CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Selena
The familiar tropical paradise of my dreamscape surrounded me.
Bright yellow sun. Bright blue sky. Vibrant and colorful plant life. The sound of the lilac waves crashing onto the white sand beach below my villa. The sea breeze blew my silver hair across my face as I sat on the porch railing, hugging my legs.
I felt two strong essences appear beside me.
“Selena?” V’dim asked in shock.
“Is this what I think it is?”
I smiled, delighted to share my dreamscape with someone else. I gestured expansively, encompassing the entire island.
“Welcome to my dreamscape. I’m assuming this isn’t normal, and something went wrong when you entered my memories.”
I turned to face them.
They were looking at their surroundings, their faces a mixture of awe and disbelief.
I gave them a few moments to absorb everything, then repeated, “So, what happened?”
Z’fir stepped up beside me and leaned over the railing, looking at the island spread out below. “One moment we were searching through your memories, the next we woke up here.”
I looked down at my feet and wiggled my toes as I wondered what exactly they’d seen. Somehow, having the princes in my dreamscape seemed more intimate than allowing them into my mind though I wasn’t sure why.
Peering up at them, I finally asked, “So, what did you see?”
Z’fir turned and set his back against the railing, glancing at V’dim. “We saw everything.”
“Some horrible things. Some things I wish I could unsee. Little good. I feel traumatized just witnessing it.” V’dim sighed. “Selena, how did you survive everything we witnessed? And how are you able to lock it away so completely, to remain such a compassionate and kind person?”
I gave him a sad smile. “This place. Every night I came here to escape. It was my one respite from the monotony and cruelty of my daily life. I don’t think I would have survived at all without it.”
I looked around my island, allowing the serenity of the scene to leech away the pain his words dredged up.
“Do you know what this is, Selena? This place?”
“No. I just assumed it was something everyone did. A free place everyone had to escape to.”
V’dim glanced at Z’fir, who responded, “No. It is a rare ability, and it only manifests in those with strong psi gifts.” Meeting my gaze, Z’fir kept his tone gentle as he continued, “Selena, it is a mental construct that shields your mind from others. Usually, it only manifests under great stress—your situation certainly qualified—and even then, only sometimes.”
I looked away from him, back to my island view.
“If you’re asking why I brought you here, I don’t know. Idon’t even knowhowI did. I wouldn’t even have considered it possible.”
Something cool gripped my ankle, grabbing my attention. I looked down to see V’dim’s hand cupping my ankle gently. “We know, Selena. It is our fault for not being prepared. Xylo had told us you had a strong shielding ability, but it just did not occur to us you had the mental strength to create a dreamscape. Nor to pull us in with you. Both Z’fir and I have witnessed how unique your bond is with both Odelm and Xylo. It is as if your shields spread to them across the threads of your bonds. Xylo told us he no longer needed to maintain his shields around most people.”
“I wonder how it would feel not to need to keep my mental shields up all the time,” Z’fir murmured, almost to himself.
We fell into a comfortable silence, simply enjoying the beautiful scenery.
The warmth of the sun on my body felt nice as the brisk wind tickled my skin. The sounds of the waves on the beach and the chatter of the birds brought me peace.
V’dim sighed. “I am envious of this place.”
Z’fir grunted in response. “It makes me miss our home planet, and yearn all the more to find a new planet to call our own.”
