His eyes glistened as they stared at each other in quiet disbelief.
“It feels so real,” Evelina breathed. “You can’t be real.”
“If it can’t be real,” he murmured, “then dream with me, Eve.”
She buried her nose in the side of his neck, breathing him in.
“Evelina,” he sighed against her, peppering the top of her head with kisses.
She looked up at him, her eyes wide and filled with tears.
He dropped his forehead to hers. Her pulse began to race and panic clawed its way up her throat. She had done it so long without him—had learned to be okay sitting in her constant pain. So much so that she had forgotten what it felt like to not feel it.
But now he was here, even if only in her dreams. She could still touch him, still hear his voice. It cracked her chest wide open, breaking down the walls she had built and exposing her bleeding heart.
“I’m scared we’re going to wake up.” Her voice broke. “You’rehere.How can I go back to my life without you?”
He sighed and shook his head. “I’ll always be with you, Eve.” He placed his hand over her heart. “Always.”
She shuddered beneath his touch. She had forgotten what it felt like to be loved in this way, to be loved so completely and without restraint. There was so much she didn’t realize had faded from her memories through the years: the feel of his skin against hers, the smell of cedar and frost that clung to him, and even the way he looked at her—with unbridled love.
A slow smile spread across his face as he lowered his mouth to meet hers. He pressed a gentle kiss against her lips and her legs nearly gave out.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her so close she could hardly breathe. He walked them across the room, murmuring praise into her ear the entire way.
She felt something solid press against her back. Finally, she collected herself enough to pull back and look at him. His eyes were desperate—the sight of it matched the painful ache she felt in her heart.
She realized she was against the Mother Tree, the bark snagging her dress. The fire blazed behind Daimon, though his face was cast in shadow, dark enough that she could hardly see him. Her hands slid over his shoulders, pulling him closer.
“I think I’ve forgotten what it feels like to be held by you.” She stared at him, desperate to drink him in.
They were both different now. She had become the queen of Penyth, and he was the king of the dead. They weren’t the same as they were during the war. She was no longer a healer convinced she could save everyone, and he wasn’t a soldier spending his days flying with his wyvern.
She was younger then, more fragile. They both had lost a piece of themselves when she became queen and he surrendered himself to Vidaris. But they did it to save their realm.
She didn’t want to be reminded of that night, of that pain. She just wanted him.
“How are we here?” she whispered against his lips. She leaned back and cupped his cheeks, her eyes bouncing between his.
Year-round, she played the role of the perfect queen. But tonight, she allowed herself to be a woman again, to feel need and desire—to want what she wanted without needing to think of the kingdom.
“Show me that this is real,” she pleaded.
His mouth pressed against hers, causing heat to pool low in her stomach. She met every slow, torturous kiss until it became something more—something needy. She kissed him faster, as if he was going to slip through her fingers at any moment.
His hand slid to her thigh and he began to bunch the fabric of her gown. She reached down to help him pull it off, wanting him to move faster, but Daimon broke off the kiss, grabbing both her hands. He pinned them above her head, her wrists digging into the bark. She leaned forward to kiss him again, but he held her firmly against the tree.
“Stay still and leave your hands there,” he said as he held her gaze.
Her breath caught.
He released his grip on her wrists and continued to slowly peel off her dress, taking his time as he pulled it over her hips, her waist. He didn’t stop kissing her until he had to, and the moment the dress was off entirely, he brought his lips to hers again.
He stepped back and watched her with a primal gleam in his eyes. She squirmed beneath his gaze as she stood naked before him.
“As beautiful as the day I last saw you,” he whispered.
She started to lower her arms from where she still held them above her head, but the moment she moved, something wrapped around her wrists.
