“Good. Because I’ve been feeling this odd need to be near you, and I don’t want to be the only clingy one.”
She laughs again. “That’s probably the heartbinding. It’s supposed to do that.”
“Make us want to be together all the time?” He frowns, and she shrugs.
“Mother says it will help us see each other more clearly. All the reasons to...to fall in love.”
“She didn’t share that part before I bound my heart to you.”
“Do you regret it?”
He shakes his head and looks away, his nervousness returning and twisting something in her heart. It’s...endearing.
“I don’t regret it,” he says quietly.
Relief fills her. “Neither do I.”
“So...are you ready for the most awkward night’s sleep of your life?”
Smiling, she rises to her feet and shrugs. “As long as we’re awkward together.”
Rominystaresattheshadowy ceiling as the train clacks along beneath them where they lie side by side on the bed.
Did he really think he’d be able to sleep with her beside him? What if he snores? What if he kicks her in his sleep or steals all the blankets?
“This is awkward,” she whispers.
And he laughs. “It is. So awkward.”
She rolls to her side to face him. “Where do you think the heartlanding will take us tonight?”
“I’m going to guess...a boat. In the middle of the ocean.”
“Seems reasonable.”
He nearly laughs again at the feigned seriousness of her voice. “Hopefully, there won’t be a storm this time.”
“Or a dragon?” she teases.
“Definitely not a dragon.” The memory of his painful death makes him shudder.
“I’ve always thought it would be fun to have a dragon for a pet.”
“Fun? Really? Sounds terrifying to me.”
“Well, a nice dragon that doesn’t kill people for saying hello.”
“Maybe they’re all mean.”
“I refuse to believe that.”
Of course she does.
They continue talking about anything and everything until they’re both yawning. Then Elowyn rolls over, her back to him. “Goodnight, Rominy. See you soon.”
“Goodnight,” he murmurs as he struggles to keep his eyes open.
What feels like moments later, light shines behind his eyelids. They stopped moving. There’s no train motion. No rocking of a boat. Is this real life or the heartlanding?
