He was here. As he’d promised, Aidan came for me. Just days after the ordeal in Cresthaven, we met in our forest, in the dreamscape that had kept me sane and unknowingly connected me to him while we were apart.
I had so many questions, but right now, all I could do was feel. Our magic twirled and tugged at each other playfully, and the relief of our bodies and souls being together again was more than I expected — almost more than my body could take. I had been fighting the Keeper for so long, it was all I could do to stay upright.
He smelled of citrus and woods, like always. I tucked my head under his chin, remaining quiet. I wanted the confirmation of his heart beating under my ear. I needed to hear it and feel the light thump, thump under my cheek to know this was real. He was real. I worried I had concocted this fantasy in a desperate attempt to hide from the Keeper.
When Aidan exhaled, I felt my hair lift and then float back down. The deflation in his chest created more room between us than I wanted, so I pulled him tighter to me. His hands traced up my back to grip my shoulders. He pushed me away from him slightly, then tipped my chin toward his face to look in my eyes.
“Hey, there, doll.” His voice was barely a whisper. His fingertips moved from my chin so his hand could cup my cheek. I leaned into him for a brief second, closing my eyes. I still hadn’t spoken. I didn’t trust words right now. I didn’t trust anything but the power racing between us and the tingling sensations igniting where our skin touched.
I should have been explaining. We should have been figuring out a plan. I couldn’t do any of that right now. I opened my eyes, wrapped my hands around Aidan’s neck, and pulled him down to me. His eyes widened and passion overtook his hesitation. He pulled me closer as our lips slanted across each other. The kiss began gently, an exploration of a person you knew so well, but who still felt unfamiliar. It was a confirmation that this was indeed where we should be. So much had happened in such a short time. We could have become different people and this shared moment could have been awkward and strange, but it wasn’t.
It quickly grew more heated as the fears of the past few weeks bubbled to the surface. The realization that we were here, alive and together, stoked a fire inside us. Our connection was strong, our thoughts and emotions unfiltered and shared. As soon as I needed to be closer, Aidan lifted me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist and threaded my fingers through his hair as ​his tongue swept inside my mouth. He pulled away to trail kisses along my neck. I arched my back and leaned away to give him better access. I didn’t want him to stop. I didn’t want to leave this place. “I want to stay here forever,” I murmured as he continued.
Abruptly, Aidan pulled back. His hair pointed in all directions and his breathing was ragged, but compassion filled his eyes. “You know we can’t stay here forever, Amelia,” he said softly as he touched his forehead to mine. “This is everything I’ve wanted, but there’s more at stake here than just us.”
I released my ankles and slid down his body. As I stepped back, Aidan grasped my hand, maintaining our connection. I felt stronger for having it, but I already missed his closeness.
“Amelia, talk to me,” he said, pleading and demanding all at once in the way only Aidan could. I couldn’t refuse him.
“I remember the last few days like they were a dream,” I started. “More like a nightmare, really. A place I’ve been that seemed too real at the time but so far away now.” I paused and looked out into the trees.
“Look at me.” This time, it was a demand.
I turned and his blazing blue eyes caught me off guard. “I will protect you, Amelia. I will stop it from hurting you.”