Free Meanmna: Book One of the Daearen Realms by Emmy Gatrell Page A

choice, though. Stay here and the world ends. Be a princess and there is no imbalance, as long as I never leave the kingdom. The thought of leaving the only family I had known hurt bad enough, but to be referred to as a “job” by someone who makes my heart race was even worse. My life sucks. Fairy princess, my ass. I rolled away from my crystal and start counting backwards from one hundred. I made it to sixty-seven before I realized I was dreaming again.
    I look ed around the dreamscape. It was nighttime and the stars’ reflections were sparkling across the lake. The stars looked different there than they did on Earth; I didn’t see any familiar constellations and many of them seemed to pulse as much as twinkle. When I looked down, I realized that I was still wearing the black one-piece. It was hard to imagine why I originally thought this looked sexy; I felt completely ridiculous in it. I noticed a small fire about one hundred yards down the beach with a silhouette of someone sitting by it. It has to be Elwin. He and I are the only two fey who can come here. I really need to get out of here before he sees me . Before I had a chance to move, he turned his head and looked toward me. Crap! Why did I wear this tacky thing? Why didn’t I back away three seconds ago? Wake up! Wake Up! Too late; here he comes. I gave up hope of ending a potentially uncomfortable moment.
    Elwin stopped about five feet away. His eyes slowly scanned the entire length of my body, moving down, then back up to meet my gaze. This is too intense; I can’t do this! I looked away and down to hide my embarrassment.
    Elwin cleared his throat and asked, “Would you like to sit by the fire?”
    “ That would be nice. Thank you.”
    He turned around and headed back to the dancing flames, and I walked behind him, silently cursing myself and swinging my arms wildly. I stopped just in time before he turned around and motioned to a big, thick blanket next to the fire. It was difficult to sit in the stupid outfit without showing my entire thigh. Elwin was such a gentleman, though; as if he’d read my mind, he reached into a bag and handed me a smaller blanket that I could drape over my legs . I’m an idiot. He must think I’m an immature child with a crush. Let’s face it, I am.
    “ I’m not going to be able to train tomorrow . Mom is taking me to Cabela’s for ‘gear’. What kind of gear, exactly? Is it for camping? I hate camping.”
    “ You’ll be fine. You’ve never been camping. Therefore, you have no idea whether you like it or not. Your mom knows what you’ll need,” he said as he rearranged the coals with a stick.
    “ I also moved my birthday celebration to tomorrow afternoon. Mom said there will be no time for goodbyes when the time comes.”
    “ That’s true; we leave when we leave.”
    “ Mom would also like it if you could come tomorrow. She’s going to tell Mama—that’s Mathew’s mom—about all this, and she would like you there for backup and evidence that we’re not crazy. It’s at—”
    “ Six. I know. I’ve been watching you for a year, remember?” Elwin said in a clipped tone.
    I’m making him uncomfortable in this stupid get -up. I should make up an excuse about why I’m wearing it… “I thought I would show up here in the long dress that I usually wear in my recurring dream, since I’m entering the fey realm through my dream plane.” I watched as his smile quickly came and went . I must have impressed him with my very limited knowledge of la-la land, but he had not looked at me since I sat down. In fact, he had avoided every opportunity to look at me. I have to get out of here. I have made the biggest fool out of myself wishing for something I can’t have. I need to figure out an exit strategy and execute it. Dammit!
    I stood up and tossed aside the blanket. Elwin was watching me out of the corner of his eye, but didn’t move his head at all. “So, how do I get out of here? I have a big day tomorrow