Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 425

Chapter 425: Time for bed
Anaisa paced. She was tired. Very Tired.

But she would need to sleep later, when it was time to work? The more tired she was, the easier it would be to fall asleep and stay asleep.

But what if she needed to wake up suddenly, like this last time? She should go into things at least a little rested to make sudden escape easier.

Shouldn’t she?

She glanced over at Trace, who had, in utter exhaustion, lain down once more to complete his twice-interrupted sleep.

Grandpa stood watch, along with Ben and Sapphira. Mia was fast asleep with Ford holding her hand and watching over her. Martin was snoring rather loudly. Denholm was pouting.

At least he was doing his job trying to keep the Emperor asleep. Or pretending to.

“Annie, maybe you should get a bit of sleep, too,” Sapphira suggested gently. “Everything’s quiet for the moment.”

“Hm,” The former countess grunted. She didn’t want to let her stubbornness get in the way of what was right.

Another one of Grandpa’s lessons to Ford on being a good person. Fortitude was an honorable virtue, but only when pointed in the correct direction. Steadfastly holding to an unwise course was worse than not having the trait at all.

But what was the right course, at the moment? It wasn’t precisely clear. Anaisa wished it were…

“Fine,” She finally relented. “I’ll rest a bit.”

Making her way across the sparkling coverlet, she laid next to Trace. Near enough to touch him.

She didn’t; he might think something was wrong and wake himself prematurely once more. That would be disastrous for his well-being. He needed full rest in conjunction with his restored magic.

Resting her head on one hand, she stared at his face. It was… almost haggard. Worn. It made her heart ache.

She needed to resolve this quickly so he could be home and fully rest.

Though she was exhausted to her core, she knew he was far worse off. Hopefully he hadn’t been worrying about her this whole time the way she’d been dying inside thinking of him in danger.

For all he knew, Seth and Grandpa had managed to tie her down at the house and come without her.

No, he knew better than that. She could never be kept from him, in all the ages of the earth.

In that regard, her fortitude was unwavering. A heavy sigh passed her lips as she let her eyes close. Anaisa most regretted that this dream, though so close to Trace, would not be full of him.

He would be busy handling the Emperor, and he wouldn’t want to endanger her.

No matter how much she might want him to.

Setting her hopes low, she drifted to sleep, determined to somehow get exactly the appropriate amount of rest so that she would be able to sleep again upon command but be wakeable easily when needed.

That seemed a reasonable expectation to place upon herself, and definitely one she could attain!

Her dreams disagreed.

She found herself alone, on the vast bed she’d fallen asleep upon. At least there was no blood here, nor mangled remains of the dream creatures the Emperor had unleashed upon the world.

Instead of taking hold of her dream and trying to make it something happier, something fairer, she simply let it be for a moment.

Though it wasn’t real, she conjured a work table, papers, and writing utensils. If nothing else, she could review all the diplomatic strategies she’d ever studied or used. At least, what she remembered.

The political games and intrigue of court would do her little good here; the backstabbing and manipulation people used on each other was likely to be odious to the Emperor.

And for good reason. She hated it, herself.

Before she could let herself think the Emperor had a point about people, she steered her attention to the place on the bed where, if she were in the real location, the Emperor’s body would be lying.

Here in her dream, it was flat and smooth. As if some deity had washed the sheets and comforter clean and made the bed, tight and pristine, where no one would ever sleep.

A smile played about her mouth when she thought about how quickly her own housekeeping efforts were undone by her unruly sons.

A made bed rarely stayed that way for more than a few minutes before some game interrupted the peace of her cleaning.

She didn’t mind… sometimes. Other times she minded very much.

So in a way it was supremely relaxing being on this large, clean, well-laundered surface on her own. Something was completed and would not be immediately ruined by jelly-covered hands or a pillowy projectile.

Still, it wasn’t what she wanted most in her heart. To be back amongst the rough and tumble mess of her life was her dearest wish.

“Is there a reason you’re here all alone?”

Trace’s voice made a smile curve her lips.

“If only you were here, but I just wished you were, so my mind must have created you,” She sighed, not bothering to turn towards the sound.

Raising a hand, she flicked it to banish the facsimile of her husband.

“Dismissing me with a wave of your hand, like some servant? I must say, my wife has become rather unruly in our time apart.”

Anaisa’s eyes widened, and her head snapped towards him.

“Trace! Shouldn’t you be out guarding the Emperor’s dreams??”

“Well, yes, I very well should, but I saw your dream and thought… you might not object to joining me?”

He extended a gallant hand, and Anaisa blushed.

“Like a date? A date watching and guarding the horrifying dreams of an angry Emperor?”

“You make it sound so romantic,” He scoffed. “I suppose you don’t want to come after all.”

She leapt to her feet. “Oh, I’m coming. I just would like a make-up date once we’re back at home.”

“Now that, I can readily agree to,” Trace winked at her, taking her hand. “Until then, let’s keep the world from ending.”