“I did,” I confirmed, inhaling her caramel scent. “It’s a fantasy romance, and it’s spicy.”
She smiled brightly, excitement thrumming down our bond. “I can’t wait to read it with you.”
“I bought two copies so we could read at our own pace,” I added softly.
“I love you.” She leaned in and kissed me. Her soft lips against mine had me stifling a moan.
A sharp throat clearing had us sheepishly pull apart and look over at Respa. “Are you two finished?”
Pandora turned red as I nodded.
“Sorry,” we both said simultaneously.
Nebula’s disembodied laugh sounded from Pandora’s bag, merging with Jenni’s giggle.
“Don’t let it happen again.” Respa sighed and continued her lecture. “Manipulating a life-threatening situation is one thing, but anything else is unethical...”
* * *
“It lookssogood.” Pandora flipped the book to the cover after reading the summary on the back. “I’m so excited about this.”
“I thought you’d like it,” I murmured, smiling so hard my cheeks ached.
“Of course she does,” Dex said, flopping onto the bed next to us from out of the shadows. “You have the same taste in books.”
“How long have you been there?” Pandora giggled, setting the book on the nightstand and kissing his lips softly before pulling back.
“I’ve been watching you both for a while now,” he admitted.
“You don’t have to do that,” I told him, placing my book on top of Pandora’s. “Staying away, I mean. You should just join us.”
“I don’t want to hog all of Pandora’s time,” he explained, glancing down at his hands.
Pandora laced her fingers through his. “Hog my time? You’re my mate.”
“She’s right,” I said, backing her up. “In fact, I was wondering if you wanted to go with Pandora and I into my dreamscape to help her practice with her shadow and getting used to it.”
“Really?” His lips curled into a smirk. “That’s actually smart as fuck, Reed. Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Because you don’t have access to a dreamscape.” I chuckled. “What do you think, dream girl?”
“I think it’s a great idea.” She smiled, grabbing my hand and tugging us both down on the bed to lie beside her. “It’ll be good to explore the shadow tendril without being in actual danger. Do your thing, Reed.”
Dream magic oscillated around us as I pulled the three of us into my dreamscape, rendering us asleep. Purple clouds were underfoot as a galaxy surrounded us.
Dex’s eyes widened. “Fuck, Reed. This is the coolest thing ever.”
“Isn’t it?” Pandora gazed up at the constellations with the same expression of awe she always had here.
Fates, I loved her so much.
“Thank you.” Warmth spread through my chest at seeing how entranced they were by my magic. I turned to Pandora, gently squeezing her hand before letting go and giving her some space. “Take your time here, okay? You’re safe. No pressure.”
She nodded, her lips curling up slightly at the corners as Dex stepped in front of her, gently grabbing her wrist and holding her hand, palm up. “Okay, trouble,” he prompted, gently gliding his index finger over his mark. “How do you feel?”
She trembled from the contact. “Confident having both you and Reed here.”
“Good. Try coaxing the smallest wisp of shadow out of my mark.” He paused in the center of the black swirl. “Here. Just something tiny. I’ll guide you if you need it.”
