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My heart fluttered at his words. “You paid attention to me as well?”
“More than you realize. I often onlypretendedto be reading that book while I watched you. I savored being around you. Our Weavings never came soon enough.”
I smiled again, something surprisingly easy to do whenever I was with him.
Darius returned his attention to the sky above. “Stories are a form of magic. Words create worlds and characters that otherwise wouldn’t exist. They transport the listener and make our imaginations come alive. But of all the legends, my favorite is the one about how Pairs came to be. Would you like to hear it?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice enough to speak.
He began. “Everything in the Universe is comprised of magic—it created the first Dreamers and Nightmares before creating the Earth; Dreamers and Nightmares, in turn, use their magic to create dreams, the seasons, and all the magic found on Earth that Mortals enjoy. But after the creation, the Universe noticed that a magical being’s powers alone weren’t enough to sustain all the magic needed to maintain the Universe’s balance; there needed to be a way to increase a magical being’s powers beyond dream construction, something far more powerful.”
As he spoke, Darius traced pictures amongst the stars with his finger. I listened to each word with bated breath, especially focusing on the rhythm of Darius’s voice as the stars above me glistened and came alive as Darius’s legend unfolded.
“The Universe searched for the answer before stumbling upon a great secret: when two magical beings sharing similar power sacrifice all of themselves for one another, that sacrifice creates more magic than can be received in any other way. But such selfless giving could only occur between two magical beings whose hearts match. The Universe searches the hearts of everyone who possesses magic in order to connect them with their perfect match. These are Pairs.”
A reverent stillness settled over us at the conclusion of his story. Darius played with my fingers, stroking his own along my palm, causing heat to pulse up my arm and straight to my heart.
This moment of lying with Darius while bathed in starlight was so perfect. Being with him now, I couldn’t possibly doubt our connection, couldn’t doubt Darius cared for me despite everything I’d done. This moment felt too complete to be anything but the strongest magic in the Universe—the pairing of two hearts into one.
“Mother believes Pairs are dangerous.” My admission felt out of place amongst such tranquility, but as always I ached to confide in Darius, especially this fear that Mother would try to separate us if she truly thought our being together wasn’t in my best interest.
“Someone so selfish can’t understand that the greatest power only comes from sacrifice,” Darius said. “She’s discouraging you from pairing?”
I swallowed the tears clogging my throat and nodded. “She says she’ll never allow it. But she can’t stop it, can she?”
“No, but I fear what she’ll do in order to try.” He frowned, his expression grave. “My own mother knows what I feel towards you. At first I thought she approved and that’s why she didn’t punish you for destroying half the Dream Cultivating Fields, but I was wrong. She doesn’t like how close we’re becoming.”
My hand instinctively tightened around his, as if the act could keep me from losing him. His hand squeezed mine in return.
“Mother says you’re dangerous,” he continued. “I think she fears what will happen should I involve myself with you.”
My stomach clenched. “Perhaps she’s right, for so much of me is still darkness.”
He rolled over to float on his side in order to face me and I did the same. “You’re in a period of night. Even if the day never comes, I won’t lose you again. It would destroy me.”
He lifted our clasped hands and pressed them against his heart. I savored the feeling of his heartbeat, relished the soft way he looked at me. With each beat against my fingertips, I felt myself draw closer to him.
“Even if no one believes our connection or wants us to remain together, they can’t feel the way we feel. Thus they can never sever us, no matter the sacrifice.”
I closed my eyes, allowing his words to bathe me and soothe my fears. “And what do we feel, Darius?”
“This.”
He wrapped his arms securely around my waist. A jolt of warmth seeped over me at his touch and a shiver rippled up my spine as his fingers caressed the base of my back. I instinctively leaned closer, nestling deeper into his embrace to mold myself against him.
His nearness made it a struggle to form a coherent thought. I could scarcely breathe, let alone speak. “There are no words for what I’m feeling. All I know is that I need you.”
“As I need you.” He caressed my face, his soft touch tracing around the stars outlining my cheeks. My heart pounded. He was so near, and it was wonderful.
“Darius?” I asked hesitantly. “If Iama Dreamer and you’re a Nightmare...can we still be together?”
He cradled my face. “I won’t let anything keep us apart, so most definitely yes.” He brushed a kiss on my forehead before enfolding me back in his arms. I snuggled even closer to lay my head in the crook of his arm. In this position we stayed, him stroking my hair, my hand resting on his beating heart.
He believed in me...allowing me to begin to believe more fully in myself. This tender belief once more ignited the hope filling me, another star that Darius had helped illuminate in what had previously felt like nothing but a dark, starless night. I made a secret wish on this star...and determined to do all in my power to see it fulfilled.
Chapter 25
Istayed out late with Darius, and longed to stay out with him forever, a place where there was no more fear, only peace. Being with him allowed the old Eden to stir from her deep slumber and gave me hope that one day she’d not only awaken but be able to fully return.
