Chapter 41

When I next open my eyes, I’m half unsurprised to see that it’s the golden–leafed birch forest.

I groan a little, covering my face with my hands even as excitement runs through me. Because – I mean – I’m only here because I want to be, right? The dream state only appears if you call for it, call for your mate to meet you here.

Right! My wolf shouts. He’s coming too!

“Oh no oh no,” I murmur, dragging my hands down my face and looking around for him. I mean, it’s all getting very real now-

Luca is clearly figuring out that something is up with these dreams

And the way he put his hand on my calf tonight? And subtly mentioned dreams, watching me as he did?

God damn it, but we are getting into some tricky territory.

“Hello?” his voice rings through the forest. “Shrimp, are you here?”

My wolf gives several happy yips of excitement as I put my hands on my hips, looking down at my nightgown, my hair falling over my shoulders.

You can end it if you want toooo, my wolf says, her voice sing–song. But you don’t

want too00.

“God damn it,” I growl to myself, but when I lift my head I’m laughing a little too.

Because I really, really do not want to end this dream.

And so instead I will my clothes to change, my nightgown shifting into the black pants and top of an Academy cadet, my hair tucking itself away under the standard black cap – which is optional for cadets, but which I will never be without.

And then I step out from behind my tree and into the clearing. “Over here, Grant,” I shout, my voice a little tired.

I see him immediately as he spins around, his eyes catching on me at once in the clearing. He smirks as he starts to walk over to me. “What is this place,” he says, and I can tell he’s a little bit thrilled to be here too, which makes me smile. My

I mean, at least he’s happy to see me. “I never, ever have a dream about the same person in the same location.”

him look all around at the beautiful trees, the strange ambient lighting that seems to have no source, the fog that floats around at the edges and by our feet.

like, on Mars or in the Roman Empire –” he stops suddenly and turns his face back to mine. “Nicely done, Shrimp. Maybe you’ll make a good little spy

wrinkle my nose at him,

“Is there anything to do here? Or do

I say with a sigh, looking up into his gorgeous face, “so, we can’t

his warm eyes, tightening my arms around each other so

I can think of something,” Luca murmurs, taking another step

gasp, flinching

“Seriously, Shrimp – you’re a figment of my imagination –

him, glaring a little. “I’m not playing, Luca – I just genuinely think

a bad idea!?” he laughs at me again and reaches out both hands. this time, placing them on my upper arms, his fingers wrapping around the back and slowly sliding down

in the air – the embodiment of the…whatever it is between us that happens when we touch. “What if it’s not an experiment?”

not be?” he murmurs, pulling me a little

68

Chapter 41

resist. I can smell him, and the closeness of

damn much, and I’m weak with wanting him,

looking up at him with wide eyes as one of his arms slips around

until I’m pressed warmly to his chest, my head. bending back on my neck so that I can look up at

hands unclench, one pressing flat against the soft cotton of his hoodie, the other finding its way to a spot on his waist, my fingers curling into the fabric there.

god damn cousins,” he murmurs, smirking down at me, his hand brushing again over my cap like it did this afternoon after I’d entered the doors to the academy, though this time his palm drifts down the back of my neck, making me shiver. “How to like,

“and what the hell were going to do

get

you

ridiculousness of it himself. “I have no idea, Ari – I just can’t stop thinking about you – wanting to touch you,

roiling through

impossibility of our connection too least

but at

my eyes, pulling

I only get you in this weird dream, at least let me try to figure this out —“

68%

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