“I love that you love to snuggle. You’re so full of surprises, Cerian. Delightful ones.”
“I like to snuggle with you.”
They sit and talk as the train stops, happily ignoring it.
“Do you feel like we’re doing something rebellious?” Arisanna asks.
The idea of her as a rebel almost makes him laugh.
“It’s just a train in a dream. Our dream.”
“Our magical dream.”
A loud whistle interrupts their conversation, and Cerian frowns.
“I think it wants us to get off,” Arisanna whispers, her smile fading.
“Perhaps.”
“Do you think Rominy and Elowyn’s heartlanding is like this?”
“I have no idea. Only that it’s probably on the water.”
“And one of them died.” Arisanna sits up, clearly disturbed by that thought as she curls against his chest, and he wraps his arms around her.
“Or both of them died.”
“Would that be better? I can’t decide.”
Cerian looks at her. “I certainly don’t want to live without you.”
“True. Perhaps it would be better. Though I think it would be best not to die at all.”
Cerian can’t argue with that, so he says nothing.
The train whistles again.
“I definitely think it wants us to get off.” Arisanna snuggles closer, and he sends some of his heat to her. It’s becoming a habit at this point.
“It does seem to be trying to tell us something.”
“Do you think we—”
Before she can finish, the train vanishes around them, and Cerian lands with athudon the forest floor as Arisanna slams against his chest.
For a moment, neither of them says anything while he holds her close and she grips his shirt.
“I guess we’re getting off the train,” Arisanna whispers.
“That seems to be the case.”
He doesn’t loosen his hold on her as they sit up and look around. But it’s just their forest with the lake.
“What now?” Arisanna asks.
“I don’t know.”
“Cerian, look.”
