Dreamer (The Dream World Chronicles Book 1) Camille Peters (books to improve english txt) 📖

His confirmation calmed the worry wrenching my heart and I relaxed. A peaceful silence enfolded us, one that, thanks to Darius, felt healing after the exhausting worry I’d been clinging to these past several days. With Darius’s presence and the soothing backdrop of the enchanted waterfall, the moment almost felt like a peaceful dream, one I wanted to remain in forever.

Until the distant chime signified the late hour. I reluctantly stirred. “The Weaving—”

Darius shook his head. “Let’s stay here a moment longer.” The look in his eyes matched the need filling my heart to extend our time together.

I offered a teasing smile. “Encouraging me to be late? Are you trying to corrupt me to your Nightmare ways?”

He grinned crookedly. “If it means I get to continue spending time with you.”

Even though his words were ones that shouldn’t be spoken by a Nightmare to a Dreamer, my heart still swelled. “And seeing me at Weavings isn’t enough?”

His green eyes smoldered. “Not at all.”

My heartbeat escalated and it suddenly became rather difficult to breathe. I swallowed. “If we’re going to delay our Weaving…what would you like to do?”

“I don’t care, so long as I spend time with you.”

The space between us suddenly felt too large. As if sensing this, Darius scooted closer, his gaze riveted to mine.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you…” He fell silent.

I waited a breathless moment, eagerly awaiting the continuation of his thought. “What do you want to ask me?” I asked.

His blush deepened as he lowered his eyes, as if suddenly too shy to look at me. “I was wondering…have you heard about the Dream Festival?”

I frowned, slightly disappointed in the change of direction in our conversation. “I have.”

Banners and posters advertising the upcoming Dream Festival had been posted on every building and signpost for weeks, featuring fantastic displays and exhibits, fabulous prizes for winners of various competitions, and the Universe-renowned flying colors show.

“It’s tomorrow.” He traced a swirl in the grass, still seeming unable to meet my gaze. “I’ve been meaning to ask for a while…would you be willing to meet me there so we can attend together?”

I could barely speak, so I merely nodded. His nervousness vanished in an instant, replaced with a wide smile. His joy only escalated my own, making it easier to ignore the whispers of warning in the back of my mind. Surely it was just as frowned upon for Nightmares and Dreamers to attend the festival together as it was for them to attend tea shops together…but I suddenly didn’t care. For the truth of the matter was I wanted to go with Darius, just as I wanted this moment between us to continue.

Darius reluctantly tore his gaze away to glance up at the sky, which had only grown darker as night had further settled. “I suppose we’ve delayed our Weaving long enough. We should go so you don’t feel rushed.”

His tone was so kind, without a hint of resentment about how long I took to construct my dreams. He stood first and offered his hand to help me to my feet, and as before, even after I’d stood, he didn’t release me, instead pulling me closer so that his caramel-apple-scented warmth enveloped me, leaving me lightheaded.

“Are you feeling better?” He looked so concerned, which only lifted my heart further.

“I am.” Even though my circumstances hadn’t changed and Darius had offered nothing more than a listening ear, kindness, and a promise to try and help, somehow it was enough.

Darius gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before leaning down to pick up his bag, but in his fluster he lifted it upside down, causing its contents to tumble to the ground. He swore and stooped down to gather his things. I crouched down to help.

“You don’t have to do that,” he protested.

I offered him a mischievous look. “You helped me, so might I help you in return?”

He smiled and we gathered his things. I paused when I noticed a black notebook embedded in a silver design of spiderwebs. “What’s this?”

Darius hastily snatched it away. “Nothing.”

“So I’m not the only one with secrets?” My smile was teasing.

“Not exactly secrets…” He avoided my eyes, which only escalated my curiosity.

“Won’t you show me what’s inside?” My tone came out more flirtatious than pleading, undoubtedly a result of this beautiful outing we’d experienced together.

His growing blush deepened. “I don’t want any secrets between us. I’m just afraid…you’ll get the wrong idea. I don’t want to hurt you.”

My flirtatious smile vanished in an instant. “Is it about me, then?”

He hesitated before taking a steadying breath and handing me the notebook. I eased it open. My brow furrowed. It was blank. But before I could question him, he summoned his magic, curling the green glitter around his finger, which he ran across the page.

I watched in amazement as words began to appear at his touch, rising onto the page, my name at the very top. What followed was a careful list of all the information he’d gathered about me, filling not just this page but all the subsequent ones. I rapidly flipped through them, my heartbeat escalating with each turn, before I snapped it shut.

“What is this?”

Darius wrung his hands. “Please, don’t get the wrong idea.”

“How can I not?” I demanded, my voice escalating. “Let me guess: the newest entry will be about the nightmare flower I inadvertently created.” I’d been such a fool to hand him that secret so readily.

He shook his head. “I won’t write that down if you don’t want me to, and no one but me will ever see this notebook. You have my word.”

I wanted nothing more than to believe him, but my mind had different ideas. “I don’t understand…if you’re not going to give it to anyone, why do you have this notebook at all?”

“I…just want to know more about you. You’re quite the puzzle.” Despite his nerves, he sounded almost awed by the prospect.

My eyes narrowed. “And what is the purpose of solving my puzzle? Is this for the Council, or