Sweet Dreams

  Sweet Dreams

  Terry Bolryder

  Copyright © 2021 by Terry Bolryder

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  In memory of Robert, who first showed me how deeply a man can love.

  Rest in peace. I love you.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Epilogue

  Also by Terry Bolryder

  Prologue

  The Dream Fae Realm

  Lorien

  I kneel, head bent, mood reverent, waiting for the most important revelation of my life.

  My dream mate.

  Today, I’ll see the woman I’ve been doing all this work for. The one I train for. The one I will cherish to the end of my days.

  My entire reason for being.

  Everything I’ve done, everything I’ve worked for, will all come together in this moment.

  I’m sure of it.

  Many dream fae are kneeling around me on an elegant stone pattern in the middle of the crystal courtyard.

  Each fae warrior is in his assigned position, depending on his power level in training and his ability to love.

  Today, we will find our purpose.

  As the elder drones on in front of us, I look through the dark fall of hair in front of my face to catch a glimpse of Jerrek, one of my close friends, grinning back at me. He then hurries to bow his head again before we get caught, his dark-red hair hiding him from sight.

  Reve, my other friend, shoots me a look from in front of me, grinning, and I return a quick nod, then get back into position.

  I’ve never felt more excited.

  The glimmering white stone tiles all around me glisten with rainbow waves as the pink sun reaches its apex, purple clouds sweeping across the sky.

  Everything is how we want it in the dream kingdom.

  Everything is beautiful and good.

  And ordered.

  There is no mess like in other fae kingdoms where princes and princesses are allowed to choose and bond their souls with whomever they resonate with.

  There is only one perfect match for every dream fae prince.

  “Get ready! The Great Connector, which is above all bonds, is ready to inspire you today.”

  I suck in a breath, my abs taut with nervousness, my entire body enervated and poised on the brink of the rest of my life.

  Every part of me has been honed for her. Now, finally, I’ll get to see her face.

  “My princes, please look at me,” the elder says, raising his hands to us in his iridescent pastel robe. His long hair shimmers like a glowing cloud with wisps of white, pink, blue, and green, ethereal and beautiful.

  Truly, he helped us all cultivate our own beauty, inside and out, and I’ll never be able to thank him enough.

  We stay on our knees and look up to him.

  “In a moment, you will close your eyes.” He smiles. “You will breathe in, breathe out, and let yourself become one with the great connection, and the Great Connector herself.”

  I do as he says, folding my arms, bowing my head, waiting for inspiration to hit.

  “First, you will see your dream mate’s face,” the elder says. “I will wait while all of you are connected.”

  A buzzing hum rises in the square, and warm rainbow light falls over everyone. Then the lavender clouds cover the sun, darkening everything to the color of a rainbow cast by moonlight.

  I breathe in. Breathe out. Look into the darkness of my mind and wait.

  Wait.

  Wait.

  I begin to hear murmurs, first of doubt, then of joy and shock and triumph.

  Around me, other warriors are beginning to move, but then the elder calls out to us again.

  “Please, everyone remain in place until all princes have seen their dream mate.”

  I let out a breath of relief but can’t help wondering what’s going on. I peek with one eye to see Jerrek and Reve on the ground as well, heads folded.

  Did they see their dream mate yet? Are they just being polite enough to wait? Or is something going wrong for them too?

  “When you see your mate, you will soon see many other details about her,” the elder announces. “Where she lives. What she does. Take this moment to get to know her, study her for a second, but know that you will have many moments to do so once you find her at the end of the ceremony. That is when you will finally be able to put everything you have learned to work.”

  But I haven’t even seen her face yet.

  Where in the name of the Great Connector is her face?

  Then an image fills my mind. A woman laughing. Her hair is an odd yellow color I haven’t seen in the dream world. Her clothing… some kind of dyed animal skin. In the dream fae realm, we have nothing so primitive.

  I cock my head but keep my eyes closed to see if more information comes.

  In front of me, Reve raises his head, looking panicked. He shoots a hand into the air.

  “Yes?” The elder turns to him. “Reve, my precious student?”

  Reve’s neck is pinking, a sure sign he’s embarrassed. As the goody-two-shoes of every class, Reve is always the first to get things right.

  It doesn’t appear to be working for him right now, though.

  “I can see my dream mate, I think,” he says hesitantly, brushing back his teal hair. “But I can make out no connection to where she is.”

  I close my eyes again because maybe I just have to wait a bit longer.

  Show me where you are.

  Tess.

  That’s her name. I hear someone, also in odd clothing, call her. An older woman comes forward, wrapping her arms around the woman who must be my dream mate.

  Tess.

  She looks up, and for a moment, I see her face so clearly it’s almost as if she’s looking me in the eyes.

  Her wide, green eyes are fringed with dark lashes. Her lips are full and generous. Her nose turns up slightly at the end.

  But her expression, one of mirth, says that life by her side will never be boring.

  She’s gorgeous, and I fall a little more in love with her every second I see her. My body is thrumming, every bit of magic in me aching to bond with her. To find her. To please her.

  To make her dreams come true.

  But where is she?

  I clench my eyes shut, trying to stay kneeling as if it will somehow bring about what is supposed to happen.

  Murmuring rises again as the fae warriors around begin to grow restless.

  After all, most of them have been shown their dream mate, and they can’t wait another minute to go find them.

  “How about this?” the elder says to placate the others. “Those who have seen their dream mate and location, please stand. Those who have not, remain kneeling so we can come help you.”

  I open my eyes for a moment and
see everyone slowly stand except for me, Jerrek, and Reve.

  We’re all on the ground, and all starting to feel a little bit desperate.

  The three of us were the heads of this year’s class of warriors. Our mates are highly anticipated, as the kingdoms who receive us will be gaining powerful help.

  But I don’t care about that. I just want to see her. Her face is laughing in my mind. She feels so close but so far. But there is no hint of a location.

  Wherever she is, it almost seems to be a place I conjured out of my mind.

  “Lorien, I didn’t expect you to have trouble,” the elder says, kneeling next to me. Embarrassment flames my cheeks at needing to be assisted in this most important moment.

  “Help me,” I say softly. “I can’t see where she is.”

  “One moment,” the elder says, leaning in closer. “Do you see her face?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then you need to look for the trail of her magic. You should feel something pulling inside you, and if you follow that little thread of instinct, it should turn into a glowing rope. It should lead you to her kingdom.”

  “There is nothing like that,” I say in a hushed voice. “There is no stream. She is… nowhere.”

  “No stream? No inclination? Come now, Lorien. You shouldn’t be struggling with this.”

  “But I am.” I take a deep breath, trying to zoom out from the image of her face, searching for any kind of trace of magic that could lead me to where she is. “I do not know this place she is from. It is dirty.”

  The elder sighs, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Come with me, Lorien.” He looks at the elders who are kneeling by Jerrek and Reve. “We need to meet in private.”

  I’m mortified as the other warriors are led out of the courtyard, a buzz of excited voices filling the air as they leave.

  Jerrek’s eyes meet mine, confused, and Reve seems worried. Strands of Reve’s teal hair stick to his forehead with sweat.

  It’s the first time I’ve seen Reve sweat, though we’ve been in many battles.

  “I… All of you come with me,” the elder says, motioning for all three of us to follow him into the tiny, glimmering office made of the same stone as the courtyard.

  He walks around a desk of white crystal with glimmering rainbow edges, then shoves a hand in his hair. His gray eyes are tortured as he faces us, hands clasped in front of him on the desk.

  “My friends, the Great Connector… Her plan is perfect, but we can’t always say how things will work out.”

  “That’s bullshit,” Jerrek says, putting his hands on his hips and pacing. He has always been the least patient. He jerks a finger at the elder, looking imposing with his muscular height honed carefully through our training. “I did all of this to find my dream mate, and I have a dream mate. Now how do I find her?”

  “Not everyone has a dream mate,” the elder says. “It does happen sometimes that there isn’t someone for everyone.”

  Reve steps forward, his tone icy cold. “That’s not what we were told.”

  “There is someone for everyone. We will find you an adequate mate since you don’t have a dream mate.”

  “I do,” I say, gently moving Reve out of the way. As the first son of the eighth kingdom, I have the highest rank and should handle this. “Why are you speaking as if we are simply unfortunate? I saw my mate. I saw her.” I look at Reve and Jerrek. “Did you two?”

  Both nod eagerly, and Reve’s teal eyes go soft and fond while Jerrek still seems frustrated.

  “What’s the point of knowing who she is if I can’t find her?” Jerrek shakes his head. “What is this, some kind of torture?”

  The elder shakes his head. “I’m as baffled as you are. But the Great Connector is never wrong. If she did show you your dream mate, you would see, even feel, her location. But you don’t, right? All of you don’t.”

  “This is untenable,” Reve says, turning away. “Can’t someone look in our minds and see if we’re missing something?”

  “I can only tell you what I know,” the elder says. “If you can’t find her, how could she be your dream mate?” He shakes his head. “I am sorry, but I’m positive, on the other hand, that you will each make some queen or princess very happy.”

  “How?” Reve asks. “How if we can’t find our dream mate?”

  “There are harems for this sort of thing.”

  “I won’t be in a harem,” I say quickly. “I know who my dream mate is. I just can’t see where.”

  The elder sighs. “Then how can you find her?”

  “I don’t know. But I will.”

  “Me too,” Jerrek says. “No matter what it takes.”

  “I’ll cross worlds if I have to,” Reve says cryptically.

  The elder cracks a slight smile. “I’m glad I have trained you well, then. Because love truly is a worthwhile goal to fight for. To do anything for. But in this case…” He trails off, his eyes meeting mine with sorrowful certainty.

  But I refuse to believe it.

  “You’re right,” I say. “The Great Connector doesn’t make mistakes. So I’m going to trust that, one day, I’ll see my dream mate in person. I’ll walk up to her and say, ‘Here I am, the mate of your dreams.’ Now, if you don’t have anything else to say, I’m going back to my kingdom to rest.”

  The elder just stares at me thoughtfully until I turn to leave, breaking his gaze.

  I need to figure out what to do with the storm of rumors that will hit when the rest of my kingdom hears about me not being able to find my dream mate.

  As Jerrek and Reve follow me out of the office, the sunlight bearing down on us feels harsh rather than gentle.

  “I mean it,” I say, looking up and straightening my shoulders. “I’m not giving up, and I won’t give my heart to any other.”

  “But they say if we don’t see a location, it isn’t a true dream mate,” Reve says, sounding shaken.

  Jerrek puts a hand under his chin. “And the elder trying to help me during the ceremony said sometimes we want to see them so badly that we just make them up.”

  “But what am I supposed to believe?” I put my hands on my hips. “That she’s dead or something? That she doesn’t exist? I see her.” Frustration unlike anything I’ve ever felt floods through me.

  I need her.

  I need to find and protect her.

  I need to love her.

  It’s the only reason I’m alive.

  “Hey,” Jerrek says, putting his arm around my shoulders. “All three of us are in this together. We know what we saw, even if no one believes us.”

  “That’s right,” Reve says. “And we can search for them until they’re found.” He sighs, then straightens. “You know, it would almost be too easy the normal way. We’re the best of our class, so maybe it’s meant to be more of a challenge.”

  “I want my challenge to be wooing my mate, not finding her,” Jerrek mutters. “But well, as the elders say, love is worth everything.”

  “Right,” Reve says. “We’ll put our training to use by never giving up.”

  I think of Tess, and the sight of her face in my mind is almost painful. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I was supposed to fly to her side today.

  I could have been holding her…

  I wanted to make our bond the strongest of all time.

  I look over at Jerrek. “We’ll find them someday, won’t we?”

  Jerrek hesitates, then quickly nods, his usual cocky smile coming back to his face. “We will. Together.” He grins and loops his arm through Reve’s and mine, joining us like a chain. “And in the meantime, we’ll have each other.”

  Warmth burns through me. Truly, I never would have wanted this complication to involve them as well, but knowing I get to solve this puzzle with my best friends is everything.

  Together, we’ll get through this. We’re strong. Maybe the strongest of our kind.

  “But what if we never find them?” Reve asks, stating what I suspect is the deepest, grea
test fear in all of us. “What if… we’re alone?”

  The thought of it is like a deep, black void waiting to swallow me whole.

  Jerrek laughs, ruffling Reve’s hair. “I told you we have each other.” He grows more serious for a moment. “And we have kingdoms to help, families to love, friends to bond with.”

  Reve finally relaxes, nudging Jerrek in the shoulder before we all start walking once again.

  “They’re out there,” Jerrek says, walking all three of us to the edge of the courtyard where we can look out on the beautiful rolling fields of the fae wilds. “They exist, and we will find them if we only stay faithful.”

  “Plus,” I say, inhaling cool, fresh wind and letting my mind fill with something like hope. “We’ll still see them, get to be with them, in our dreams.”

  Jerrek swallows tightly, nodding as though he’s holding back emotion, and Reve pats his back, standing close to him for comfort.

  I look out at the sky rolling in oranges and pinks and purples, the clouds turning blue as evening falls, the pink sun setting in the distance. The green moon is rising to watch over the dark.

  The elders are in the office, the courtyard is empty, and it’s utterly silent all around.

  I put my hands on my hips and breathe deeply and let out my stress, my expectations, how everything was going to be when I exhale.

  What kind of moon rises above Tess? How long will it be until she’s in my life? And how can I possibly find someone in a world I’ve never seen?

  At this moment, standing next to my friends, I only know one thing for sure about my dream mate.

  She’s out there, and I’m going to find her and win her heart, no matter what it takes.

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