Page 65 of See You in Your Dreams

twenty-three

Ash

“It’s time.”

My pronouncement hangs in the air as I slide under the covers, fluffing my pillow. Dylan starts to climb in after me before hesitating.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

I firm my lips and nod even as my stomach roils. “I’ve practiced every night for a month, and Greta’s condition hasn’t changed. We’ve waited—shehas waited—long enough.”

The last few weeks have been exhausting but rewarding. I’d been too hung up on mourning to rein in my dreams after my dad passed, and then I’d spent the better part of five years suppressing my ability with sleeping pills. This is the first time I’ve seriously practiced dreamwalking in years.

I’m not sure if it’s Dylan’s ceaseless encouragement that’s helped me remain focused or something intrinsic to Dylan himself—the way he calms and centers me, perhaps. The way he gives me hope. Regardless, constant dreamwalks, most withDylan by my side, have greatly honed my control. I rarely slip now, keeping my thoughts and emotions firmly in check so that the only influences on a dream are the ones I intend.

And while I have no idea if that will be enough to do anything for Greta, each passing day only makes me more anxious to try. It’s not fair that things at school have mostly gone back to normal while she’s still trapped in a coma.

She’d done her best to help me. Now, it’s my turn to return the favor.

Dylan slips into bed behind me, snuggling against my back. His comforting warmth permeates me. While I’ve proven I don’t need to be in the same room to dreamwalk with someone, especially when I have a strong connection to them, it’s definitely nice to have the company.

Especially for a night like tonight.

“And you’resureyou want me to come with you?” Dylan asks, his voice worried. “I don’t want to add to your mental strain.”

I twist so that I can see his anxious face and offer him what I hope is a reassuring smile. “You won’t. You’ve been there for practically all my practice runs. If anything, it’ll throw off my groove more if you’renotthere.”

He bites his lip, still seeming uncertain, and I swallow, suddenly feeling vulnerable. “Besides, what if I need you? I…I want you there with me.”

Dylan’s nervous expression clears, replaced by a small grin. “Well, in that case, I wouldn’t want to let you down.”

We share a soft kiss that starts to grow more heated before I pry my lips away, twisting back around. As much as I’d love to get lost in him for a while, we have a different sort of mission tonight.

“I’ve got to admit,” Dylan says as we settle in to sleep, “these last couple weeks really have been incredible.” He presses closer against my back, his hands gliding across my sides and over mystomach. “And notjustbecause of the dream sex. We’ve been to so many awesome places, seen so many amazing things, all without having to spend a dime.”

“We’ve had plenty of close calls, too,” I remind him. “Like that time we went to our imagined version of London and got stalked by Jack the Ripper.”

“ImaginaryJack the Ripper. He couldn’t have actually hurt us. Plus, at least it kept things exciting.”

I grunt my agreement. “True. Now, be quiet so we can go to sleep.”

Dylan obediently falls silent, and I try to relax, regulating my breathing. In the quiet dark, however, my nerves spike as the reality of what we’re about to do sinks in.

How the hell do you wake someone up from a coma using their dreams? I may have gotten better at controlling our experiences this past month, but dreaming up a fake version of London seems a far cry from working an honest-to-Godmiracle.

Behind me, Dylan shifts. “You okay?” he whispers. “I’ve never heard anyone be quiet so loudly before.”

“I’m fine,” I snap.

Dylan doesn’t reply for a span of seconds. “You know,” he finally ventures hesitantly, “you shouldn’t rush into this if you’re not ready.”

“I already told you, I’m ready!” I puff out a long breath, my jaw tightening. “I’m just a little nervous, that’s all. But I’ll be fine.”

“Look, there’s no shame in waiting a couple more weeks. I’m sure Greta would understand if you—”

I spin around to face him, his startled face barely visible in the gloom. “All that pushing for me to embrace my power and now you’re trying to convince menotto use it? What the hell, Dylan!”

He sighs. “It’s not that I don’t want you to use your gift. You know I support what you’re trying to do for Greta. It’s just…I also know how much this means to you. I’m worried about what’llhappen if you fail. No amount of practice or increased control guarantees this will work.”