Tarot Academy 4 - Sarah Piper Page 0,31

my head. “Goddess, Stevie. I thought I was losing you.”

I snuggle closer into his embrace, inhaling the scent of him—salt and moonlight and mystery, an intoxicating mix that’s all Doc. “I don’t do well with water. Especially the rushing kind. I’m sorry I attacked you.”

“You’re safe now. That’s all that matters.” He rubs his hand up and down my back, chasing off the last of the chill.

Despite our unexpected soaking, the night air is actually warm and pleasant, the scent of mud and water and living things filling me with a sense of normality and relief. We’re outside, away from all signs of civilization. We’re alive.

Glancing down at the water that nearly stole my final breath, I finally realize where we are.

“The River of Blood and Sorrow,” I say, and Doc lets out a soft hum.

The last time I saw it up close was at that back-to-school party where Carly and her friends tried to drown me. If it wasn’t for my owl bursting forth and scaring the hell out of everyone—and Baz pulling me out after I took a tumble—they might’ve succeeded.

But there’s no owl tonight. No party. And as I finally take notice of the heavy, elaborate dress clinging to my body—red instead of its usual white—I know why.

We’re not at the real River of Blood and Sorrow. We’re in the dream realm.

A new shiver takes hold, rattling me to my core.

“He knows,” I whisper. “Judgment knows we’re here.”

“We can’t know that for certain,” Doc says evenly, though he can’t hide the flicker of concern in his energy.

“Lala told me we leave a piece of ourselves behind every time we visit the dream realm,” I say. “He obviously knows I’m afraid of rushing water—it’s what killed my parents. He’s using it to prey on my guilt. They died protecting me, and I…” No. I close my eyes, staving off the barrage of memories. I won’t let him manipulate me again. I can’t. Not if I want us to survive the night.

Besides, Doc doesn’t need to hear this story. Not tonight.

“How did we even get here?” I ask instead. “Did you take a potion?”

Dream sharing isn’t all that easy. Last time, Kirin and Baz and I had to form a blood bond and drink Professor Broome’s potion. Then Doc guided us through a dream meditation designed to keep us together in the realm. And even then, we didn’t all show up in the same area.

So how the hell did Doc and I end up falling into the realm—together—without even trying?

“I’m the Moon Arcana, Stevie,” he says. “My magick is deeply aligned with the realm of dreams and intuition. In that sense, I am the spell.”

I pull out of his embrace and meet his steely gray gaze. “And the blood bond?”

“After what we shared tonight, emotionally as well as physically… I suppose nothing else was needed.” He cups my face, his eyes holding the red-hot memories of our passionate night together.

My body holds the same memories, my skin still tingling everywhere his lips brushed, everywhere his commanding hands took control. Doc’s right—tonight, we formed a bond as deep and powerful as two people can. Add his intense Moon energy into the mix, and… Yeah. We really should’ve known better.

Yeah. I really wish he’d touch me like that again…

But as much as I’d love to lose myself in those deliciously overwhelming sensations, it’s a different set of memories that wins out now, dark and malicious and ugly.

Judgment, torturing us with the Wand of Flame and Fury.

Judgment, devouring an innocent child, blood soaking his robes.

Judgment, incinerating the men I love, only to resurrect them and do it all over again.

Called to confess, called to atone. Beg for your flesh, your blood, and your bones…

Unworthy! Unworthy! Unworthy!

“We need to leave,” I warn. “Now. The others don’t even know we’re gone. We could end up trapped here for—” I gasp as a new realization slams into me. “Doc, we’re in the dream realm! We can find Ani!”

I move to get to my feet, but Doc stops me, his grip on my arm unyielding.

“You said it yourself, Stevie. We can’t linger. We must find our way back—the sooner the better.”

“Without even trying? Are you serious right now?” I stare at him, incredulous. We’ve been desperate to reach Ani all night, and nothing has worked. No spells, no potions, no prayers. Now we’re in the same damn realm, and Doc’s ready to throw in the towel?

“If Ani’s after the Wand,” he says, his calm demeanor ebbing