“What?Why?” Hana sprang up from the couch, glaring at her.
Leya didn’t know where she needed to be, but it was a good place to start, because the snowy world from her nightmare could only be Dregarus, so, she nodded.
Jaw clenched, he rose. “Let’s go.”
“I’m coming with you.” Hana dashed for the hallway and her room.
“No, it’s dangerous,” Leya croaked, her throat hurting from the tears shed.
“Let her come,” Aerén said, tone flat. “She might as well get used to my world.Iwon’t let anything happen to her.”
While she knew he wouldn’t, his words were like bullets to her heart. The hit direct, even if he hadn’t meant to wound. Hana washisto take care of.
“Dress warmly,” she called out to her vanished sister. “It’s freezing there.
“And you, too,” Aerén ordered, dragging her attention back to him.
Unable to look into those beautiful eyes and see the wreck she’d caused, she rose and retrieved her parka from the stand.
With her back to him, she shut her burning eyes, put on her outerwear, and prayed she could get through this without hurting him further.
* * *
Ten minutes later, bundled in heavy winter wear, they stood in the forest on the Hudson. Aerén opened a portal, and they stepped through…into howling winds and blinding white snow. The bitter cold seeped into the very marrow of Leya’s bones.
“Oh, shit,” Hana groaned, pulling her hoodie over her knitted beanie and moving her scarf over her mouth, her backpack snug against her back. “This is horrendous.”
“Here, hold my hand, I’ll keep you warm.”
Leya’s gaze darted to Aerén, but he was reaching for Hana’s hand. Her sister blinked, then her eyes glowed in gratitude. “Wow. Thank you. I hope this magic inside me will let me do that soon, control my body temperature.”
Leya lowered her gaze and pulled her hoodie over her woolen hat. His other hand appeared in front of her.
She shook her head. “I’m fine.”
He just grabbed hers and tugged her closer. In the soft snow, she stumbled and fell into his hard, warm body, and instantly the bone-numbing chill eased. Then she remembered his hard, naked body gliding over hers… Swallowing hard, she looked up and met his stare which was colder than this realm. Her throat dried out.
“What is this place?” Hana asked, drawing his attention.
“Dregarus, another continent in Empyrea.”
“It’s where Taegér lives,” Leya murmured.
Held so close to him, Leya felt his entire body stiffen. She hadn’t said it to irritate him, and Hana had met Taegér—
The air swirled, and the devil himself took form, a smirk forming on his striking face, his overgrown mohawk fastened in a flat braid. “Empyrean, I see you come bearing gifts. Well, hello again, beautiful Leya, and her taller carbon copy.”
“Darkrean,” Aerén muttered.
Hana scowled, looking like she’d punch Taegér.
Before the punch did land, Leya said, “Taegér, would you help me?”
Aerén remained like a statue carved in ice while holding both their hands and keeping their body heat up.
Taegér’s blue-gold eyes bounced between her and Aerén. “Sure. What’s up?”
“Will you take me around this place?” she asked.
