“Causing problems,” Noah muttered, causing Nightmare to snicker.
“Well, like I said, I was going to help you if you needed it,” Nightmare said, dragging a finger across his brow to straighten his hair, which was already perfectly in place. “But I’m here because I also need your help.”
“She’s not helping your kind with anything,” Noah replied without hesitation.
“Is that right?” Nightmare asked, keeping his eyes on me as if he thought Noah was as annoying as a pesky mosquito. “Will you help me?”
I looked around at the shrubs surrounding us as if hoping they’d swallow me and take me out of the situation. “I kind of just want to get out of this place. Where am I anyway?”
“Somewhere you shouldn’t be,” Noah said.
“I was pulled through the mirror,” I said as if only suddenly remembering how I’d gotten there. I turned to Nightmare. “Is this a dream?”
He shook his head. “It is not.”
“I think I just want to go home,” I said, swallowing hard and wincing at the sourness.
Noah took a step closer, keeping his eyes fixed on Nightmare. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and the light shield enveloped me.
“Then let’s go home,” Noah purred as if he’d won and was ready to celebrate.
We turned to leave, but Nightmare jumped in front of us. “No. She can’t leave.”
“You heard her,” Noah growled. “She wants to leave with me.”
Nightmare grabbed my shoulders. “It’s my brother. He’s in trouble.”
Chapter
Four
Ipressed my lips together and told myself to keep walking. Darkness could take care of himself. He had an entire army of imps to help him. If Nightmare couldn’t help him, what could I do for him?
But my curiosity got the better of me. “What kind of trouble?”
“Remy, no!” Noah said, taking my hand.
“I’m just asking,” I said, shrugging.
Nightmare’s expression grew serious. “I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think it was important.”
“Leave her alone!” Noah roared just as lights floated down from the sky, lighting up the entire area as if it were daytime.
The lights grew until they formed a single new humanoid being. She was pure white with six long golden feathered wings, three on each side. Her hair was fiery red, and she stood at least seven feet tall, not counting the foot she hovered over the ground.
“Noah,” she said, her soft voice commanding as it floated through the air. “Come to me.”
All the light beings surrounded her and bowed their head as they pressed their palms together. Noah moved to her as if he were in a trance. He stopped before her, his mouth hanging open in awe as he dropped to his knees.
“Stand,” she ordered with a gentle kindness radiating from her blue eyes. A single tear slid down his cheek when she smiled at him. “Do you know why I’ve come?”
Noah’s head slowly moved from side to side. The woman with wings lowered herself and whispered to Noah. When she finished speaking, all the light beings surrounding them kneeled before Noah.
“Now you understand,” she said, her voice like caramel.
“Yes,” he said.
“What’s going on?” I whispered to Nightmare, keeping my voice low.
Nightmare shrugged. “Don’t think he’d notice if we left, though.”
“Shh!” I waved my hand at him as the majestic winged creature set her eyes on me. My mouth dried, and I felt like crawling into the shrubs.
“It’s time to choose,” the winged woman said.
Noah flashed me a quick look before turning back to the woman. “Can I have a moment?”
“Time is limited. You must choose now,” she said, giving him a single nod.
Noah inhaled deeply as he walked toward me. He took my hand in his as he looked into my eyes.
“I wish I could explain what this all means to me,” Noah said, frowning. “I want you to understand.”
“Understand what?” I said, my brow painfully scrunched.
Noah drew in a breath and puffed out his chest. “They’ve come for me. It’s time. If I don’t go, I’ll lose everything I worked for.”
“What do they want you for?” I asked, squeezing his hands as if that would somehow let me understand what was even happening.
