Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 33

Chapter 33: 33-Crazy Dynamic!

Kaye:

I knew I had to repeat myself, even louder this time, and explain to my brother the plan that had been brewing in my mind all along.

“I’m going into the Dream Prison,” I repeated, noticing how clueless my brother seemed.

“Huh?” He tilted his head, slowly standing up and setting the bottle and glasses aside as he walked toward me again. I knew he would try to stop me, but I was determined to go through with it.

It was my responsibility to keep these cursed roses away from my people, and instead, I had failed miserably.

“I’m doing it,” I said more firmly this time. He shook his head in response, his expression hardening.

“You’ve lost your mind. I won’t allow this. Norman trusted me with this duty. He knew the moment he left, you’d try to convince me too. So no! I’m not letting it happen,” he said sternly, coming closer, standing right in front of me as if daring me to try and head toward the bed to begin the dream-travel process.

“Maximus! If you respect my decision, you’ll let me do this. I need to go in there and bring her out—” I was tired of the back-and-forth. I was an adult capable of making my own choices. The mere thought of someone suffering because of me was unbearable. How on earth did Norman expect me to go on living as if nothing had happened?

“No! Are you serious? You don’t even know how it works,” Maximus argued, standing so close as if to block any attempt I might make to lie down. Then his eyes fell on the envelope I was holding, and he realized what he had to stop me.

He tried to snatch the envelope from my hand, but I quickly hid it behind my back. I needed to speak to him first.

“I know how to get in there and bring someone out, okay?” The moment I said it, his jaw dropped.

“Then why have you never brought anyone out before?” he asked, genuinely curious. He knew how protective I was of these victims—whether from herbs, cursed plants, or otherwise. It made sense that I’d have jumped in to save them if I could.

“Because they didn’t have their roses with them when they were taken. She does. She has her rose, and I’ll have mine in hand. I just need you to keep an eye on us and make sure no one steals the roses,” I said confidently, even though deep down, I wasn’t entirely sure how I’d manage to rescue her. All I had was what I’d read in the old texts.

“First, explain how!” he insisted, ready to seize the envelope if I didn’t start talking.

“By breaking the haze and waking her up inside her dream. I need to do it quickly, or she’ll lose touch with reality and become part of the dream world forever,” I explained, recalling the account of someone who had allegedly escaped the Dream World. I wasn’t sure who this person was, as the book never mentioned a name. It only described the experience of leaving the Dream Prison.

“Please, do you not trust me?” I was starting to worry that if we kept arguing, we might lose Helanie to the Dream Prison forever.

“Norman is going to kill me for this,” Maximus muttered. “But fine, if you’re that certain, I’ll let you go in. Just know this: if you don’t come out, I swear I’ll jump in and stay there with you forever.” He finally relented, as I had expected. Despite our constant bickering, we were close—closer than anyone else.

Our dynamic was unique. With Norman, we always tried to be on our best behavior. He was more like a father than an older brother. Whenever we were in trouble—any kind of trouble—we knew we could count on Norman. We were his top priority.

With Emmet, though, things were different. He often made us feel judged. He’d scold us first and then offer help, and even then, he wasn’t as reliable. Once he started drinking, he’d forget about everyone, and we’d have to take care of him.

But Maximus and I? We were a mess together. We were everything Norman and Emmet weren’t. Maximus was Dad’s favorite, and even when we got into trouble together, I’d end up taking the blame.

So, the decision was made. I pulled out the rose and walked over to the bed.

“Bring me a purple ribbon,” I instructed Maximus, who still looked confused and worried.

“You think I keep ribbons lying around here?” he tried to joke, searching for something to ease the tension before sighing in resignation.

“I’ve got a purple tie. Will that work?” he asked, holding up a tie.

“Yeah, that’ll do,” I said, reaching out for it.

He handed me the tie, and I climbed onto the bed after taking off my shoes. I took Helanie’s cold hand in mine. As soon as our hands touched, I felt something strange. Her skin was so soft, and even though it was cold, there was a subtle comfort in her touch.

“Feeling a bit awkward lying next to your stepsister?” Maximus teased, snapping me back to reality. I forced a grunt, pretending not to be distracted by the fact that I was, indeed, lying next to my ‘stepsister.’

“What? No!” I quickly replied.

“She’s not my sister or even my stepsister,” I muttered inwardly, as I quickly tied the purple tie around her wrist and let her hand fall limp beside her.

Her touch had shaken my sense of reality.

I lay down next to her awkwardly, feeling Maximus hovering over me as he secured the other end of the tie to my wrist. The tension between us was palpable, though neither of us said anything.

Then, I brought the rose to my nose, inhaling its delicate, intoxicating scent. A wave of drowsiness washed over me.

It felt strange—yet somehow familiar.

Before I knew it, I was slipping into sleep. And the next thing I know, I am gaining awareness in a whole different environment.