Three more weeks. Three more weeks to laze around and enjoy the calm of summer before returning to school for his senior year. Fidelis felt more motivated this year than when they first ended up in the human world. He had plans to finish with a bang. He also had to find his fated mate. So many things to do. He would make time for them all.
"Your Highness, what are you thinking about so deeply?"
He turned to his left and grinned at Sodalitas. "My future."
Sodalitas frowned. "I don't understand."
"You know I have always been a planner. That's what I'm doing right now. Planning."
"Ah. True, you make so many plans that I wonder how you keep them all straight."
Blainel laughed and Fidelis looked up to the front of the car. "You think it's funny?"
"Of course not, Your Highness. I am laughing at Sodalitas being surprised that you make multiple plans."
"Hey, no picking on me."
"Sure, sure," muttered Blainel.
Fidelis couldn't keep the smile off his face at his friends' banter. He enjoyed moments like this when he was just a normal guy and not the "Prince."
Blainel parked the car, and they got out and headed inside Walmart. Fidelis didn't really like shopping, but he needed school supplies.
"Let's make this quick."
"Sounds good to me," agreed Sodalitas while pulling up the shopping list on his cell phone.
They all looked it over and headed inside. The place was packed. Nothing unusual for Walmart. Today, however, it was irritating. He just wanted to get in and get out. It looked like everyone had the same idea. Get school shopping out of the way.
Fidelis sighed. "Let's hurry," he murmured to his friends.
Blainel and Sodalitas took up flanking positions and with quick steps, they head to the back corner of the store where the rows and rows of school supplies were kept. As they approached it, Fidelis felt his wrist throb. He glanced down and saw the glow of his fated mark.
"She's here!"
Blainel and Sodalitas moved in closer to him.
"What, Romeo?" Blainel asked him.
"She's here, Danny."
"Are you sure?" Sodalitas peered about.
"Yes, George I'm sure." Fidelis craned his neck around and frowned. There were so many girls around that he couldn't be sure which one was his mate. "Damnit!"
He had to move around and see if one of them was holding her wrist in pain. He didn't say anything just started walking to the nearest aisle. The throbbing increased and his heart raced. Would he finally see her?
He entered the aisle and the throbbing lessened. No! She must be moving away from him. He hurried to the next aisle and the throbbing disappeared. He cursed under his breath. He'd lost her!
"Romeo?"
He gave Sodalitas a defeated look. "I lost her, George."
"Are you sure?" Blainel moved in closer, his eyes scanning the people closest to them.
"I'm sure, Danny."
"Let's go. I'm not in the mood to shop anymore."
Fidelis threaded his way through the crowds and made his way to the car. He got in the car and brooded all the way home. Not even Sodalitas's and Blainel's conversational attempts could take his mind off the near miss of finding his mate.
He went to his room and didn't come out until dinner time. He was silent all through dinner, his thoughts on his mystery mate. Why did he keep missing her? Was some god playing a trick on him?
"…Fidelis!"
He twitched and jerked his head in his father's direction. "Yes, Father?"
His father frowned. "What happened this afternoon?"
Fidelis sighed. "I was so close."
"Close?"
"She was at the Walmart, Father."
He saw his Father's joyful expression. "Wait, you said you were close?"
"Yes. My mark started to throb, and I tried to find her, but she vanished." He slammed his fist on the table. "I feel as if some spirit is toying with me."
"Hmm, I have a suggestion."
Fidelis gave his father a hopeful expression. "I'm all ears."
"Use your mark to reach her."
"I did."
"I do not mean what happened at the store. I mean use it in the dream plane to reach her."
"Is that possible?"
"It is. It's how I wooed your mother."
Fidelis was surprised at this bit of information. His father didn't talk about his mother who had died when he was younger. He knew he looked like his mother because of the portraits. He wanted to know more but whenever he tried to bring it up his father's expression was so sad that he stopped doing it.
"What do I need to do?"
"Focus on your mark as you go to sleep. Use your feelings of longing and need to reach through the mark and to your mate's soul. If your emotions connect with the mark, you will dream with her."
"Will she remember me when she wakes?"
"It depends. The dreaming is different for everyone."
"I understand. Thanks for the advice." He stood and bowed.
"Good luck, my son."
Fidelis went to his room and got ready for bed. Keeping his father's advice in mind, he lay down and stroked his mate mark. He let all his emotions well up: joy, nervousness, hope, and longing. His eyes grew heavy, and he slipped into the dream plane.
~***~
The scenery was impressive. He was in a forest. In the distance, he could hear the roar of a waterfall. He knew this place. It was one of his favorite spots in their old world. It was peaceful and no one except Blainel and Sodalitas knew of it.
He could hear the animals and then his mark warmed up. She was here! He carefully made his way toward the waterfall. The closer he got, the warmer the mark felt. He peered through the bushes and saw a girl sitting on a rock near the waterfall.
He was struck speechless at her beauty. Her long black hair with red tints swayed in the breeze. It was her violet eyes that captured his attention. This was his mate. His wrist burned with fiery heat. He was thrilled to have found her.
Suddenly her head whipped in his direction when he emerged from the bushes. She jumped down from the rock and backed away.
"Don't go," he pleaded.
She froze, her expression showing her conflicted emotions.
"Who are you?" she asked.
He wanted to tell her so badly, but caution was best until they could meet in the real world. He would be able to explain everything to her then.
"I can't tell you right now. Please wait for me. I will find you soon."
"What do you mean?" She stood and ran toward him.
She reached out to touch him, but he used the dream to put several feet between them before he hurried away.
"Wait!" she screamed.
He could hear her following him. He needed to wake up. "Soon," he whispered and left the dream plane.
~***~
He woke up and hurried to his table. He grabbed paper and pen and wrote down everything he knew about his mate from her appearance in the dream to the two near encounters. He also wrote the details of the nightmares he'd had during the summer. All of them were clues. He could feel it. He only needed to put it all together and then he would finally find her. Satisfied with his plan of action, he went back to bed and slept peacefully for the first time in a long time.