He nodded. Youd call them werewolves. Theyre shape-shifters. Human. Wolf. Back again. He paused, fiddling with the little light. I dont know what the legends are like where you come from, but you dont need to be afraid of them here. They treat guests well in their own realm. Its part of the tradition they live by.
Her heart was beating so hard her chest hurt, and her legs and arms tingled with an oncoming panic attack. A big one. Breathe, she told herself. You can deal with this. The wolfyn were just part of the hallucination. They couldnt hurt her, couldnt roofie her into sexual submission and then eat her when their other needs were satisfied. So far, all they were was just noise on the horizon. Besides, her mothers stories about them taking young girls had been allegories about not giving it up too early or to the wrong guy.
Right?
Breathe. Dont lose it. He wasnt her fantasy prince and she wasnt really in another realm. She wasnt even really wearing his sweater, even though she was far warmer now, both because of the extra layer and the intimacy of the little cave, which forced them to bump knees and kept her system on a low rev of awareness. Her racing mind was scared, confused and frustrated, but her body was entirely aware of his.
When he shifted back, so he was leaning on the opposite wall, his movements were controlled; after he settled in, he went very still, almost looking as though he wasnt even breathing. He moved like a martial artist, she thoughtor a predator. A hunter. The realization stirred her blood far more than it should, and she caught herself collecting small details, like how his aristocratic nose had a faint ridge where it had been broken and just slightly offset, and the way his hands were long-fingered and elegant, yet tough and callused with hard labor.
Benz had used to tease her that she would need genetic engineering to create her perfect guy, because she wanted the whole package: brains, compassion, honor and romance in a laborers strong, muscular body. And he wasnt far off, because that would have been a real-life approximation of her woodcutter hero Like the one sitting opposite her now, staring out into the night.
Except that hes not really here, is he? said her logical, rational self. And the heat buzzing through her body racheted down because it was right. Her brain was tricking her, just like it had when she was a little girl and thought she heard her mamans voice whispering to her, sending her into the woods looking for answers. She didnt need the department shrink to tell her that.
You have to get to the vortex, logic reminded her. He said that was the way home. And if her mind had bought in so deeply to the illusion, then the rules of the illusion should work. Maybe. Hopefully.
But the place where the vortex formed was crawling with wolfyn, and Wait. If the wolfyn are harmless, why are we hiding up here?
He looked back at her for a moment, seeming to be measuring her mental state. Or maybe deciding how much to tell her. Theres some personal stuff between me and the pack leader. Tempers can run high this time of year, so I think its better if he and I stay out of each others way.
And? she prompted when her cops instincts told her there was more.
He shifted, stretching his legs out beside hers, almost but not quite touching. The alignment of her battered jeans against his turned the differences in fabric and stitching from subtle to a shout as he said, You know how I said things were complicated between my realm and the wolfyn? Well, there was a war. I dont even know what really started itnobody here seems to, and it was a long time ago. But it was ruthless and bloody, and didnt end until a group of kingdom magic-users, the Ilth, got together and changed the nature of the vortices so that when wolfyn come through to the kingdoms they wind up stuck in the wolf form, unable to change back or cast the spell to return home. Eventually, they even lose their human thoughts, becoming purely feral. He paused. The wolfyn came up with a counterspell, but by that time they had discovered the human realm and become fascinated with your science. For the past few generationsand my people have very long generationscontact has been limited to the few wolfyn who get sucked up into the vortices without the counterspell, and the occasional guest who shows up here, like me. In fact, the people of the kingdoms dont even believe in realm travel anymoreits faded to legend status, just like the wolfyns abilities to shape-shift and enthrall beautiful women.
A shiver crawled up Redas spine as the hallucination suddenly gained an uncomfortable amount of detail that dovetailed with the stories she knew. Can they do that? Enthrall women, I mean.
He shook his head. They wouldnt do that to a guest, not even during the moon time. The traditions are very clear on when and how enthrallment can be used.
Which wasnt a no. Feeling the cold more than she had been moments before, she tucked her hands under her arms beneath her jacket, warming them in a sweater that was uncomfortably peltlike all of a sudden.
He continued, So while the wolfyn are generally tolerant, they prefer humans over kingdomites, and there are certain bloodlines from the kingdom that remain kill-on-sight.
Which is why you dont want them to know that youre a prince, she said, remembering his earlier comment. Then, without warning, a bubble of half-hysterical laughter rose up inside her, sticking in her throat and threatening to turn into a sob. Youre a prince, she repeated. Of course you are. She used to dream of charming princes, ethereal princesses and magical adventures, so maybe it was no wonder her mind had gone back there now, turning her fantasy man into not only the woodcutter, but also a handsome prince. She buried her face in her hands. Youre not real. None of this is real. Go away and let me wake up in my real bed in the middle of my real life. She felt a tug of wistfulness at the thought of leaving the dream behind, and that couldnt be good.
Its just vortex sickness, he said soothingly. Dont worry. Just relaxitll all come back to you soon.
She lifted her head to glare at him. I havent forgotten anything, damn it. My name is Reda Weston, my father is Major Michael Weston and my mothers name was Freddy. See? No gaps. No blank spots. And this isnt real.
By the gods and the Abyss, this is real. A hint of temper licked at the back of his eyes, which had gone very green in the pale illumination. His voice gained an edge. And its going to stay real whether you believe in it or not, so how about you chuck the science is God human attitude and consider that maybe this is happening, and that youre here for a reason? Because unless you help me out here, people are going to die.
I She stared at him, throat drying to dust. What?
People. Will. Die, he said, spacing the words through gritted teeth. I need to get my ass back to Castle Island within the next seventy-two hours, and youre supposed to be helping me.
Her throat closed, but she forced out, Ive never heard of Castle Island. Then, seeing it in his eyes, she held up a hand. And if you say vortex sickness one more time, Im going to scream.
His expression eased. Okay. At least youre listening.
Im She shook her head. I dont know what I am, besides scared and confused. Whats going on here? Whats on Castle Island and why do you need to be there? And why does it involve me? This doesnt matter, anyway. Its just an illusion.
I dont know how youre involved, really, or why. But I can tell you about Castle Island. He waited for her nod. When he got it, he made a rueful, bitter face, and began. There once was a prince who thought the world should revolve around him. Her blood chilled as he described his home being attacked by a vile sorcerer and his parents casting a massive spell that had saved him and his siblings, yet went awry, binding them to the castle and cursing the kingdom if they failed to return in time. He recited a message from his fathers spirit, telling him to wait for a guide, and that when she arrived he needed to be back on Castle Island by the fourth night, to reunite with his siblings and kill the sorcerer. He paused, expression going hollow. The next thing I knew, I was stuck here in the wolfyn realm, doing my damnedest to make them believe Id lost my memory in the vortex and keep them from guessing that I was a member of a royal houseand all the while, waiting for my guide to show up. Then, about a week ago, I started having these dreams.
Dreams, she whispered, body heating suddenly.
He nodded. I saw you, Reda. Your face. Your eyes. The magic was making sure I would recognize you when you arrived.
She moved restlessly, shifting her legs away from his. Theres no such thing as magic.
Maybe there isnt in your world. But there is in mine.
Her pulse thudded loudly in her ears. The department shrink had talked about hospitalization but in the end had signed off on an outpatient program with intensive sessions that had started off daily and tapered from there. Now, she wondered whether that had been a mistake, whether she had faked her way through her recovery, fooling even herself, until now. Was she in a hospital room somewhere, staring blankly out a window while her mind roamed free? Panic sparked in her chest as she tried to imagine it but couldnt, tried to connect with her real mind trapped somewhere else, but couldnt do that, either. The cave, the man and his story felt entirely real. Which would mean
He nodded. I saw you, Reda. Your face. Your eyes. The magic was making sure I would recognize you when you arrived.
She moved restlessly, shifting her legs away from his. Theres no such thing as magic.
Maybe there isnt in your world. But there is in mine.
Her pulse thudded loudly in her ears. The department shrink had talked about hospitalization but in the end had signed off on an outpatient program with intensive sessions that had started off daily and tapered from there. Now, she wondered whether that had been a mistake, whether she had faked her way through her recovery, fooling even herself, until now. Was she in a hospital room somewhere, staring blankly out a window while her mind roamed free? Panic sparked in her chest as she tried to imagine it but couldnt, tried to connect with her real mind trapped somewhere else, but couldnt do that, either. The cave, the man and his story felt entirely real. Which would mean