Page 83 of First Snow

“Hmm, delicious,” Jareth purrs.

Arttu shudders.

“I dreamt of this.” Arttu’s voice sounds choked.

“Pardon?”

“I dreamt of you. About this.”

The kitchen is warm and cozy, filled with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the dough of thekorvapuustiArttu is preparing, but Jareth’s chest fills with dread. Dreams are important in his world. They can show what will be. They havepower.

“What did you dream about? When?”

He needs to know. Arttu has shown no signs of planning to leave him, their relationship is good. Oh, who is Jareth trying to fool? It’s perfect. Arttu is perfect. That’s what’s scaring him.

The seconds tick by, but Arttu doesn’t answer.

“Sweetheart?”

Jareth senses a blush creeping over Arttu’s cheeks.

“Umm…this is embarrassing.”

“Tell me,” Jareth rumbles, lacing the words with just enough magic that Arttu can feel it.

Glaring over his shoulder, Arttu shakes the thrall off.

“Okay, but promise you won’t laugh.”

“Never.” Jareth presses a kiss to Arttu’s temple.

“It was at last year’sJuhannusparty. Sofia gave me her silly flowers, and I fell asleep, and then—”

“Flowers?” Jareth interrupts. This can only mean—

But he doesn’t dare to hope.

Arttu squirms in his hold.

“You know the tale. Put seven blossoms under your pillow onJuhannusand dream of your future husband.”

“You dreamt ofme,” Jareth breathes.

“I—It was just a dream. It doesn’t have to mean anything if you don’t want to—”

Spinning Arttu around by his hips, Jareth crowds him against the counter. He cuts Arttu’s rambling short with a kiss.

“No, darling. It means something to me. It meanseverything.”

Arttu opens up to him readily, his dough-smeared hands coming up to wrap around Jareth’s neck.

“Oh, thank fuck,” Arttu mumbles.

Jareth chuckles. “So you don’t mind if I put a pretty ring on you? Good to know.”

An adorable blush colors Arttu’s cheeks.

“Okay,” he croaks. “Would you mind accompanying me to Sofia and Pekka’sJuhannusparty this year? I know it might be weird. They’re Mikael’s family, after all, but they’re my friends and I want you to meet them.”