Page 113 of His Realm

“Also,” she began, letting go of my hand. “You must stop waiting to make your voice heard. You have your own power.”

“You look as radiant as I remember.” I couldn’t help but sigh.

“You’re a sap, and though I love you, the subject will not be changed so easily. You have power, my consort. It is time for you to use it.”

“Yes, Princess Nerilla.”

Deep breath, and then she said, “Now, what did you want to do before you saw me?”

I had to think.

“Why are all men so infuriating? Why do things just flit right out of their minds?”

“It’s a good question,” I teased her.

“Jason,” she scolded me.

“Fine. I wanted to get in the water.”

“Then get in.”

“I’d rather stay here with you.”

“No,” she murmured, “that’s a lie. You’d rather wrap your arms around Varic, breathe him in, and kiss his lips over and over again.”

I did want that.

“Get in the water.”

Starting down the steps, I looked back at her.

“I will visit you in your dreams, and bring others with me, if you don’t cry when you wake. You have to be happy to see us.”

“I’ll always be happy to see you and anyone you bring along,” I promised.

“Tell Isabella I love her and that the treasure is in her vault.”

Whatever that meant. “You’re less clear in the afterlife.”

“Isabella calls it the Otherworld. Tell her he’s here with me.”

And I knew she meant Cassius because when I looked back again, there was a man with her, waving to me. It made sense I wouldn’t see him clearly, as I’d never seen him alive, and this was a dream, after all.

I was so far away when I looked back again, and she was so small. I felt the clench in my chest of missing her, but the water was so warm and beautiful, and knowing she was happy made me the same. And she was right. I wanted to see Varic.

The smell was strange. Not bad, merely different. Like wet soil and amber, smoke and cedarwood. I was thirsty, so I opened my eyes and rolled over, checking for the tumbler I kept on my nightstand, the one with the plastic straw. It was there, but that was the only familiar thing. The room was clover green, which I didn’t mind, I’d just never considered painting a room green before. There was a floor-to-ceiling window about five feet from the bed, and I was looking out on what resembled a primordial forest. The view was amazing, and though nothing was familiar, it was comfortable, so I was okay.

Sitting up, I glanced around the bedroom and saw a closed door that was beautifully detailed, a crackling fire kept the space warm, and there was another smaller window in the shape of an arch behind the headboard. It was a great room, both warm to look at as well as temperature-wise. I probably could have gone right back to sleep, but I really had to use the bathroom. Putting the water back, I got up and promptly had to sit down. I heard a door open, and there was a gasp behind me.

“Hey,” I greeted Dae-Jung, so happy to see him. If he was here, wherever I was, I was safe. “How are you?”

He just stared.

“What happened?”

“You have been resting.”

That could only mean one thing. “I was in a coma?”