Page 10 of Black Hearted
I stepped through the door into Zane’s mind more tentatively than I had with Daisey’s, feeling far more apprehensive about what I might find here than I had with my little sister.
The moment I entered the dream, I was transported to anunfamiliar and dimly lit room with a fire blazing in an open hearth. A study, perhaps? Or a private library?
The room was full of dark wood and decorated in shades of red and orange, reminding me of the changing leaves in the Fall Court. The smells of cinnamon and orange peels filled my nostrils, wrapping around me like a comforting blanket.
Deep laughter reached my ears, and I spun to find Zane lounging on a sofa chair with three other unfamiliar males seated on a long couch next to him. They all had defining features that set them apart, yet they were similar enough to make it easy to recognize them as related.
His brothers—could these be the other Ethereum lords?
Zane hadn’t yet noticed me. I was standing off to the side, hidden in the shadows, as the flicker of the firelight danced over him and the other fae. Isolde’s note had told me that all the lords were brothers and had even included a brief description of each. Glancing at the men with Zane, I determined this had to be them.
I allowed myself a few moments to eavesdrop on Zane’s interaction with his brothers, wanting to observe how they related to one another. Within minutes, it was easy to see that Zane had a deep fondness and affection for each of them, even the scarred, serious-looking one who didn’t smile as easily or frequently as the others.
I found myself smiling as I listened to them rib each other good-naturedly, getting sucked into the dream more than I intended. It wasn’t until there was a knock on the door that I came back to myself, remembering my purpose. I was just about to make myself known when the door to the study opened, and Dawn, Isolde, and Aribella poured into the room.
My heart gave an excited thump at the sight of my fellow Faerie princesses.
The brothers all rose from their seats as the women entered, Zane included. One by one, each of the princesses paired off with one of the lords. Dawn practically plowed into the mischievous-looking brother, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him down for a quick kiss.
The scarred and serious fae’s face split into a giant smile, softening all his hard features as he laid eyes on Aribella. He scooped her into his arms and swiftly left the room with her cradled against his chest.
Even Isolde rushed toward the brother with the longer, sun-streaked hair and teal eyes. Just as she was about to launch into his embrace, he bent over and hefted her over his shoulder. She laughed and playfully swatted at him from her upside-down position, telling him to put her down. Ignoring her protests, he followed his brother out of the room.
I could still hear her laughter echoing down the hall as Dawn and her lord left hand-in-hand, leaving Zane alone. It was the most wonderful feeling seeing them, and all so happy. It was what I needed in my worried state. Then I looked at the Ethereum lord still left here.
Zane gazed at the door his brothers and the princesses had just exited with a smile on his lips, but an aching longing in his gaze pinched my heart. He heaved a sigh and turned toward the window to look out into the dark night.
I sucked in a breath and gathered my courage. I’d already wasted enough time. I needed to make my presence known.
“Zane?” I said his name softly as I stepped forward into the firelight.
Zane’s shoulders tensed, and he spun, his gaze fastening on me immediately, sending a trail of warmth down my spine.
“Lorelei?” He said my name like a prayer, then took a hesitant step forward.
I twisted my hands in front of me, suddenly shy and nervous, and gave him what was probably a wobbly smile. “Hello.”
“But …” Zane glanced around the room, taking in his surroundings. “How are you here in the Western Kingdom? Aren’t you in Faerie?”
“I am,” I told him. “But so are you.”
Zane looked around again, confusion creasing his brow. “This isn’t Faerie. This is my study.”
“I know it looks like your study, but it’s not.”
His eyebrows bunched in confusion, and I hurried to explain, realizing why he was so perplexed.
“You and I are real, but this place isn’t. Physically, we’re both in Faerie, but mentally, we’re in your mind right now.” I was explaining this all wrong. I bit my bottom lip in frustration, and his gaze dropped to my mouth. The confusion in his eyes morphed into something else—heat.
Heat that was as delicious as it was dangerous.
“We’re in a dream,” I blurted out. His gaze snapped back up to mine.
“A dream?”
I nodded. “Yes.Yourdream, specifically.”
He sighed deeply, his shoulders sagging. Running a handthrough the long strands of hair on top of his head, he began to turn away. “So, you aren’t real, after all.”
