I’d never felt such a powerful force connecting me to another person. If that wasn’t proof enough, my dragon soul simmered contentedly right beneath the surface of my skin. There wasn’t a single doubt in my mind that Poppy was my fated mate. Every fiber of my being wanted him forever, in every way a person could be wanted.
“You... love me?” Poppy whispered, as if he couldn’t believe my confession. I didn’t blame him. He’d been through so much. He’d been hurt so badly. I wanted to take all the pain away from him.
I grasped his face gingerly, like I was handling a fragile baby bird.
“I love you, Poppy. Forever.”
Poppy stared at me in silence for a couple seconds before tears trickled out of his eyes. He didn’t sob or wail. Instead his mouth curled into a beaming smile. It was the happiest expression I’d ever seen on his face.
“Violet,” he said in a hushed tone. “I... I love you. I love you, too!”
A whimper wokeme from my dream.
I sat upright, instantly alert. The room was pitch-black, and aside from the small sound, totally silent. It took me a second to remember where I was, what was going on.
I’d been sleeping on the floor.
Because Poppy was in my room, sleeping in my bed.
My gaze snapped to him. He was tucked beneath the covers, facing away from me, and...
Whining?
For a few beats, I didn’t move. Just listened. Was he in pain? Did he need my help?
Poppy let out a soft hiss, then grunted.
My brow furrowed in concern. I grabbed the edge of my blanket, ready to tear it off and run to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom to soothe whatever ailed him.
The covers rustled as Poppy curled in on himself. Every little sound out of his mouth only worried me more. I couldn’t wait any longer. I stood up and treaded quietly to the opposite side of the bed, troubled by the idea of Poppy’s suffering. I hoped that whatever ailed him, it wasn’t too hard to fix.
Poppy’s eyes were clenched shut, and his mouth was slightly open. His cheeks were flushed and stray white hairs clung to his damp temple.
Shit. Does he have a fever?
I pressed the back of my hand against his forehead. He was warm and a bit sweaty, sure, but not feverish...
Then Poppy moaned.
The sound electrified me. It shot straight down my spine, sizzling into my core like a brand upon my guts.
I stood there with my mouth agape. Staring down at him, I tried to decipher exactly whatkindof moan that was. It didn’t sound like one of pain...
Which meant—
“Violet...”
My eyes snapped wide open in shock as Poppy whimpered that soft word.
Not just any word. My name.
What kind of dream is he having?I thought as heat slowly crept across my skin.
Suddenly guilty for eavesdropping on what was clearly a private moment, I began to step back. I couldn’t stay in the room while Poppy was havingthatkind of dream. I’d just slip out of the room, take a walk in the cold night air to clear my head, then sneak back in later.
But as I turned to leave, Poppy grasped my wrist.
My heart raced.
