The Fae King's Dream (Between Dawn and Dusk #2) - Jamie Schlosser Page 0,22
there blind,” Quinn finishes her argument, shifting her head my way. “No pun intended.”
I’m not offended by Quinn’s candor. Growing up with Kirian as her best friend, she got used to the disability. She doesn’t skirt around it like most people do, and it’s surprisingly refreshing.
Pulling me aside, Kirian leans close. “You better come back with my mate and yours. Unless Astrid has another portal on hand, I’d have to wait an entire year to come get you, and it might be too late for Whitley by then.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.” In a rare show of weakness, I admit, “I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Everything. What if she dies in my arms?”
“She won’t.”
“What if she’s mad at me for bringing her here?”
“She’ll get over it, just as Quinn did.”
Of course Kirian would be so confident, but my situation isn’t the same as his. Quinn was already head over ass in love with him when she came to Valora.
Whitley doesn’t know me. She has no reason to willingly give up her life for a stranger.
“She just lost her parents,” I point out. “What if she’s too busy grieving to love me back?”
“Cross that bridge when you come to it. Go.” Kirian gives me a light shove.
“Bossy asshole.” He’s lucky I don’t put him to sleep until I get back. Pivoting, I walk over to Astrid. “Ready?”
“Just say the word.”
This is it—the moment my life begins or ends.
I take a deep breath. “Now.”
Whitley
I feel like I’m floating. It’s a pleasant place of nothingness. No recollections of where I’ve been. No worries about where I’m going.
A blank slate.
It’s nice to start over.
Of course, I don’t know what I’m starting over from, but that doesn’t matter. I like where I am now.
Wait. Where am I?
Keeping my eyes closed, I pay attention to the voices around me.
“I haven’t had that much excitement in months,” a female voice says. “As soon as we started unhooking the machines, alarms went off. Damon had to block the door and put the nurses asleep in the hallway while I finished. Can you imagine the headlines when the news gets out about a missing patient? We’re shameless criminals!”
A masculine chuckle follows. “You did well, my adventurous mate.”
“Why isn’t she awake yet?” This voice isn’t happy, and it sounds like he’s right next to my ear.
“Give it time, your majesty. She’s healed. I felt the repairs happen. I corrected a lot of damage.”
“Is it because of the drugs in her system?” Breath puffs against my cheek, and a cool damp cloth swipes over my forehead. “Maybe we could flush them out. Put the IV back in.”
“Damon.” The woman again. “You’re not still on the Glow idea, are you? I was serious when I told you it’s not meant for humans. King Zander said so.”
“Well, it wouldn’t do any harm, right? It’d just be like regular water.”
“Your castle is basically made from pure stardust. What do you think would happen if you spilled a drop? Are you willing to take that risk?”
In response, there’s a growl by my ear.
I think they’re arguing about me, and I don’t want that.
Blinking, I slowly open my eyes. The first thing I see is a face. An unbelievably handsome face, hovering above mine. His long hair hangs down, creating a curtain of gold around us.
Light shines behind his head, and the only way I can describe him is otherworldly.
“Are you an angel?” I whisper.
A bright smile stretches his perfect lips. “No.”
“You’re too pretty to be the devil.”
“I’m getting some serious déjà vu right now, my little carrot.” His tone is teasing, like I’m supposed to know what he’s talking about. He pauses with a thoughtful expression. “Is it too soon to make coma jokes?”
“I guess not?” I try to sit up, but he stops me.
His palm is warm on my shoulder. “Just rest. Are you hurting anywhere?”
Wiggling my toes, I check my body from the feet up, tensing my muscles and moving joints along the way. There’s a pleasant heat along my right side, and I realize it’s because this guy is lying down with me.
“I feel great.” Nothing is sore or stiff. Even though I just woke up, I’m energized. I have the sudden urge to go for a swim, but I can’t recall if I know how. “Who are you?”
Eyebrows furrowing, he looks disappointed. “You don’t know?”
“Have we met before?”
“Technically, no, but also yes.”
Huh? “That’s confusing.”
His frown deepens, and for some reason his unhappiness bothers me way more than it should.