Dreamscape (16 page)

Her words sink into my soul, and I might sprout wings. “To
have you with me now, it was worth it.” I pat her arm and stand up. When I
extend my hand to help her, she takes it, entwining our fingers.

I lead her to the stairway, but she circumvents me, taking
the spot against the wall. I hide my amusement in a grunt. Her fear of heights
will have to be dealt with, but now is not the time or place.

Taking special care to shield her from the view below, I
move down a step. She follows, yet her body remains tense beside me. I take her
hand once again, surprised when she allows the contact.

“I apologize for my extended absence. I ran into some
complications tonight.”

She gives me a sidelong glance. “What type of
complications?”

“Richard failed to deliver a message for me. He is being
watched now and will not be able to accomplish his task.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she says. “Does that mean you
want me with you sooner?”

“Yes.”

She nods. “Probably for the best. I think I’d go crazy
within a few nights without you here. It’s claustrophobic, the solitude.”

Her compassion is appreciated, though not necessary. I can
never let her know just how much I need her with me. Even though I’ve learned
to deal with the ache, accepting this prison will never be possible. Yet
accepting my hell would be more tolerable than ever letting Amelia go.

Sometimes I think Seth can hear my heart beat. Right. It’s
just that he gets to me so easily lately. He seems to know just what to do to
make my pulse explode.

I still don’t know what happened in his love nest. Gah,
note to self: avoid at all costs. The place is a den of iniquity if I’ve ever
seen one–not that I have, but if there was one it would look just like his
sanctuary
.

He still hasn’t commented, and I’m sort of thinking maybe
he zoned out or something.

His chest jumps with a sharp inhale, but I keep myself from
reacting. “Yes,” he says, blinking a few times. “It is rather stifling, despite
the size. You will enjoy the Dreamscape, I think.”

“Yeah?” I ask, but he knows me and it bites. I enjoyed it a
little too much back when he inhabited my dreams, but that was before I knew
where I was, who he was. Man, that was stupid. I’m letting myself think things
I shouldn’t be. Seth as Jason is just weird to consider. He’s totally hot and
swoon-worthy, as was proven just moments ago, but Jason was my confidant. Seth
intimidates me. He’s so big and obnoxiously confident.

It’s only now I realize why my dreams of him were so vivid.
He gave them to me on purpose. One of the reasons I wanted to dive into bed
every night was so I could catch up with him. We had a thing together, but how
much of it was real?

I can’t just pretend that he’s Jason, ‘cause he’s not. He’s
scary in reality. Hot, but scary.

“You’ll see,” he goes on as if he hasn’t noticed my lack of
commentary. “At first you will need to travel with me. I will be able to shield
you for a time, but you must not wander off until you are ready to defend
yourself. Do you understand?”

“I’m not a child,” I tell him, my back stiffening. He’s
already told me that he knows this, but he still treats me as if I’m a little
lacking in the brain department.

“I’m aware. What you are is arrogant.”

I stop cold. “I’m what?”

“Arrogant,” he says again, as if his sultry tone will
change my reaction.

“I am not! You should talk, buddy.”

“Arrogance is not confidence, Amelia. I know my abilities
and I use those to my advantage. Not only do you not know the extent of your
abilities, you are not fully aware of your limitations.”

“Well excuse me for not being a gazillion centuries
old…whatever you are. I happen to have a pretty good grasp of what I am capable
of.”

“Is that so?” he says, barking out a laugh.

My chin lifts a hair. “Absolutely! I may not have lived as
long as you have, but I know how to take care of myself.”

“Care to back up that claim in the training room?”

I pause, only for a second, contemplating how he took me to
the mat the last time I was anywhere near him. Close proximity to him is
probably not the best thing for me right now. “In the morning,” I say,
casually. “Told you already; I’m ready to hit the sack.”

His gaze shifts over to me and he studies me while we walk,
which sends a shiver over my skin. “Are you cold?” he asks, inching a tiny bit
closer to me.

When we finally reach the main floor, I breathe a bit
easier. How can I allow him to affect me like this? It’s not as if he’s all
over me or anything, but him even being anywhere near me sends drunk
butterflies through my insides. “I’m okay.”

Without warning, a fluffy hoodie engulfs me in warmth. I
shut my eyes, not willing to admit what he did. Magic. He has magic.

A light touch flutters over my cheek before he says, “You
need only ask for what you require.”

What I need is an escape hatch from the spell he’s weaving
over me. “Thanks,” I say, and leave it at that.

We make it back to his room, and I hesitate to go in. His
scent fills the place. I’m beginning to crave his spice. My only hope is when
he finally allows me into the Dreamscape I will be able to keep my wits long
enough to find a way out of here. I’m not sure that I’ll take an escape if I
find one, but I need to have the option, to know I have a choice. Until then
I’ve got to live and the best way for me to do that is to keep up pretenses.

Seth walks me to my door but doesn’t come in. “Night,” I
throw over my shoulder as I push past him through the threshold.

His voice is filled with disappointment when he answers me.
“Goodnight, Amelia. Sleep well.”

Amelia shuts the door to her room, and I pull in a sharp
breath. She is already such a joy to me. Merely knowing she is here when I
return from the Dreamscape fills me with anticipation.

It will be difficult for me to let her go on her own when
the time comes, yet I must foster her independent spirit. I cannot go where I
need her to traverse. With Maybell’s help, she should be able to learn how to
keep herself safe from Erobos detection.

I wait until the rhythmic cadence of her breath steadies
before I step back through the flames. I have hastened my work this night for
one purpose only.

I will visit Amelia in her dreams. My tactic could backfire
completely, yet she must remember our connection for her to be fully competent
on her own. I’ve instilled her soul with the skills she needs already. Now is
time to release the floodgate to her consciousness.

I jump from portal to portal, hardly paying attention to
the changes in the landscape. The closer I come to her dream world, the deeper
my need for her stirs. My fingers curl as if around her supple arms.

I stand at the threshold of her world, a world I created
within her realm specifically for her to inhabit. It’s how I’ve kept her
shielded for so long.

When I found Amelia, her world was already fractionated,
which was probably why I hadn’t noticed her previously. She already had an oasis,
of sorts. To protect her, I channeled most of her energy to that place, which
separated it from the remainder of her world. Even then, the rest of her dream
world was on normal levels. I’ve had to redirect more of her energy, from time
to time, to maintain an adequate level. If I didn’t, the Erobos would have
found her long ago.

The sultry air is filled with the sensual sweet spice of
mimosa—her scent. With fire singeing my veins, I search for her. She is near,
her heartbeat steady, relaxed. Just before I reach her, I slip into another
form, the one she prefers.

The vines hanging from the trees move easily out of my
view. When I see her, I stare as if it is the first time all over again.

Her honey skin glistens in the sunlight, her dark hair
draped around her like a veil. I have never witnessed a more beautiful sight.
She warms me better than the glowing sun above us. She blinds me.

I make my steps small and calculated as I approach her.
There is no telling how she will react to me now.

Ten feet away from her, my foot snaps a twig. She turns,
her green eyes eating up the landscape until they settle on me. Her gaze sweeps
down my body and back to my eyes.

“Jason?” she says, timid, unsure.

One day, if I am blessed, she shall desire my true form,
but today is not that day. “Who else?” I reply, giving her a broad smile,
followed by a hearty laugh at her surprise.

Her smile is immediate, and she stands to greet me. Her
suit is red today, making me wonder at her mood. I could easily slip into her
thoughts, but I deny myself once again. This is her realm, and I will respect
that.

She gives me a shy glance before she hugs herself. “I was
beginning to think you wouldn’t come.”

Her self-conscious behavior disturbs me. Is she
embarrassed? She hasn’t acted this way in years. I cannot fathom why she would
be uncomfortable with her body. She is impeccable. She is also exactly as she
is in the flesh. I took a chance when I stepped from my realm into the mortal
world to claim her. She could have been mousy or even hideous; I have never
been happier to be right in my existence.

Tentatively, she steps closer. I can wait no longer.

I pull her body flush with mine, amazed at the warmth of
her skin. She is nearly fully here with me, and the thought burns through me.

My fingers slip into her hair, and I tilt her head back.
Our lips crash together and I devour her, soaking up her essence, reveling in
the feel of her. A slip of a groan escapes her throat, which ignites me
further.

I pull her down to the grass, stretching my body along
hers. She is as eager for me as I am for her in this moment, and I will take
all she will give me.

Her skin is still slightly damp from the water, making her
slide against me, inching closer. With how strong it is beating, my heart might
burst from my chest, but I couldn’t care less if it does. She is my light and
joy, my world.

I brush her jawline with kisses until my lips connect with
her earlobe. She hisses in a gasp, and I smile. “I have missed you,” I whisper.

As if intoxicated by our love, her eyes dilate. Her
beautiful lips are swollen from our passion, which makes me only want to kiss
her again. I could never get enough of her and the idea disturbs me. I should
not allow myself to feel so deeply for her considering how she has reacted to
me, yet I cannot form any other connection.

Her fingers slide along my chest, her touch feeding the
fire within me. I’m the one intoxicated now. She is dangerous.

When our eyes lock, she stares, her conflicting emotions so
open. “I don’t know how to feel anymore, Jason. I’m afraid.”

I steel my resolve, yet attempt to comfort her. “You have
nothing to fear from me, Amelia.”

She frowns, worry lingering in her beautiful eyes. “Who are
you really?”

“You know me,” I sooth, squeezing her fingers.

“Do I?” she says.

She is more aware than I first considered. “Of course. You
have known me for years. Remember?”