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.”

lighting that seems to have no source, the fog that floats around

Empire –” he stops suddenly and turns his face back to mine.

nose at him, unable

there anything to do here? Or

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

stare into his warm eyes, tightening my arms around each other so

taking another step closer and reaching out a hand towards

I gasp,

closing the distance. “Seriously, Shrimp – you’re a figment of my

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

time, placing them on my upper arms, his fingers wrapping around the back and slowly sliding down towards my elbows. “Honestly, it’s just an experiment – I have got to figure out what this bizarre attraction

quietly, my stomach filled suddenly with butterflies as those sparkles suddenly appear in the air – the

murmurs, pulling me a little closer – and,

68

Chapter 41

hard to resist. I can smell him, and the closeness of him, the

weak with wanting him, being the only one putting

myself lean into him just a little bit, looking up at him with wide eyes as one of his arms slips around my back. “What if it’s not a dream? What

his arms around me until I’m pressed warmly to his chest, my head. bending

my 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. And I can’t help it, I give in. “What were you thinking about

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

shaking my head, “and

get

you

no idea, Ari – I just can’t stop thinking about you – wanting to

exhale, guilt roiling through me

mean, I’m tortured by the impossibility of our connection too least

but at

my head and dropping my eyes, pulling away a little. “This

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

68%

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255