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“We haven’t been able to communicate telepathically since she was the key keeper,” he said.
Luc felt both of their eyes on him.
He looked at Nix and thought about his brother and Auri, the connection between them, the way Nix had described it like a tether, and Luc’s chest compressed with the immutable truth. One he couldn’t deny any longer. He was fucking god-yoked. To Brinna Fareview.
23
“Brinna!” Lucian’s voice grabbed hold of her, tugging her back into the dreamscape. It was so far away, but still she rushed from the cottage out into the woods, which had somehow grown denser.
“Brinna!”
She could hear his panic as he yelled. The trees squeezed in around her, and though a dream in the woods, she had the impression that the trees and bushes were about to swallow her whole. The woods, she realized, a reflection of what was going on in his subconscious.
“Brinna?” He sounded strange. “Where are you?”
“I’m here,” she said, and the trees relaxed, easing back to create a path, opening between where she stood and where he was a few steps away. She could feel his deep breath, experiencing his relief like swimming in the River Grimz on a hot day. “You’re late.”
He rushed toward her. “I am. I’m sorry.”
“I thought… I thought you weren’t coming back.”
He didn’t stop, walking right up and wrapping his arms tightly around her. Stars, it felt so good, warm, right—grounding. When he curled around her, nestling his nose into the crook of her neck, she responded by pulling him closer. The sensation of his body was as tangible as anything real.
“Are you okay?” she asked and could hear the woods closing in around them.
“I took a sleeping draft. To get to you. Are you alright?” he asked but didn’t withdraw, keeping hold of her as if she was an anchor in the storm.
She hummed an affirmative, but she could hear the strain in her own tone.
Lucian drew back, his eyes searching her face. “What is it?”
“It’s too much. Being here. Seeing their dreams. I can’t help them.” The gray of the deep sleep rose, trying to grab hold of her again. Lucian, the woods, the light retreated for a split second.
“Brinna?” he said. “What’s going on?” He squeezed her tighter as if he’d seen that great gray beyond.
“They’re all having nightmares. My family.” Brinna looked up. “Unless you’re here—it feels like a nightmare. I don’t know what to do.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I was afraid…”
Lucian cupped her face between his palms and swiped at her tears with his thumbs. “Of what?”
She tilted her head, releasing his gaze. “That you weren’t coming back.”
The woods melted to reveal Sol. They were in the atrium, just as the last time they’d dreamed together, the dream they’d kissed. Golden lanterns hung around them, torches sputtering as the water trickled.
Lucian’s gaze dipped to her lips, his thumbs settling against the corners of her mouth. “I was afraid you’d think that, but I will always come for you.”
“Where were you?”
“With Nix. Looking for answers.”
“Did you find any?” she asked.
He blanched, his eyes flicking away.
“What is it?”
“Not yet.” He shook his head, the light in his eyes dimming. Then he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her cheek as if he too needed grounding. “Just let me be here with you, first.”
She could feel the texture of his lips, the warmth of his breath on her skin. Her breath caught. “Luc?” she whispered.
