“That line is so cliché. ‘What are you wearing?’” She mimics my deep voice, and I can’t help but smile at her playful attempt. “You can get more creative than that.”
“I don’t know. I’ve read some pretty cringy andclichélines in some of those romance books you like. I mean, where do some of these guys get off with their alpha male bullshit?” I think ofthe entire shelf she has dedicated to taboo romances. I know because I might’ve borrowed one or two. For science, of course.
“I happen to think it’s hot,” Leigh retorts, her voice sultry. “You can tell me to get on my knees and take it like a good fucking girl anytime you want.”
“Promise?”
Leigh laughs. “Cross my heart.”
We continue our playful banter, and my worries melt away faster than butter in a hot skillet, but fatigue tugs at the edges of my consciousness. If it meant I could talk to Leigh longer, I’d tape my eyes open, but sleep is falling over me like a weighted blanket.
“Wilder,” Leigh’s dream-like voice drifts through the phone. “Are you awake?”
“Yeah . . .” I mumble, fighting to stay present.
The next thing I know, I’m on the rooftop of the Aurora garrison. As I gaze up at the vast expanse of the star-studded sky, the cool night air caresses my skin. The February moon is full. It seems close enough to reach out and touch.
The distant hum of the city below drowns out by my heart’s slow, rhythmic beating. This rooftop has always been my sanctuary after grueling days on the field, where I can lose myself in the vastness of the cosmos and remember that my troubles, like how to keep the Nebula and Epsilon from tearing each other apart, are fleeting in the universe’s grand scheme.
The soft rustle of fabric draws my attention, and I see Leigh approaching. She is an ethereal vision in a flowing gown that waltzes in the gentle breeze.
My heart twists. A dream, then.
Her beauty steals my breath away. It still amazes me that she’s mine.
But as she settles beside me, a flicker of uncertainty gnaws at the edges of my mind. If the day ever comes when I’m forced tolet her go, I know it will shatter me. Having just found her, the thought of losing her is unbearable. I silently vow to fight tooth and nail to keep her by my side—propriety be damned. Queens marry for love sometimes, don’t they?
“Are you hiding from me or your troubles?” Leigh asks softly. Her violet scent envelopes me like a soothing balm. “Where are we?”
“Aurora,” I reply.“I’m not hiding. I’m . . . contemplating.”
“How to rule the world?” she teases.
“More like my role in it.”
Leigh sighs. “Sounds fun. Can I join?”
“It’s not a party without you.”
Her smile widens. “You sound like Gianna.” Leigh tilts her head back and releases a soft gasp. “Do the stars always burn this brightly in Aurora?”
“Always. Less light pollution means we get this killer view.”
Her exhale is reverent. “Wow.” She hugs her knees to her chest. “No wonder you like it here so much. It’s breathtaking.”
I roll onto my side, propping myself on an elbow to study her. “Is that jealousy I detect, princess?”
“I feel like I’m keeping you away from your one true love,” she chides with a hint of melancholy. “Aurora is beautiful. I can see why it means so much to you.”
A soft chuckle escapes me as I flop onto my back once more. “I love it here, but Aurora no longer loves me back.”
In this dream-like realm, my words flow freely. Here, with Dream Leigh, I can bear my soul without the risk of shattering my heart. Free from the pressures of reality, we can simply be ourselves, two souls intertwined in a moment of perfect understanding.
I thread my fingers through her silken locks and draw her face closer. Our lips meet, and her soft sigh has me tightening my grip. If only we could freeze this moment. Here, I could holdher forever, shielding her from the cruel realities that await us beyond the veil of dreams.
As we part, the words tumble from my lips. “I love you.”
Leigh’s smile is radiant. “Do you mean that, or is this part of your dream?”
