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The dream abruptly shifted. One step—he was still inside the ballroom, muttering apologies as he was being pushed and jostled. The next, he found himself standing outside on a balcony that jutted into the open air, blissfully alone.

Skye stood there for a moment, relishing the cool night air and taking in his surroundings. In the distance, the sea glittered in the moonlight, smooth as glass, and the lights of the surrounding city were so bright, he could barely make out the stars that shivered high overhead in the dry winter night. Despite the chill, flowers curled along the stone railing, filling the air with the scent of jasmine.

There was a soft sigh from somewhere in the shadows, and—

Skye jolted.

A woman sat on the far side of the balcony, perched on the wide stone railing despite the sheer drop that opened up below. Her dress was a soft pink, pinned and tucked and draped so effortlessly, it seemed to have been sewn from a single length of silk. Her shoulders and arms were bare, and the bodice molded to her body before seamlessly flowing into a voluminous mass of skirts and petticoats that fluttered in the breeze.Wisps of pale blonde hair framed her face, and strands of jewels had been woven into the intricate braid that draped across her shoulder, each one glistening in the moonlight.

The look was elegant, if understated, especially compared to the elaborate styles that were currently in fashion. She would’ve looked out of place compared to the ladies inside, but this woman—even without the trappings of court, the rich fabrics and extravagant hairstyles; even though her ears were round instead of arched, her eyes lacking that inherent glow of magic that marked his species; even though she was human, mortal—she was more beautiful than any fey woman could ever aspire to be.

“Taly,” he breathed, smiling so wide it hurt. Even knowing this wasn’t real, he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the sight of her.

He rushed forward, needing to have her in his arms—desperate to feel her warmth, her heartbeat, and praying that the dream would allow such small mercies.

But since this was Taly, and since she never did what he expected—even in his dreams—that’s not what happened.

Slowly, her head turned, and those gray eyes went comically wide as her face contorted into what could only be described as horror.

“No.” She began to shake her head, pressing her back against the wall of the estate. The sheer panic in her voice had Skye stumbling to a stop. “No, no, no.”

“Tink.” Skye reached out a hand, but she continued to inch away. “It’s alright. It’s just—”

“You can’t be here.” She tried to untuck her feet from beneath the puff of her skirts, but thefabric twisted between her legs, and she began to fall backward.

Skye cursed, surging forward and just managing to loop an arm around her waist before she tipped over the edge of the railing.

She struggled against him, slapping her hands against his face and chest, all the while shrieking at him tolet me go, let me go, let me go!

“Shards, woman…” Grunting, he finally managed to pull her back onto the patio, but it was like trying to hold onto a thrashing hellcat. “Would you please just calm—”

Her skirts pooled beneath his feet, and he tripped, sending them tumbling to the ground in a heap. Their heads smacked together, and they both let out twin groans of pain.

“No, no, no, no, no…” she was still moaning, hands covering her face. “I thought this was just going to be a normal dream. Why do you always have to ruin everything?”

“It’s good to see you too,” Skye grumbled, rubbing his head as he rolled off her. This dream was quickly turning into a nightmare. He’d tripped, made a fool of himself in front of the woman he loved, and nearly given them both concussions.

Maybe he was the one that needed to take a dive off the balcony.

“So, what’s it going to be tonight?” Taly pushed herself up on her elbows, glaring at him. “Are you going to fall into a canyon? Maybe get eaten by shades? That happens a lot, you know. Just last night, I had to watch you drunkenly stumble into the old airtram station outside the Swap. I thought we were good when you didn’t immediately fall down the stairs and break yourneck, but then when you saw that there were no guards, guess what your dumb ass decided to do.”

She was on her knees, leaning over him, and yes, this really was a nightmare because now she was berating him and not in the fun way that made her look like an angry kitten.

“You decided to investigate the tunnels—the ones that lead outside the city where there areshades—by your-Shards-damned-self!” She flicked his forehead. “Alone.” Then his ear. “And unarmed.” A punch to his shoulder. “And did I mention drunk?” She sighed, deflating slightly as she ran a finger across the satin lapel of his dress coat. “Jerk. What kind of idiot bumbles into an abandoned airtram station that’s been left unguarded and unlocked during the middle of the apocalypse, and then decides to investigate it by himself?”

“Taly, I—”

“You need tostop dying.” That caught him off guard. As did the pleading look she gave him as she said, “Do you have any idea how many times I’ve had to watch you die? You’re a shadow mage—you’re supposed to be indestructible, but every night…” She lifted her hand as if to give him another solid punch on the shoulder, then let it drop. “Why did you go in the tunnels, Em? There are so many terrible things in the tunnels.”

Skye dragged a finger across her cheek, then down the line of her jaw. She looked just the way he remembered. So beautiful—every feature so infinitely dear. “This is absurd,” he whispered. He’d never had a dream this vivid before, one where he felt so…present. If it weren’t for the way the ballroom still shifted and swayed behind them,shimmering like a film of soap, he might’ve been able to convince himself it was real.

“I’m aware,” she said with a snort. “Believe me—I know how crazy I sound. Which is why I need to jump off the balcony now.”

Pushing herself to her feet, she began climbing over the railing, but Skye was at her side in an instant.

“Stop it,” she barked, trying to shake him off.

“No, you stop it.” Placing both hands on her shoulders, Skye twisted them around so that he was standing between her and the balcony ledge. “This is my dream, and I’m not going to watch you fling yourself into an early grave.”