That’s what I told myself every time I had to swallow down my potion. Even though I don’t need it anymore, the message apparently still holds true. If I’m going to go find Will, if I’m going to have even a chance at a normal life, I need to do this.
“Let’s get this over with,” I say, glancing away from Leon so I don’t get lost in his gaze. “What do I do?”
“If you need me to teach you how to fall asleep, princess, then we’ve got bigger problems than I thought.”
I scowl at him but don’t waste time arguing further. Instead, I take off my cloak, laying it down on the forest floor. Then I sit down on top of it, feeling a touch ridiculous.
It doesn’t help when Alastor clears his throat.
“Well, this is awkward,” he announces. “I think I’ll just go hang out with the horses for a bit.”
Leon rolls his eyes as his friend retreats between the trees to where the horses are tied up.
Slowly, I stretch out my legs and lower myself down until I’m horizontal. Reluctantly, I close my eyes.
I know right away this isn’t going to work.
I’m excruciatingly conscious of my face, my body, every tiny twitch and movement. I’m also intensely aware of Leon’s eyes on me. Even if I can’t see him, I canfeelhis gaze, like the sun’s glare on my face, making me hot and uncomfortable.
I sit up.
“I can’t do it. Not while you’re just standing there watching me.”
He sighs like I’m being unnecessarily difficult, then looks off into the trees. “I’ll get something to help.”
He disappears into the forest and reappears minutes later with a plant in his hand.
“Here. Chew on the leaves—they will make you drowsy.”
I hesitate, still wary. I don’t see how it would help Leon to poison me, but I can’t help being suspicious. Rather than being bothered by my hesitation, I see a smug smile stretch across his face.
“Or maybe you’re worried you’ll start having…interestingdreams about me again,” he says.
Anxiety morphs into aggravation. Of course he couldn’t resist the opening to embarrass me. He’s so irritating.
“Give me that,” I say, snatching the plant from his hand and shoving the leaves into my mouth. I chew, grimacing a little at the bitter taste, and wait for the drowsiness to hit. At first, I feel nothing.
“Just wait,” he says.
He’s right. Within minutes, my head starts to feel heavy, the world around me getting fuzzy at the corners.This is much easier, I think as the cushion of my cloak beckons me. I no longer focus on Leon watching me, or how he crouches beside me as I lie down. I let sleep take me, only having time to wonder vaguely what will happen next before I drift off.
When I open my eyes, the calm of the forest surrounds me. A jay calls in one of the trees, another answering, and the breeze brushes through the leaves, creating a chorus of rustling.
“I thought it was supposed to make me sleep?” I say, confused.
“It did.”
Leon is standing in front of me, but I’m standing too, I realize. There’s no sign of my cloak on the ground, or Alastor and the horses. Instead of a dress, I’m wearing what looks like soldiers’ clothes: tight-fitting pants and a long-sleeved tunic.
“It’s easier to direct the mind before it forms its own dreams. I brought you here,” he says.
“You mean we’re in my head right now?” I ask.
“Yes, though I’m feeding you some of the images.”
He looks different here. More relaxed. In the waking world, he’s always primed, ready to spring into action. He’s watchful and vigilant, like a good soldier should be, I suppose. Yet here that readiness is gone, replaced by an easiness, like he has full certainty that every rock and leaf is his to command.
This might be my mind, but it’shisdomain. In the land of dreams, he’s not just a prince or even a king; he’s more like a god, able to bend and twist the world precisely as he pleases.
