A Forest of Stars (Court of Starlight and Darkness #1)(6)

The man strode away from me, his dark cloak billowing in the cool wind. His long stride ate up the ground as he climbed toward a castle—an actual freaking castle—and I was pretty sure I was dreaming.

The castle sat on top of massive cliffs that overlooked a crashing sea. Moonlight glittered on the waves as they smashed onto the pebble beach upon which I stood. Huge trees stood on the rocky hills that formed the island, and the glittering golden lights of quaint cottages lit up the night.

Yeah, I was definitely dreaming. Or hallucinating.

Had there been drugs in that whiskey? Super strong ones?

Actually, I’d never even gotten a sip. Thank God I hadn’t paid for it. I still remembered the sound of the whiskey glass crashing to the floor as that bastard had swept me over his shoulders and hauled me out of the bar.

Holy crap, I’d been kidnapped.

And there was no one back in Seattle to report me missing. I’d never stayed close with any of my foster parents, and once I’d started doing gig work on the internet, I’d spent all my time at home hustling for rent money. It had seemed like a great deal—write some funny movie reviews for a website and get paid enough to live. It hadn’t left much time to make friends, but I hadn’t cared. Being on my own worked for me.

Until I got kidnapped.

Now, there was no one to call the cops when I didn’t show up for a coffee date or work. Thank God I hadn’t gotten around to adopting a cat or they’d be waiting for me to feed them.

Shit, shit, shit. Was I really thinking about cats?

I was losing it.

My heart raced, pounding so hard and fast that it threatened to break through my ribs and flop to the ground in front of the man who now stared at me. He looked like a guard of some kind, and his stare was blank.

“I want to go home,” I demanded. I still had no idea how I’d gotten there. One minute, I’d been standing in a bar and the next I was on a beach, but I’d swim if I had to.

“You’re going to a cottage like the rest of the competitors.”

“Competitors?” What the hell was going on?

“Come on.” He grabbed my arm and dragged me forward.

I jerked away and smacked him. “I can walk without your help.”

He shrugged. “It’d be easier for you if you just went along with things instead of fighting them.”

“Ha.” I didn’t often win at things, but I always fought for what I wanted.

And right now, I wanted to go home. I didn’t actually like my little studio apartment, but at least it was familiar. Safe.

I spun in a circle, trying to take in my surroundings as quickly as possible and find a way out of there.

There was nothing except the crashing sea, and I couldn’t see the lights of the city in the distance. The climate was similar to Seattle’s, and it was still night time, but there was nowhere to swim to.

I turned back to the land. The castle and cottages were still there, and I studied the tiny structures that I was meant to go to. Golden light glowed from their windows, and they were the prettiest little houses I’d ever seen in my life. Each one was nestled on the rocks, guarded over by enormous trees.

I’d entered a fairytale. That was the only explanation.

And I was probably dreaming. Or in the nuthouse.

Because this was as far from my normal, boring life as anything could possibly be.

In fact, that’s what it had to be. Not drugs in my drink—my imagination. Because there was no way a man as beautiful and terrible as the king was real.

With any luck, I was asleep in bed and not in a straitjacket somewhere.

I liked that idea. In fact, I’d cling to it. I’d just go to sleep and wake up in my own bed.

“All right, buddy, show me to my cottage.”

His shoulders relaxed slightly. Smart guy. If I wanted to fight this, he’d be in for a hell of a trial.

“This way.” He turned and started up a path that led toward the cottages.

I followed him, grateful that I’d worn my flat leather boots. Heels would have been a nightmare here. Not that this place was real, of course. But dream-me was practical, and I liked that.

We climbed past small rocky outcroppings and cliffs, passing between huge trees and by small bungalows glowing with welcoming light. They were painted lovely colors, all of them different, with golden wood trim that was carved in the shape of flowers and animals.

It made me feel better, honestly. Any place as pretty as this had to be a dream.

“This one’s yours.” He stopped by a small cottage with a domed roof that sat right at the edge of one of the rocky cliffs. In the daytime, the view of the water would be spectacular.

“So, I’m free to just go in?” I asked.

He shrugged. “It’s your accommodation, so yes. But your roommate is already there, so you may not want to wake her.”

“Okay.” Dream roommate was fine with me.

Without another glance at the guard, I opened the door and went into the tiny cottage.

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. Moonlight gleamed through the large glass window that overlooked the water, highlighting the small space. It was just one room—more like a standalone bedroom than anything else—with a giant window overlooking the ocean. The space was about the same size as my studio apartment in Seattle, but it was much nicer.