In Her Dreams by Bolryder, Terry (short novels in english TXT) 📗

Reve said I need to protect people I love.”

I put a hand on his shoulder, bending down to put us at eye level. “You did a good thing, actually. But just don’t do it with a whip.”

“With my fists?” Joey asks, looking hopeful.

Reve was right.

“No,” I say. “You have to just call a teacher. Otherwise—”

“So I have to let Anna be put in the garbage?” he asks, looking confused.

I don’t know how to be this selfish. To tell him to watch out for himself and not care.

But it’s not his job to police the schoolyard. If anything, I’m just offended that apparently the rich boys at this school get to bully with impunity.

“I know it’s terrible,” I say. “And maybe you should just yell next time, get attention.”

He hangs his head. “Everyone else was laughing. They’re afraid of the bullies. I thought if I showed them my whip—”

God, maybe Reve is right. Maybe humans are terrors.

It makes me wonder about Joey’s other fights as well.

But maybe Joey is just being extra sensitive. After all, there are lots of good kids who don’t get in fights.

Joey hangs his head. “I don’t know, Mom. I want to say I’ll be good, that I won’t use my whip. But Reve says—”

“Reve is awesome,” I say. “But I get the final say around here. Reve is a little—”

“I want to go to Reve’s world,” he says. “It seems nicer there.”

My heart tenses. Of course it sounds nicer. But if we left this place for Reve and found out more that was bad much later, we’d literally be in another world.

I need more time to decide things.

And I still think I want to raise my son in this world.

I can protect us.

“I don’t know,” Joey says. “But I guess so. I’ll try not to use my whip, Mom.”

I sigh. “I really wish you wouldn’t fight. It’s not your job to be there for everyone. But you know, it was a good thing, what you did for Anna. You have a good heart, and regardless of what school you’re in, you’ll always be a good boy to me, Joey. You’re so awesome, and I love you very much.”

He leans forward, throwing his arms around me. “I’m glad you aren’t mad, Mom.” He leans back. “If I’m not being punished, can I go play?”

I nod. “Go have fun.”

Joey runs down the hall, and I exhale, exhausted, just as Reve appears in the living room again, looking at me curiously.

“So how’d it go?” he asks.

“You were right,” I say. “He was helping someone. But I told him to get teachers or yell or use fists next time.” I put my hand around Reve’s waist. “I still can’t believe you took my scrappy little son and gave him a weapon. You’re basically teaching him to get in fights.” I shake my head. “The worst part is I’m glad he was there. I mean, I hate Joey having to be the one who helps, but someone should…”

“I get it,” Reve says. “It’s complex. But Joey is a warrior. Deep down, he is always going to want to protect. All good warriors do. I’m not trying to teach him to fight. Only that we must protect those we love.”

“It’s the same thing, right?” I ask.

Reve shakes his head. “No. Because if no one was bad, then a warrior like me would never have to fight. Whereas there are those out there who love fights, who love chaos and disorder, and who love hurting people. And they want a fight. And they won’t stop until someone stops them.”

“That’s right,” I say. “These nightmares you talk about.”

“I doubt you have full dream fae nightmares here, despite what Lorien said,” Reve says. “But you have the human equivalent at least, which are people who are soulless and empty but walking around pretending to be one of us. They get much closer than an openly villainous person, and they’re much more dangerous.”

I nod. “Sounds like it.”

“So yes, if you stay here in the human world where there aren’t enough warriors patrolling, let alone kingdoms with order, that won’t be the last time Joey uses his whip. And I’m not sorry that he’s better equipped than he would have been in this world. I am sorry if it causes inconvenience,” he says.

“I guess it’s just complicated,” I say, leaning in against him. “But I’m glad I have you here to help me.”

He raises an eyebrow, amused. “You’re not still mad that I showed him how to use his whip?”

“No,” I say softly. Then I smile. “I’m grateful that you’re helping me understand my son.” I suck in a breath. “Reve, you’ve been so amazing.” I reach up and press my lips to his softly, savoring his little shocked intake of breath. “I love you.”

His body goes rigid, and he pulls back to look down at me, then throws his arms around me, holding me tight.

“Watch the stars with me tonight?” he asks in a whisper, tickling my earlobe. “I have something I want to talk about.”

“Yes,” I say instantly.

All I want is to say yes to him. Everything he wants. Everything he offers.

If only life wasn’t so complicated.

17

Reve

I do like the human stars, I think as I sit on the back porch with my soul bond beside me.

Her soft curves pressed up against me, countering the cool air of the night.

The blanket wrapped around us.

The fact that she says she loves me.

I still feel like the luckiest dream fae in the world to have such an amazing, sweet, gorgeous, strong, curvaceous woman as my mate.

The most important thing is that she loves me. She wants me.

Now it’s just about details.

To be honest, I feel bad it caused trouble for her, but I’m glad Joey had the wherewithal to defend himself and whoever else needed his help.

But whip or not, Jen is going to see that this isn’t the kind of world where a warrior can just sit back and be passive.

There is too much violence