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D eep purple clouds pillowed beneath Pandora and I as the vast galaxy of my dreamscape stretched infinitely around us. The stars shimmered like distant promises.

Promises of our future seemed distant right now, but they were promises. I wanted to show Pandora all of the promises I wanted to make to her for our future.

I took her to a secluded spot in my dreamscape, woven entirely from my hope for our shared future. I had the ability to craft a vision of what our future could look like in the months to come—what it would be, once we defeated the cult and carved out a life for ourselves beyond fear and pain.

“I want to show you something,” I murmured, my arms wrapping around her waist as I settled behind her. Her caramel scent embedded into my senses, and I inhaled deeply as my magic sparked to life around us.

“Show me,” she rasped.

We still had to fight Sybil Shaw, but tonight, I wanted to look forward with my mate. To show Pandora what I dreamed of for us.

With that thought, the scenery shifted around us. The soft sands of a private beach stretched before us, waves rolling against the shore under an ominous, storm-streaked sky. Thunder rumbled, a familiar sound that spoke of renewal rather than destruction.

Pandora loved storms, but I loved her.

The estate Mom left me materialized in the distance—but it wasn’t mine anymore. It was Pandora’s. I had no need for it, not without her and not without them—our family.

Within its walls, I envisioned the love of shared meals, the echo of laughter, the simple joy of our existence untainted by Dark Veil.

I let it roll out of me: Hunter, Skel, Dex, Bram, Pandora, and myself.

Pandora turned to me, her red gaze searching mine. “This is everything I’ve ever wanted.”

I reached for her hand, threading our fingers together. “This is what I want for us,” I said softly. “A life where we’re not just surviving or fighting, but actually living . Where you don’t have to look over your shoulder, and we don’t have to be on edge all of the time.”

She exhaled, her body relaxing into me. I pulled her closer as the storm crackled overhead. “It’s perfect,” she murmured, leaning her head against my chest. “I want this too.”

The dreamscape responded to her words, solidifying around us.

I knew this was only a dream, a hope crafted from the depths of my mind, but it meant something—it was proof that we could see a future. That we could believe in one.

Tilting her chin up, I looked into her gaze. “No matter what happens, I’ll be here. In your dreams, in your reality. I’ll always be with you.”

Love barreled through our matebond, making my chest ache in the best way. “And I’ll keep fighting for this future, for us .”

I dipped my head and kissed her as the storm raged on around us.

The past had been cruel to all of us, but the future? The future could be kind—and it would be ours .