Page 71 of Nightmare's Dance

My heart raced, and my breath caught, and my desire surged. Nic held me tightly, and I folded myself into his arms.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“For what, luv?”

“For all of this. For that stupid game, for things being difficult between us, for putting your people in danger.”

Nic tightened his arms around me and kissed my temple. “We all wanted to play your game, Ember. It’s okay. None of us knew. None of that is your fault.”

Sighing, I rested my head on his shoulder. “What will you do?”

“Get you and the knight home and relatively safe. He can guard you as he always has. The rest… Well, I want to say it’s none of your concern, but that would be unfair. As I said, try to find Dio, try to stop Baz. I guess attempt to locate the real Baz if this one is indeed an imposter. Once things are settled, we will find you and release you from your bonds to our land. You can keep Geraint, of course.”

I nodded, unable to speak. It was a fair plan, but I didn’t like it. It seemed ridiculous and perhaps even cruel to argue, however.

“Let’s get this over with.” Nic lowered his hands until he cupped my ass. “Put your legs around my waist so I can carry you like before.”

“Easier to jump with your hands on my waist.”

He chuckled, kneading my butt. “I believe the current saying is ‘my bad.’”

I snorted, put my hands back on his shoulders, and jumped lightly. He lifted, and I wrapped my thighs around him. Nic shrouded us in shadow, and like before, when he’d rescued me from my fear, I didn’t feel the transition as he climbed. Probably it had to do with his magic, keeping me from freaking out or something. I trusted him, but I also appreciated the effort.

“We’re there,” he whispered, one hand going to the small of my back, supporting me.

I unburied my face from his shoulder and slowly unwrapped my legs from his waist. “Thank you, Nic.”

“Of course, Ember.”

Avoiding Geraint’s eyes, I moved farther from the edge. Robby motioned, and we all headed toward a cave in the cliff face. The narrow gash in the stone opened into a cave that had to be operating on dream logic. There was no way the immense cavern would have fit into the space I saw outside. Also, it was lit with globes of floating light. I loved it, but certainly dream logic.

An unshattered mirror circled in a gilt frame was mounted to the stone, and Robby stood next to it.

We went over to join him.

The woman that looked back at us swayed as if caught in an unseen wind. Her white skirts billowed, and the shawl she wore flapped dramatically. Her long blond hair floated almost as if she were underwater. Unlike Mary, she didn’t appear completely terrifying at first sight. Her porcelain skin stretched tightly over high cheekbones and looked papery thin. She had a prominent nose and piercing blue eyes. The only color to her was her eyes and her hair. Clearly a ghost, or, in this case, a mirror dweller.

“Lady,” I said respectfully.

“Princess.” The sadness in her voice broke my heart, and I clutched at my chest. Most of the ghost stories I remembered involving any lady in white were unhappy ones.

Nic bowed to the mirror. “You will assist these two in returning to the conscious realm?”

“She can repair the arch?”

“Yes,” Nic confirmed.

“Then I will take them. Once it is done, this sanctuary will be discovered. I will hide in another and hope I am not found.”

“We are deeply indebted to you for this service,” Nic said. “We are working to resolve the conflict instead of merely trying to survive as we once were.”

“The princess will return and fight?”

“Ember has tasks she must accomplish in the conscious realm.”

The Lady in White eyed Nic as if she sensed his deception, but still she nodded her agreement. “Then let us be away before we are discovered.”

Nic touched my arm, and I turned to face him.

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