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

can get her to see the light,” I say. “To be honest, I feel a bit guilty because I have been arguing and trying to convince her to come back to the fae world since the beginning. I would be relieved to have us both there. But she is just going to feel trapped and manipulated.”

“She loves you, right?” Tess says. “I can tell even from what she has said to me or Sandra. Or from the fact she even allows you around. We all know she doesn’t suffer fools. Be honest, and she’ll have to decide.”

I rub my hands over my face and feel Lorien gently stroking my back to soothe me.

I smile up at him because it is nice to have my friend again.

“This is good news, actually,” Lorien says. “Because then it’s not something personal like not liking her world. It’s just a rule, and you can’t help it.”

“Right,” I say. “Just a rule.” I frown. “But what if she’s not okay with it? What if she’d rather stay here without me than go to our world?”

Lorien’s eyes widen in horror. “I hope it doesn’t come to that, then. Because if they try to tear you from your mate against your will, Jerrek and I will have something to say about it.”

“You can’t fight the council,” I say. “They’re our family. And they aren’t even wrong about this world, though I would never become a nightmare here.”

Lorien just shrugs. “They’re already really nervous about this mission. They don’t think agreeing to live in the fae realm is so much to ask.”

I sigh. “Everything just got so complicated. Everything already is so complicated. Look, it’s already hard helping her with her son, trying to help them both adjust to this, winning her heart—”

“You’ve already won it, though, right?” Lorien asks.

I nod. “I think so. But I don’t know. Anyway, I guess I’ll tell her at dinner tonight. We’re going out.”

At worst, if they come for me in a few days and I can’t fight them, I should make sure she and Joey will be safe until I get back.

I look out the window at the driveway. Then I snap and materialize her LeBaron so it appears outside. I should have time to deal with it before she needs to drive home. I need to do the rest of the fixes.

Lorien looks from the car to me, and Tess just laughs.

“Oh, I like what you’re thinking,” she says. “That thing has needed fixing for forever!”

“Will she be mad?” Lorien asks.

I shake my head. “I don’t know, but she’ll be safe.”

That’s about all I can ensure right now.

* * *Jen

I’m on lunch break when I check my phone and notice a voicemail from a number I never expected to hear from again.

Mark’s brother, Adam.

I admit I had a crush on him back before I got with Mark. He was taller, nicer, friendlier, but he graduated before us.

Mark and I were both so young when we got married. Got pregnant.

Adam went into the military not long after I married Mark, and I haven’t seen him since.

Sometimes that seems a whole lifetime away.

Sometimes my life here, now, with Reve feels more real than that place ever did.

And then the past intrudes.

I pick up the phone and listen to the voicemail.

“Hi, Jen, it’s Adam. Look, I know it’s been a long time, but I recently got out of the army, and I’d love to get to know my nephew. I know me and my family don’t have any rights and that Mark has been an utter bastard. But I really did care about you as a sister-in-law, from the limited time I knew you, and I hope I can at least meet Joey and be of help. Maybe it’s presumptuous, but blood is blood, and I’d love to help be a father figure, to make up in some way for what my brother has done. Anyway, let me know. I’m in town, and here’s my number. I ended up visiting because Mark was in the hospital getting treated because some insane homeless person attacked him. I’ll be in town for a few days, so let me know. Bye, love.”

Love. He says it so easily. Adam was always charming, but I honestly don’t know him that much.

Mark’s parents were cold and somewhat unwelcoming, but they weren’t the outright pieces of crap that Mark was. And they helped me leave when he was abusive. Or at least didn’t take his side with the cops.

But I still don’t know if I should let Adam into the picture.

But doesn’t Joey deserve to know at least someone related to his dad?

And isn’t Adam at least acknowledging that Mark was in the wrong? That he’s a bad person? Adam is just trying to make things right.

I wonder if he looks at all like Joey.

I sigh, shoving the phone in my pocket as I walk outside to grab a break in the sunlight. Today, lunch got delayed, so it’s already midafternoon. Above me, the trees are swaying in a cool breeze, and the sun is bearing down despite the cold weather.

I love just breathing in the fresh air.

“Jen?”

I turn in shock at hearing my name, and my heart drops into my stomach when I see Adam.

“You didn’t answer your voicemail,” he says. “Mark said you worked here. I really wanted to get in touch—”

I look at my watch. “I don’t have time. I’m on lunch.”

“I’m really sorry for what happened between you and Mark,” Adam says. He’s tall and built and what most women would call handsome, but he doesn’t hold a candle to Reve.

Reve was incandescently beautiful when I met him and has only become more beautiful in my eyes ever since.

Someone like Adam doesn’t stand a chance.

But he might have a right to be given a chance to be an uncle.

“I need to go back inside soon,” I say, tapping my foot. My heart is racing just being around a relative of Mark’s.

“I’m just sorry I