Page 14 of A Trial of Two Worlds
“How did I find you, Dax?” I whispered between our kisses. “Here, of all places?”
“Why do you keep questioning magic and the limits of our bond?” Daxton answered with a hint of amusement. “You mentioned that you dreamed of the hanging valley in Silver Meadows.”
“Yes,” I breathed.
“In my darkest times, I dreamed of this beach. Over the past twenty years, or whenever I was at my lowest, I dreamt of this place, and it brought me comfort.”
“My beach?” I questioned.
He gave me a half-smile that had me curling my toes. “Why do you think I wandered there during my first days in Solace? I had been dreaming about it for years. So, naturally, I had to see it with my own eyes, and then, I found a… book.”
I grinned, remembering this all too well.
“And then,” he continued.
“And then I showed up to retrieve it.”
“And the reason for these dreams became crystal clear.”
I threaded my fingers through his midnight silver-streaked hair, my eyes scanning over the face I treasured most in this world, memorizing every last detail I could.
“Skylar.” Daxton sighed as he lowered his brow to mine. “I can’t stay much longer.”
“I know,” I answered, not allowing my disappointment in his deception to taint these precious moments in our dream world. It could wait. For now, there was only us. “Will I see you again in our dreams? Here or in the hanging valley?”
“I’m not sure,” Daxton answered.
I moved to straddle him in the sand, looking deep into his eyes that reflected his eternal devotion and immovable strength.
“Have you crossed the veil yet?”
“No, we’re about to.”
“I see.” His lips pressed into a thin line, but he wouldn’t dare confirm the dread pooling in my stomach.
I could see the answer written on his face. He doubted we could find each other in our dreams like this once I passed through the veil.
“I will find you,” I whispered, kissing his cheek.
Daxton smiled as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, gazing at me with a depth of love and devotion you only read about in fairytales.
“We will always find each other,” he answered as Ikissed him.
Chapter Six
Skylar Cathal
I contemplated not waking up.
For a fraction of a second, I allowed myself to imagine staying there. But dreams are not reality. It was not in my nature to give up and surrender, no matter how tempting the latter might be.
The wooden panels above my head flickered with the rays of the morning sun through the window in the door. I turned on my side in the soft covers, adjusting my gaze to the light. I’d slept through the night for the first time in two days, and Gods above, I needed it.
“Ready yourselves for the crossing!” Fjorda’s voice echoed, as rough as sea-salt winds.
Flinging the covers back, I quickly slipped into my boots. My dark gray pants paired with a white long-sleeve tunic were perfect for the sailing conditions. Before leaving, Gunnar almost convinced me that slaying the basilisk had earned me a second peak, but I couldn’t accept it. To counter, I told him I’d consider it when I returned with the dagger, earning a true victory.
As I opened the door to my quarters, the morning sun’s rays decorated the horizon in a magnanimous display. The glorious pink and yellow kisses of color wereblessed by the Mother herself and danced across the distant lands of the Inner Kingdom.
