen.
I’ve heard the cautionary tales. I know the more I go there, the more I take a chance of severing my connection with the dream realm permanently.
“Like I said, I went into his dream, and it was set in Ada’s cabin.
A picture-perfect replica that only someone who’d been in there would be able to conjure up.
The bastard snuck into her bedroom and was going to take advantage of her.
He’s disgusting. I taught him a lesson, but how can I know it’s enough?
It’d be better for him to be gone entirely just to be sure he doesn’t hurt Ada.
” My voice gets more gravelly the more I speak and I clear my throat when there’s a flicker of alarm in Rhys’s eyes.
“I know I can’t do anything to him. I know I’m not a monster. But if anything were to happen to her…”
I’d never forgive myself.
I’d truly transform into the nightmare she has me play.
I’d make Tom pray for a quick death as I tore him apart, piece by piece.
The divan dips beside me, startling me. Rhys’s hand rests lightly on my arm.
“Sweet, tender-hearted, darling Seth. You, of all creatures, should know that dreaming something doesn’t mean someone wants it to happen in reality.
I doubt this Tom is an actual predator. People have fucked up dreams. It’s more likely he’s visited her home before to help out with something, and maybe has a little crush on her.
You can’t cast judgement on someone for the way their mind contorts in slumber. ”
“Yes, I can,” I grumble. His logic is sound, but he wasn’t there. He didn’t experience the visceral sense of malice like I did.
Rhys sighs and pats my arm. “Think about it this way. Your Ada doesn’t want to be attacked.
At least not unless it’s in a sexy, consensual way.
” He winks, and I shrug his hand off me, my skin heating at the reminder.
“So stop growling about this Tom fellow and focus on what’s important—making your woman happy. ”
I know he’s right, but she hasn’t pulled me into her dreams the past few nights, and I’ve been so worked up that I was worried I’d kill Tom if I manifested back in the mortal realm again.
“Trust me, murdering people is messy if you’re not experienced in it. If Tom ends up being a real issue, tell me and I’ll have someone else take him out.”
I laugh, the first genuine sensation of humor I’ve felt that wasn’t tinged with darkness in I don’t know how long. “Right. You can go shoot an arrow at him or something.”
Rhys laughs along with me. “You’d be surprised at the damage a well-placed one can do. Not that we use them anymore. You’d know that if you paid any attention to the things I say,” he says drolly.
“I pay attention.” Sometimes. When I’m not dealing with a personal crisis that might result in me being a nightmare monster forever.
“Oh? Then what was I telling you about Gloria?” He sits back and crosses his arms as he waits for my answer, a sharp grin on his face.
“Uh, well, it had something to do with…”
I trail off as the familiar tugging at my sternum starts, distracting me.
“I have to go.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t run away because I called you out.”
I shake my head, the tether pulling taut, and the opulent sitting room wavering before my eyes. “I’m serious.”
Rhys sighs. “Fine. I didn’t want to spend time with you anyway,” he huffs. “Good luck. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
He fades away as I’m sucked into Ada’s dream before I can get out my retort that his warning doesn’t leave much of anything off the table.
As my surroundings come into focus slowly, I drag in a steadying breath.
Okay. I’ve got this. As long as her dreams haven’t gone back to the full murderous monster mode, tonight is another chance to push back the tide of the darkness in her mind. Focus on making Ada happy however I can.
To my surprise, I’m not in the forest outside her cabin or lurking in the shadows of some back alley.
There’s golden late afternoon light spilling in through a thick-paned window, and a crackling stone fireplace trimmed with holly.
Tapestries in rich golds, crimsons, and greens decorate the stone walls, and there’s a large canopy bed made of intricately carved wood.
I’m in a… castle?
Elation surges through me as the confusion wears off.
I’m in a castle!
My hands reach up to feel around the top of my head, and a gleeful laugh bursts from me when I feel the cool metal circlet.
I’m in a castle, and I’m wearing a crown.
I did it. I fucking did it. My message worked!
Another slightly manic laugh spills from my lips, but I place my hand over my mouth to smother the sound when I hear approaching footsteps. My excitement sputters out as the familiar chilled ceramic of the mask brushes against my fingertips.
Cursing under my breath, I move over to the window and turn my back toward the door into the bedroom I’ve found myself in.
In the brief moments I have before she enters, I search for that scarred crater in my chest that’s been ever-present as an actor in her nightmares, trying to determine what role I’m to play in this new scene.
My breath hitches as I feel the darkness weaker than the last time we were together.
It’s working.
There’s barely a second to process that new information when the door creaks open, and Ada’s familiar gasp sounds behind me.
“Prince Seth! What are you doing in my bedchambers?” Her breathy voice sends a shiver down my spine. Fuck, I love it when she sounds like that. Shocked, but secretly pleased. Scared, but aroused.
I desperately want to turn and look at her, but I keep my gaze steady out the window. “I would have thought that would be quite evident, Princess.”
Her nickname is more than that tonight. We spent so many nights in the past with her playing that role.
Sometimes I’d be her faithful knight. Others I’d be a prince in need of her magic.
It seems tonight is a twist on one of my favorites—betrothed in childhood to unite two kingdoms and made to marry when we’re of age.
Unlike in those dreams though, I’m not the shy, slightly bumbling Prince professing his desire to do everything he can to be a good husband to her.
No, the darkness is still there. I’m here to take what’s mine. To shatter the princess’ illusions that she’ll have a fairy tale romance, and awaken the twisted, lustful cravings that she tries to hide.
A grin splits my lips as she closes the door behind her rather than running from her fate. “We may be bound together now, but that doesn’t m-mean we’ll share a bed,” she protests, her voice wavering in spite of her determined words.
I let out a cold laugh, turning slightly to try to catch a glimpse of Ada in the reflection in the panes.
The dream has set the sun and brought on night with her entrance into the room.
It takes all my willpower to stifle my groan at the distorted image of her in a gossamer white dressing gown made indecently sheer by the firelight.
My leather breeches grow uncomfortably tight as my cock swells.
The urge to turn and grab her rises, thick and mind-fogging, but the past violence is absent. I suppose her dark prince isn’t a true monster.
The relief of that makes me giddy, and I laugh again. “Oh, Princess, you can stop pretending now. We’re alone.”
She huffs indignantly. “Do not mock me, my lord.”
“You mistake my intent, Princess. I laugh with joy that I have the most beautiful bride in the nine kingdoms.”
“I will not be swayed by your silver tongue.” I watch her eyes scan over my back through the reflection, her chest rising and falling rapidly with her shallow breaths as she anticipates the moment I turn and face her. “I-I know of your cruelty and dark heart. You’re a monster.”
“That may be so…”
I brace myself as the dream pushes me to turn around, praying to any gods or devils that will listen that my mask won’t shock her out of the dream. I need more time. I crave more of this new dynamic.
“But I’m your monster, Princess.”
Her hand rises to cover her mouth, stumbling back in horror as I face her.
“Demon!” she cries, tripping over the hem of her gown in her retreat.
I rush forward to catch her before she crashes to the floor, arm banding around her waist and crushing her to my chest.
“I’m hurt,” I rasp, gazing down into her terror-filled eyes. “Don’t you recognize me? I’m still your prince.”
The words fit the scene, but they’re also a desperate plea.
Moments that feel like an eternity pass. Her trembling hand reaches up, and I shudder as her fingertips brush against the mask. “S-Seth?”
The breath rushes from my lungs. “Yes. Yes. It’s me, Ada.”
“I-I don’t understand. Why are you wearing this mask?”
I hold her closer, wishing I could bury my face against her neck and just breathe her in and whisper apologies for all the things I’ve done to her, even if they were at her bidding. “I’m your nightmare.”
She blinks up at me, struggling to understand.
“You made me this way, but I’m going to fix it. I’ll make you happy again, and then we can go back to how things were. I can be your prince again.” I know my voice is growing frantic as I speak, but I can’t stop. “Please, Ada. Let me be good again. I don’t want to hurt you anymore.”
She cries out as my grip tightens too much in my urging. “S-stop. Please.”
Fuck. Fuck, I’m messing this up.
I try to get my hands to release, but I can’t. Her blood drips down my fingers, and the darkness inside me swells.
No.
“I’m going to fix this. I’m going to make you happy.
I already did the lights and the presents, but you like cookies, right?
Those ones shaped like people? I’ll make you those.
I’ll make this right.” I’m babbling as I fight to ignore the violence rising in me, the dream demanding to turn into her regular nightmare.
The castle fades, and we reappear in her cabin.
Tears stream down Ada’s face.
I wrap a hand around her wrist and bring it up to my mask despite her struggling against me. “Don’t make me hurt you,” I beg, willing her to understand.
Her fingers catch on the edge of the mask, and then she pulls.
I vanish with a spike of searing pain, gasping for breath and shaking from the adrenaline and despair as I reappear in Rhys’s home.
There’s a shocked yelp and the sound of shattering glass. I turn to see Rhys gaping at me, crystal and dark red wine splattered across the marble floor.
“You almost scared me to death!” he gasps. “Why are you back here already?”
There’s no time to talk. I have something much more pressing I need to get done.
I suck in a breath to try to calm myself, giving Rhys a beseeching look.
“Please tell me you know how to bake cookies.”